Political Quotes

“I congratulate my colleague from Florida, and I want him to know that it is a great pleasure for me to serve with him. It has been a tradition in Florida that the two Senators get along. This has been a great tradition that goes back to when Bob Graham and Connie Mack were the two Senators. It continued with Mel Martinez and me, and now I have the privilege of continuing that kind of relationship with Senator Rubio. The maiden speech is a big deal for a Senator, and it is always a memory that is forever etched in my mind. I was in one of those desks over there as a very junior member, and I will never forget in the course of my speech--and it was mostly an empty Chamber--that I mentioned that it was my maiden speech. In a few minutes, all of a sudden those side doors flung open and in strode Senator Robert Byrd. So here I am giving my maiden speech and Senator Byrd is sitting in his seat. As I finished, he said: Would the Senator yield? I said: Of course, I yield to the Senior Senator from West Virginia. Senator Byrd, off the top of his head, gave an oration about the history of maiden speeches in the Senate. Now, of course, that is indelibly etched in my memory. Surely, the Senator's maiden speech today will be indelibly etched in his, and I congratulate him. I thank him for his personal friendship. I thank him also for the privilege of the professional relationship that we have. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Illinois.”