Political Quotes

“in the midst of all the strife and partisanship and ideological rigidity that makes it so difficult these days for us to bring about consensus in the world's most deliberative body, there is the occasion at the first of each of these meetings in the Senate that we do come together--when the chaplain mounts the rostrum, prays for the Senate and for the Nation, and then we all join together in the Pledge. I think it is worthy noting the way that the great master of the Senate, Senator Robert Byrd, taught all of us freshmen 10 years ago to mount the rostrum and to call the Senate together. As the Presiding Officer calls the Senate to order, he or she then announces the chaplain for the day and descends from the rostrum as the chaplain comes to the rostrum to offer the prayer. It is a recognition of the Deity, it is an expression of humility, it is a little symbolic act, but it is important.”