Mike Levin: “today is a very sad day for America and for those of us who served in the United States Senate with one of its most…”

“today is a very sad day for America and for those of us who served in the United States Senate with one of its most visionary and accomplished members, a great man, a great American, Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan of New York, who died yesterday. It stretches the mind just to think of all of the important positions that Pat Moynihan held, including Cabinet or sub-Cabinet posts under four Presidents: John Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson, Richard Nixon, and Gerald Ford. He served as Ambassador to India in the 1970s and then as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. He came to the United States Senate in 1977 already a scholar, author and public official of great distinction and renown. In the 24 years he spent here, he only greatly expanded his enormous reputation and body of work. Pat Moynihan was a Senator's Senator. Over the years, he earned the respect of every Member of the Senate--and we all learned a great deal from him. Pat Moynihan was a person who showed tremendous vision throughout his life.”