Mike Levin: “it saddens me to note that the Senate will soon lose one of its most visionary and accomplished members, a great…”

“it saddens me to note that the Senate will soon lose one of its most visionary and accomplished members, a great American, Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan. It boggles the mind just to think of all of the important positions that Pat Moynihan has held, including cabinet or subcabinet posts under four presidents: John Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson, Richard Nixon, and Gerald Ford. He served as Ambassador to India in the 1970's 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 has spend here, he has only greatly expanded his enormous reputation and body of work. Pat Moynihan is a Senator's Senator. Over the years, he has earned the respect of every member of the Senate. Pat Moynihan is a person who has shown tremendous vision throughout his life. He has shown foresight about the importance of a strong family and about the importance of strong communities in America. He raised the critical important of these basic values and concerns about the deterioration of these family values, long before others. He has shown great foresight about our Constitution. One of the highlights for me in my service in the Senate was joining Senator Moynihan and Senator Robert Byrd in fighting against the line item veto as a violation of our Constitution.…”