Phil Gingrey Quotes
I am not going to exploit, for political purposes, my opponent's youth and inexperience.
Henry Wheeler Shaw 1818-1885
This is a common rejoinder of third world country leaders to accusations of Western democracies about corruption. And doubtless it is true. However temptation has never been a good defense of improper behavior.
It took until the Presidency of Theodore Roosevelt until monopolies were regulated. Like many of the rapacious businessmen of his era, bribery of public officials was so common that he had no problem admitting this to a reporter who was interviewing him. His father Cornelius, one of the great, creative industrialists of America, was not at all of the same mindset or the same corrupt character and saw corporations and the Railroads as having an important role in America with substantial obligations to the society which enabled the economic development and supported the railroads. He described his son as a “blockhead”. William goes down in American history as the arrogant industrialist and capitalist whose wealth was produced by his talent of being born to the right father who built the great empire. At that time the bribery of members of Congress was direct with cash going directly into their pockets, unlike modern times where it is indirect in the form of Campaign contributions.
Note that he in this quotation extended the Eisenhower “Military-Industrial Complex” threat to include the anti Terrorism government agencies (Homeland Security, FBI, NSA. CIA) and the corporations which support and supply them.
John Phillip Gingrey is an American physician and former politician who served as a U.S. Representative for Georgia's 11th congressional district from 2003 to 2015. He is a member of the Republican Party (GOP). His district comprised the northwestern suburbs of Atlanta. Since leaving Congress, Gingrey has worked as a senior adviser at the District Policy Group in Washington, D.C., which is the lobbying arm of the Drinker Biddle law firm.
