Political Quotes

“Madam Speaker, I rise tonight to honor the life and legacy of one of Arkansas' great leaders--and my friend--former Congressman John Paul Hammerschmidt. For the past three decades, I have known and admired Congressman Hammerschmidt, and I have long respected his commitment to public service. One of his most important actions was his legislation that made the Buffalo River the country's first National River, ensuring the preservation and protection of that extraordinary treasure designed by God's own hand. Before John Paul's engagement, the Buffalo had been slated for a Corps of Engineers dam project, which would have destroyed the natural majesty that generations of Arkansans continue to enjoy. Arkansas' wilderness advocate and poet, Bill Coleman, captures the area's mystique: Giant bluffs rise like medieval castles above this ancient river, sending us back to a time when all our land was wild. Congressman Hammerschmidt also served as a freshman Congressman with my former boss, President George Herbert Walker Bush, and these two great men became fast friends from their time in the Air Force through being freshmen in this great body together. They were close political allies, and Congressman Hammerschmidt was quick to support President Bush in all of his Presidential runs. The two men shared victories, defeats, joys, and sorrows throughout their great decades of personal friendship.…”