Political Quotes

“Mr. President, in 1973, when Senator Margaret Chase Smith returned to private life and her hometown of Skowhegan, ME, she brought with her hundreds of thousands of documents, photographs, recordings, and memorabilia accumulated during her remarkable 33 years of public service. Nine years later, in 1982, with the support and encouragement of her many friends and admirers, her dream of establishing a library was realized. Today I wish to commemorate the 35th anniversary of the Margaret Chase Smith Library. The Margaret Chase Smith Library is one of our Nation's premier freestanding congressional libraries, a priceless archive and museum, and an invaluable educational center. From the very start, it was Senator Smith's wish for the library to be more than a storehouse of papers and a collection of mementos. She wanted it to be a place of aspirations, an institution where students would be inspired to public service. She wanted it to be a source of insight and information for historical scholarship from the perspective of a historic leader. Just as important, she wanted it to be a place where citizens would come together to discuss important policy issues in an atmosphere of civility and respect. Senator Smith did more than wish for those things; she worked to bring them about. From opening day in August of 1982 until shortly before her passing in 1995, she presided over the facility, meeting with schoolchildren, researchers, policymakers, and engaged citizens.…”