Political Quotes

“Mr. President, I rise for a few moments to share a few thoughts about our friend and colleague who passed away yesterday, Senator Dan Inouye. It was a shock to me here on the floor yesterday when his passing was announced and it is still a shock today to see that it is indeed real--the beautiful bowl of white roses on his desk. I want to share a remembrance or two. When I was 19 I was struggling with what direction to take in life and thought public policy might be something worth pursuing. I asked my father. My father read the newspaper every day and watched the evening news and would run a commentary on the world. I asked him, if I were to try to get a summer internship in Washington, DC, to see how government really works, who should I apply to. Of course he noted I should apply to my home State Senators, Senator Packwood and Senator Hatfield. I asked him if there were any national Senators who stood out. He said there are four I think you should try to talk to: Senator Kennedy, Senator Humphrey, Senator Church, and Senator Inouye. I proceeded to write letters to see if I could get an internship with any of my home State Senators or any of those four. I did not succeed outside my State. I did get an internship with Senator Hatfield, which changed the course of my life.…”