Political Quotes

“this will undoubtedly be, in my estimation, the most important issue that will come before this Congress, and as far as I am personally concerned it will be one of the most, if not the most, important votes that I shall have cast in 41 years on Capitol Hill. This is my 41st year. I have cast in the Senate 13,381 votes as of this moment, and including my votes in the House of Representatives during 6 years there I have cast 13,812 votes--13,813, as a matter of fact. Now, why do I consider this vote to be of that importance? I shall, by and by, before the evening is over get back to that point. For the moment, let me begin by saying that I agree with my friends and colleagues, the distinguished Senator from Illinois [Mr. Simon], the distinguished Senator from Idaho [Mr. Craig], the distinguished Senator from Utah [Mr. Hatch], and all those who speak of the seriousness of the deficits and the seriousness of the debt. I agree that we have a mountain of debt. That debt has increased from a little under $1 trillion during the first 39 administrations and the first 182 years of our country's history, that debt has increased from a little under $1 trillion up to what it is today now, almost $4.5 trillion.”