Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Fred Harris, a Senator, civil rights and Tribal advocate, Presidential candidate, chairman, professor, and so much more to the people lucky enough to have known him. The title that I love best for my dear friend is ``radical optimist.'' In times when we might despair, like the time we find ourselves in now, Fred never gave in to fatalism. Instead, Fred asked each of us to charge ahead with commitment and courage. His radical optimism was not passive but proactive. He called upon us to each act with purpose and passion, to find the unique places where each of us could lend our action to change the direction of the world to better. He called upon us to act collectively in the joy that comes from working together with friends and colleagues on a cause. I first met Senator Harris as a young attorney working on Tribal issues in New Mexico. He shared stories of his work together with LaDonna Harris, his former wife, elevating Native American issues across this country. Senator Harris sponsored the landmark bill to restore sacred Blue Lake to Taos Pueblo. He created the bipartisan alliance that led to President Richard Nixon signing that bill into law in 1970. Blue Lake became the touchstone and spark for the return of sacred lands to Tribal nations across this country. Senator Harris and his beautiful wife, Margaret Elliston, herself a democracy hero, then became good friends as I myself ran for office.…”