Political Quotes

“Mr. President, next week will mark what would have been the 100th birthday of my predecessor, Senator Claiborne de Borda Pell, who was born on November 22, 1918. This year, appropriately enough, the date falls on Thanksgiving. We lost Senator Pell nearly 9 years ago after a long struggle with Parkinson's disease, which robbed him of his mobility but not his spirit. He was sustained by the love of his wonderful family, especially his beloved wife, the late Nuala Pell. A person who dedicated his life to selfless service to Rhode Island and the Nation, Senator Pell would not want a showy commemoration of his centenary. He was not one to seek the limelight. Moreover, for him, his birthday--November 22--became a somber day for remembrance and mourning the loss of his dear friend, President John F. Kennedy. But at a time when differences seem more striking than our common cause and when there is a question of whether America's role in the world community should be guided solely by narrowly defined self- interest or by our democratic ideals, it is helpful for us to recall the example and standard Senator Pell set--both his accomplishments and the civility he maintained throughout his career. He was born into a family of great wealth and privilege, yet Claiborne Pell never exhibited a sense of entitlement.…”