Political Quotes

“Mr. President, I wish to offer a few words in remembrance of Senator Byrd. I will offer a longer statement for the Record, but I wish to give a few thoughts now. We do mourn his passing. We see at his desk today a reminder of his passing. To say that Robert Byrd was a towering figure in the history of the Senate does not begin to describe his impact, his influence and, indeed, the memory he leaves behind, the legacy he leaves behind for those of us in the Senate, for his home State of West Virginia, and I know for millions of Americans. He was a strong advocate for not just his point of view but, more importantly, for the people of West Virginia. He arrived in the Senate in 1958--before I was born. I was pleased to have the opportunity and honor, the chance to serve with him a couple of years. He was a strong advocate. He was also a remarkable orator. Even in the last couple years of his life when some thought he might have been slowing down a little, when he got the microphone, he could deliver a speech like no other. He was a tremendous orator who believed in what he was saying, believed in the traditions of the Senate but mostly, and most importantly, believed in fighting for the working men and women and the families of West Virginia. We also knew him as a scholar--a scholar of not just this institution, maybe the leading scholar of all time when it comes to the institution of the Senate, but also as well as a constitutional scholar.…”