Political Quotes

“Rome 1993. I knew the City. Except for the machine-gun carrying Carbineri at Rome's Fumicino Airport, and the cars whizzing by me on the autostrada at 150 kilometers per mile, Rome seem strangely familiar. Perhaps it was the ten years studying Latin, following the exploits of Caesar, Veni, Vedi, Vici, except Caesar never had to drive his chariots in rush hour. Nor did anyone dare crowd his style along the Appian Way. Everywhere I looked cars were bumper on bumper, I did a sidewalk survey and noticed that about seven of ten cars parked along any given street had body damage. Rome was very personal like that. My friend Judy and I had come to visit the Eternal City to study the cradle of our faith. As we toured, it became clear that just as Washington is a monument to Presidents, Rome is a celebration of the Papacy. Prior to leaving for Rome I had lunch with an old friend, Dr. Robert White, the famed neurosurgeon and physician to the Pope. I told him I was soon going to be visiting Rome. He made a call to his friend at the Jesuit's headquarters in Rome and was able to arrange for a special visit to the Vatican, including attendance at a general Papal audience, Judy and I, and about five thousand other persons. Minutes before we left the hotel for our Vatican tour, I received a call that there had been a change of plans.”