Political Quotes

“I ask my colleague from Arizona if he will yield for a question. Mr. McCAIN. That is why, directly following the conclusion of today's hearing, the Senate Armed Services Committee reported this legislation to the Senate with a vote of 24 to 3. I urge this body to follow suit. That said, it is important for future Senators to understand the context of our action here today. Civilian control of the Armed Forces has been a bedrock principle of American Government since our Revolution. A painting hanging in the Capitol Rotunda not far from this floor celebrates the legacy of George Washington, who voluntarily resigned his commission as commander of the Continental Army to the Congress. This principle is enshrined in our Constitution, which divides control of the Armed Forces among the President as Commander in Chief and the Congress as coequal branches of government. Since then, Congress has adopted various provisions separating military and civilian positions. In the 19th century, for example, Congress prohibited an Army officer from accepting a civil office, more recently, in the National Security Act of 1947, and subsequent revisions, Congress's 7-year ``cooling off'' period for any person to serve as Secretary of Defense. It was only 3 years later, in 1950, that Congress granted GEN George Marshall an exemption to that law and the Senate confirmed him to be Secretary of Defense. Indeed, the separation between civilian and military positions has not always been so clear.…”