Political Quotes

“this week, the Senate will say goodbye to the Chamber's current Historian, and welcome him to the ranks of Historian Emeritus. Donald Ritchie has observed, studied, and documented the workings of the U.S. Senate for almost four decades. Only the second person to serve as the Historian of the Senate, Don has been with the Senate Historical Office since shortly after its creation. Beginning in 1976, Don spearheaded the Senate Oral History Program, for which he interviewed dozens of former senators and their staff. He documented firsthand recollections of those individuals' time with the Senate, major events and debates, and how the institution evolved during their tenure. In the 1990s, the Senate Historical Office began making transcripts of the interviews available at various libraries and archives, including the Manuscript Division of the Library of Congress and the Senate Library. These accounts are fascinating, and remind us of the intricacies--both in public and behind the scenes--of legislating in the U.S. Senate. The Oral History Program was a colossal undertaking, and one congressional scholars will study for many years to come. Don's work on this program was exceptional. In addition the Senate Oral History Program, Don and the Senate Historical Office maintain and make available historical documents, statistics, and provide historical background and how it may pertain to current events.…”