Political Quotes

“I first encountered Joe when I was a young Congressman and took an amendment up to the Committee on Rules. It was probably an ill-advised amendment, but Joe was very gentle and very kind and kind of let me know the errors of my way and was straightforward. On subsequent times, when Joe was chairman and in charge of that committee, I used to go up there, and he was about as straight as you could get as a person you would find on either side of the aisle. He was fair, he was honest, and he did not hesitate to tell you sometimes the error of your ways. But I got to know Joe probably even better. He shared an office down the hall. When I became deputy whip, we shared an office across the hall, and we would meet. In those days Joe was not in very good health, but Joe was always cheerful; he always had a good word to say and an optimistic outlook. Even though I was not here in the days of Tip O'Neill, I think probably Joe carries out the best tradition of the Irish-Catholic-Boston politician. He was of good nature, of good humor, and knew the art of politics very, very well. The last experience I had with Joe is I had the great honor of sharing a trip to Rome with him this January. He cochaired a Congressional delegation to Rome to carry the Congressional Gold Medal to present to the Pope. I think I saw Joe Moakley probably in his very best time. He relished that trip.”