Political Quotes

“Mr. President, I rise today to commemorate the life and legacy of Clint Roberts, who passed away in the early morning hours of February 13 at the age of 82. Clint is a former Member of the U.S. House of Representatives, the South Dakota State Senate, and a former South Dakota secretary of agriculture. He helped give birth to the Conservation Reserve and the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program, which have been extremely beneficial to farmers, ranchers, and landowners, not only in South Dakota but across the country. These programs helped increase farm and ranch family incomes at a time of great economic turmoil. But more importantly, Clint was a mentor and a hero to me and to many others and, I am proud to say, a lifelong friend to me and Jean. I have always looked up to Clint and sought him out for advice. I first met Clint when I was an intern in the South Dakota State Senate in 1976. He was serving in a leadership position. He taught me many valuable lessons over the years about politics, policy, family, and public service, just to name a few. He also is credited with introducing me to that exquisite combination of water and Scotch over 40 years ago at the Kings Inn in Pierre. Clint grew up on a ranch near Presho, SD, in Lyman County, and never let go of his cowboy roots, his hat, or his boots. He was an iconic symbol of a cowboy and of the Wild West, so much so that he was one of the finalists to be the ``Marlboro Man'' in the mid-1970s.…”