Political Quotes

“I rise to record and to celebrate Robert D. Novak's 40 years of Washington journalism, as he himself records this morning in a Washington Post column ``What a Change 40 Years Makes.'' Forty years in journalism, as he writes, ``an association with Congress that continues today.'' An association of rare civility and, too often alas, of deadly accuracy. His access, energy, good spirits, and rage for the truth are equaled only by his lifelong friend and partner Rowland Evans. Top Drawer and Front Page, there has never been the like of them, and I choose to think never will be, for there are some national treasures that truly are unique. Senators will note Mr. Novak's observation that ``The capital city of 1957 was at once shabbier and far better governed than today's glittering but pothole-scarred Washington.'' A concise way to make the point that as American Government has reached for beyond its grasp on so many social issues, it has accepted an appalling decline in the fundaments of good government, such as street paving.”