Political Quotes

“I am honored, sir, to follow the distinguished Senator from Nebraska and his remarks. And might I begin with a phrase from the old Navy--by which I mean the old, old Navy-- when a fellow was mustering out, he would say, ``I'm going to put that oar on my shoulder.'' And the reference was that you were going to put that oar on your shoulder and march inland until you reached a town where someone said, ``Hey, fella, what's that thing you've got on your shoulder?'' And then you could settle down in comfort after years at sea. Nebraska would surely qualify for such a site. This extraordinary man, who left Nebraska, joined the Navy, brought such honor and distinction to himself, and now to the Senate is remarkable indeed. You've heard of his work. Just a word about the man. Hemingway said that courage was grace under pressure. Bob Kerrey has shown that grace from that very moment 30 years ago on that bluff. Michael Barone in the Almanac of American Politics recounts that when asked about the medals he had won, Senator Kerrey answered, ``One Purple Heart, one Bronze Star--one whatever.'' Well, the ``whatever'' is, of course, the Congressional Medal of Honor. There have been--all told--five U.S. Senators to have won that medal. It was created during the Civil War. Four of the senators received the medal for service in the Civil War. And now, 134 years later, a fifth. Bob Kerrey does do such honor to this body, as he has done to his country, with grace under pressure.”