Political Quotes

“I have been moved by the comments from the Senators regarding Senator Baker. The story the senior Senator from Tennessee told about the lightbulbs is--those of us who knew Senator Baker could well understand that. He was a man who brought Senators together--both parties. I will tell two very quick stories. One is referencing a leadership race won by one vote. He had called a good friend of his, who was at home on official business, and said: I know the press says I am going to lose this race, but I know you are voting for me. Can you come back and vote? That Senator did. The Senator was the then-senior Senator from Vermont, Robert Stafford, and he flew back to get to the caucus to vote for his friend Howard Baker--the first one by one vote; all the rest by acclamation. I know this because both Senator Stafford and Howard Baker told me that story. They were also two of the finest Senators with whom I have ever served. Both tried to work things out. My other story is we were going to be in session until midnight one night on a technically contested matter. Senator Ted Stevens and I and a few others went to see Howard Baker, who was the majority leader. We talked about the issue that was divisive. We said: We think we have a solution. We have all been talking. We can work it out but it is going to take some time for the drafting. Could you recess and not stay until midnight when all it is going to do is exacerbate tempers?…”