Political Quotes

“first let me thank the chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee for his cooperation in this effort. Though we may not see eye to eye on this amendment or the underlying amendment to the Constitution, he has been gracious and gentlemanly throughout. I appreciate that very much. I would also like to salute the Democratic leader from that same committee, the ranking member, the Senator from Vermont, for extending the same courtesy, both personally and through his staff. This is only the second time that I have taken the floor of the Senate to speak. And I consider it a high honor to follow the Senator from West Virginia. In the context of constitutional debate, I think we are all anxious to learn the views of the Senator from West Virginia because he reveres this Constitution, this great document, as much if not more than any other Member of the U.S. Senate. In the course of the last 14 years I have served in the U.S. House of Representatives. I have cast about 7,000 votes. There were many important votes among them. The most important vote in my estimation was when I was called on to vote and decide whether or not the United States would go to war. I knew with that vote and the decision made by this Congress that lives would be lost. Husbands, fathers, sons, daughters, loved ones would put their lives at risk because of that vote. I do not think I cast a more important vote in my congressional career.…”