Political Quotes

“Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Michigan for putting this together. You can see that Ohio and Michigan can periodically get along with each other. I am honored to rise for a few minutes here, Mr. Speaker, to address this House for the final time as a sitting Member of Congress. I think it is appropriate to begin with the preamble to the United States Constitution. ``We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect Union, establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity.'' ``We the people.'' This is the people's House. There have been 12,421 Members of Congress who have sat here in this Capitol. Of almost 700 million people, who at one point or another were citizens of the United States, 700 million, and a little over 12,000 were sent here to govern this country, to meet the obligations that the Founding Fathers put in the preamble of the United States Constitution. I will tell you, there have been some great Americans, some of the best, who have served in this Chamber. But there also have been scoundrels, crooks, and liars. This is the people's House. This is the people's House, so it has reflected over, in a few years, 250 years, the world's oldest republic. If there is one thing I hope that all Members and all citizens can grasp and touch, it is gratitude.…”