Political Quotes

“I remember him with the warmest regard and respect. He was affectionately known as the mayor of the Department of Defense. Mind you now, this is a building that was built in the late thirties and early forties, the thought being it might be used as a hospital for heavy casualties if we ever incurred them. Then it was quickly transformed into the Department of Defense. It is vast. Some 25,000 individuals are at work at any one time either in the building or the environs. He knew every square foot of that building. I remember one time, I made a very foolish decision--perhaps I made several when I was Secretary of the Navy--when I decided to visit the office which every sailor and marine occupied. It took me 1 year to cover the building. He was behind the restoring of the building the day the tragic accident befell the men and women who worked in certain spaces on 9-11. He spearheaded that effort, together with the Secretary of Defense, such that all the schedules for completion are being met. That is the type of man he was. He was very humble and very soft spoken.”