Joseph A. Califano Jr. Quotes

No high qualities of statesmanship are expected from a Congressman.

Washington has political power combined with the insider illusion of being in control.

I'm doing a good job in Washington.

I am Congress; I'm president.

A politician is a man who understands government, and it takes a politician to run a government. A statesman is a politician who's been dead 10 or 15 years.

Politics is supposed to be the second-oldest profession. I have come to realize that it bears a very close resemblance to the first.

I think I can regard myself as a political decision-maker.

All I wanted was to be involved in politics and government.

I have a proven record as an effective legislator, which I believe is my greatest asset.

I happened to have the privilege of serving in Congress. It will be 16 years at the end of this term. And I think I made a difference here on important issues.

The purpose of a politician is to be a leader. A politician has to lead. Otherwise he's just a follower.

If we win, we'll make history, and I'll serve you on the Agriculture Committee.

I'm a good legislator. I'm a bad some other things.

I didn't run for student council president. I don't see myself in any way in elected office. I love policy. I'm not particularly fond of politics.

Politics doesn't matter, policy does.

Daniel Patrick Moynihan [is] easily the most original thinker in the Senate.

There is something wrong with the way in which we make our decisions. The Government listen too much to the pollsters and the party managers. The trouble is that they are not even very good at politics, and they are entering too much into policy decisions. As a result, there is too much short-termism, too much reacting to events, and not enough shaping of events. We give the impression of being in office but not in power. Far too many important decisions are made for 36 hours' publicity.

Mayors make tough decisions; Senators make tough speeches.

The legislator commands the future.

If it comes out of Congress, I think it has traction in America.

I have been a civil servant and a politician for over 30 years.

I'm intrigued by being in public office.

Writing laws is easy, but governing is difficult.

At the moment I am a little bit politician, yes. I think that could be my next step. It is not because I want power, it is because of what I think I could do for the people.

Good ideas are the backbone of good government.