Political Quotes

“the time has come--as it does at the conclusion of every Congress--to honor those members who will be departing from this body. This is a task not easily done. The Senate is one of the highest pinnacles in public service to our nation. Those who serve here have often dedicated their lives--and with great success--to changing America for better. Today I wish to honor two Senators who have indeed changed America for the better--Phil Gramm and my fellow Tennessean and partner in the Senate for the last eight years, Fred Thompson. Senator Gramm began his service in Congress as a House Democrat in 1978. Five years later he switched parties. But rather than serve out his term as a Republican, he resigned his seat and let the people of his district choose whether they wanted to be represented by a Republican. Well, they did, and Phil Gramm became not only the first Republican in history to represent the 6th district of Texas, but the only member of Congress in the 20th century to resign and then win re-election as a member of another party.”