Political Quotes

“I rise to pay tribute to the remarkable life of Edmund S. Muskie. He was a great American, a true statesman, and I'm proud to say, a good friend. Mr. President, I am the first woman of Polish heritage ever elected to the Senate. Ed Muskie took great pride in my election, since we shared a common heritage and a common set of values. He was gracious in helping me to learn the ways of the Senate. He was a strong mentor, and I have always been appreciative of the sound advice and concrete suggestions he offered to me. He offered all of us a model of what a Senator should be. He stuck to principles, never afraid to take on the powers that be. He fought hard for what he believed in, but he bore no grudges. Edmund Muskie believed, as I do, that programs must deliver what they promise. He made change his ally, and was never wedded to the past. If what we had been doing wasn't working, he fought to fix it. And he sought always to build consensus, to serve as a voice of moderation and practicality--in keeping with his New England roots. I was proud to be a national co-chair of his campaign for the Presidency in 1972. It still strikes me as a great injustice that this good and decent man never had the opportunity to hold the highest office in the land. What a wonderful President he would have been. Although he never realized his dream of becoming President, his contributions to our Nation were immense.”