Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, on behalf of myself, Representatives Bob Goodlatte, and Robert Hurt, I am deeply saddened to report the passing of a former Member of this body. On May 23, 2012, former Ninth District United States Congressman William Wampler passed away at his home in Bristol, Virginia. A man of principle, integrity, and courage, our Nation has truly lost a great man. Born in Pennington Gap and raised in Bristol, Bill attended the Bristol public schools. The son of a hardware store businessman and a schoolteacher, Bill was a budding leader even in his youth. He was voted class president each of his 4 years at Virginia High School. At the height of World War II in May of 1943, Bill, just 17 years old, enlisted in the United States Navy. For the next 27 months, Bill served as a seaman until the end of the war. Upon returning to southwest Virginia, Bill resumed his studies, pursuing his undergraduate degree from Virginia Polytechnic Institute in 1948 and then his law degree from the University of Virginia. A Republican by birth, Bill joined the party his family supported because of its opposition to slavery. His first foray into politics came in 1948 while working as the Republican assistant campaign manager for the Ninth District congressional elections. Shortly thereafter, in 1953, at the ripe old age of 26, Bill was elected to the 83rd Congress. For the next 2 years, Bill had the distinction of being the youngest Member of Congress.…”