Political Quotes

“yesterday morning, without any notice to this Senator, my distinguished colleague from Washington, Senator Murray, came to the floor to congratulate me in my career in the Senate in a most generous and gracious fashion and to yield time to other Senators for the same purpose. Each of them, including the other Senator present, Mr. Burns, was more than generous and profuse in their praise. The experience of listening to it in my office bore some resemblance to attending one's own wake. But, nonetheless, the many fine things that were stated about my career by Members on both sides of the aisle is deeply appreciated. I reflected a little bit later on the fact that while our public image--and, for that matter, our public duties--has to deal with profound political and social questions of public policy, our personal relationships among the 100 Members is something really quite different. Each of us leaves the others with strong impressions. Friendships become both broad and deep during the course of a career here in the Senate. When one comes to the end of such a career, it is those personal relationships, in my view, that are the most deep and most profound and that have the greatest effect on one as an individual. To listen to expressions from people who are not accustomed to speaking emotionally or personally is an extremely moving experience.…”