Political Quotes

“Mr. President, I am pleased to rise today along with my colleague, Senator Whitehouse, to help mark the 350th anniversary of the settlement of Block Island, RI. Block Island sits 12 miles south of coastal Rhode Island, and for over three centuries has contributed to the economic and ecological vitality of my home State. It has a rich history. In 1614, the Dutch merchant and explorer Adriaen Block charted the Island, which is named for him. In 1661 colonists from Massachusetts sailed to Block Island and established a community that would later become the town of New Shoreham. During the Revolutionary War, Block Islanders warned American soldiers of approaching British ships by lighting fires on Beacon Hill, the island's highest point. And, over the past 200 years, Block Island has constructed two lighthouses that have provided safe passage for countless sailors and travelers. Today, Block Island is home to over 1,000 permanent residents and welcomes up to 20,000 visitors each day during tourist season. Block Island has been graced by visits by two sitting Presidents-- President Ulysses S. Grant in 1875 and in 1999 by President William Jefferson Clinton. I was pleased to have guided President Clinton as well as First Lady Hillary Clinton, who is now Secretary of State, around the Mohegan Bluffs and the historic Southeast Lighthouse, which overlooks the Atlantic Ocean, during their visit.…”