Political Quotes

“in my 22 years here in the Senate, I have had a chance to witness many historic events in this Chamber. When I leave the Senate, I hope to write a book about some of these. One of the truly historic events was a speech given by our former majority leader, the senior Senator from Kansas, Senator Dole. I think, Mr. President, that there will be historians who read the Record of that event; but in reading the Record they will read only the words. They will not really see the event. I would like to add, for those historians who may read that, that at the time Senator Dole gave his speech, most of the Republicans and most of the Democrats were on the floor. As the Presiding Officer knows, when Senators speak, even though we may all be on the floor, ofttimes we do not listen. This was an exception. Every single Senator on the floor listened, and listened carefully. They heard a speech that was vintage Bob Dole--plain, to the point, with flashes of the humor that we know so well. Even when he was corrected by the then distinguished Presiding Officer, the President pro tempore, when the President pro tempore spoke of his around-the-clock filibuster, Senator Dole ad libbed, "And that is why you are not often invited to be an after dinner speaker." There is far more than just humor in that there is real affection from Senators of both parties--affection for a man who earned it. He earned it as one of the finest Senators I have had a chance to serve with.”