Political Quotes

“we have just returned from a most historic and moving ceremony at the Department of Defense. That building will always occupy in my heart a very special place for I was privileged to serve there during 5 years and 4 months of the period of the war in Vietnam in the Navy Secretariat, including my service as Secretary of the Navy. On 9/11, of course, I joined colleagues briefly here in the Chamber and then we exited and with other colleagues who were gathered in the park, we chatted a little bit about what we should do. I returned to my office and conducted a brief prayer meeting and recommended to my staff that they proceed to their homes and their loved ones. In about an hour or two, however, I decided I would like to go to the Department of Defense again because of my very special high regard for the men and women of the Armed Forces and that dastardly act committed by terrorists. I called the Secretary of Defense, whom I had known for many years. We both served in the administration of President Nixon and President Ford. He said: Come right over. I called my good friend and colleague, Carl Levin, at his home, and Carl immediately said, yes, he would join us, and the two of us then proceeded to the Department of Defense where we joined Secretary Rumsfeld and then-Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, General Shelton.”