Political Quotes

“I also rise to join with my colleagues on the passing of Pat Moynihan. Where does one start when a friend and colleague leaves us? When Senator Moynihan retired from the Senate, where he served our country and his State so well, he really did not leave us. Now in this, his last transition, he will not leave us. He left so much of himself with us. His words will remain with us for years to come. I did not join the Senate until 1989. Being on the opposite side of the aisle--I was one who had not earned his spurs yet--I did not have the opportunity to get to know him until we went on a trip together to the Persian Gulf during Desert Shield in 1990. I can say my life has been richly blessed serving with a lot of men and women who have since retired from this body. He was one of those people. That was a great trip to the Persian Gulf. We spent a lot of hours in flight and spent a lot of hours in conversation, which was truly enlightening to this Senator from a rural State such as Montana. Our relationship grew from that point, and I realized what a marvelous man he really was. He was a man true to his faith and principles. His intellect stood him apart from most men I have ever known, but he coupled that intellect with good old-fashioned common sense and deep wisdom. The subject matter of the conversation did not make any difference. He could relate to anyone on a common ground.”