Political Quotes

“my tribute to Ed Madigan is on behalf of myself, because I lost a friend, and my father, who had the pleasure of serving with Ed Madigan in this House a little over a decade ago, and who indeed, also, has lost a friend. Because it is true that if you ever served with Ed, you probably ended up his friend. In the tradition of Irish stock who emigrated to America to fill positions in civic duty, some of Ed Madigan's ancestors were in law enforcement. His father was a sheriff, of which Ed was very proud. A strapping man, handsome and smiling, Ed Madigan was a powerful figure who could tell a good story, who had a sense of humor. After I was first elected to the House, before I got down here, my father told me about Ed Madigan, suggested I look him up. When I did, the man took me under his wing as if a self-appointed mentor. I had requested a seat on the Agriculture Committee and of course Ed was the ranking member in those days when we were in the minority. At the same time, by the way, he was ranking member of Energy and Commerce, just to give you an idea of what he could accomplish. What I learned from him on the Agriculture Committee was invaluable. I learned about some things from him about farming, for sure, and about politics. But mostly I learned that a thoughtful, sincere approach in a distinguished and respectable manner can accomplish as much, if not more, than bluster.”