Political Quotes

“I rise today to mark the passing of a great public servant from South Dakota, Senator James Abdnor. Senator Abdnor is remembered across South Dakota as a man that never lost touch with the people who elected him. Throughout his life, no matter what office he achieved, he was in his heart the same small town South Dakotan he had always been. He traveled the world, but wherever he went, he always took his hometown, Kennebec, SD, with him. Before he was a U.S. Senator, Jim Abdnor served in the South Dakota State Senate in Pierre, and spent 3 years as Lieutenant Governor. In 1972, he was elected to Congress, where he served three terms in the U.S. House. In 1980, he defeated Senator George McGovern to serve in the Senate, and later headed the Small Business Administration for 2 years under President Reagan. Beyond his official titles, Senator Abdnor was also the son of a Lebanese immigrant, an Army veteran, a farmer and rancher, an avid follower of small town baseball, and a father-figure to many of his staff members, who continue to carry out his legacy to this day. Senator Abdnor was regarded as a decent and humble man, by both political supporters and opponents. He would be the first to admit that he was not a flashy speaker, but, one-on-one, he had a way of connecting with people. Plain spoken, straightforward, friendly, and accessible--there are few politicians like Senator Abdnor, and our Nation is poorer for it.…”