Political Quotes

“I was saddened to learn that Sumner Slichter, who for three decades was the chief policy adviser to former Wisconsin and U.S. Senator Russ Feingold, died May 16 in his home in Alexandria, VA, after a battle with brain cancer. He was 62 years old. Sumner Pence Slichter was born August 31, 1953, in Urbana, IL, to Nini Almy and Charles Slichter. He was the oldest of four children and is remembered as being a kind and loving older brother to his younger siblings. As a student attending Dr. Howard Elementary, Edison Junior High School, and Champaign Central High School, Sumner played viola in the school orchestra. He left for the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1970, where he majored in mathematics. Sumner continued to play viola in student ensembles and the UW orchestra, where he sat first chair. At the age of 19, Sumner began what would ultimately be a long and rich career in politics. His first job was on Ed Muskie's 1972 Presidential campaign. Later that year, he worked as an assistant at the Democratic National Committee convention in Miami Beach. From there, Sumner worked for campaigns and offices of State representatives in Illinois, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. In 1981, an encounter would forever change Sumner's life. That year he met a Milwaukee lawyer named Russ Feingold. At that time, Russ Feingold was working as a Democratic Party counsel on a close recall election.…”