Political Quotes

“I rise in support of Howard Baker. I realize this is unusual; the chairman of the committee should be the one to close. I apologize. I didn't know you were speaking. I think I am the last to speak and I will be brief. Howard Baker is one of the few men or women nominated for Ambassador that it would be warranted not to be briefed about because there is so much to say about Howard Baker. The distinguished senior Senator from Hawaii, standing in the well, knows him as well as I do--and maybe a little better. I have been here 28 years. He was as fine a leader of the Senate as we had in either party. He is a man who, as I said this morning, possessed not only good judgment but a strong dose of wisdom. Howard Baker has a piece of the country lawyer in him, the country lawyer who knows how to cut through difficult circumstances in a way that resolves a situation and at the same time does no harm or damage to either the egos and/or positions of either of the parties. That is the mark of a leader. It seems to me that is the primary ingredient that an Ambassador should possess. The appointment of Howard Baker to be Ambassador to Japan is the single strongest signal that the people of Japan could have that we value this relationship with Japan.”