Political Quotes

“I thank the gentleman very much for yielding. I am here tonight to honor Mr. Shimkus. I call him Mr. Shimkus because that is how a junior West Point cadet refers to a senior West Point cadet. One of the most insulting things I get here in Washington, people ask me often: ``Were you at West Point with John Shimkus?'' I always say: ``Do I look like I could have been at West Point when John Shimkus was there?'' {time} 2130 We are not that far apart, the Class of '80 and the Class '87. But he is passionate about his country. I serve on the NATO committee with him. I am going to tell one quick story. It is really more about passion for his family. One year, we were visiting our allies. We were visiting in Holland, and John went on a mission to find some kind of horn. I forget the name of the horn, but it is a Dutch horn. He went to a village. He went to somebody's home. This thing wasn't easy to find, but he said: I have to find it because my wife wants it. My wife always wants a unique musical instrument from some country that I visit. It wasn't like, ``I have to get this for my wife.'' He was passionate about getting it. This thing was as big as half of this table, and he had to carry it back. When he started telling people why he was doing it, you could just see the passion in his face. He goes: My wife--who is here with us tonight--my wife, she teaches music, and when she teaches this kind of music, this history, she gets these instruments out that I collect.…”