They may speak Italian or Polish or Japanese, but the freedoms they enjoy, both here and in their own countries, have been inspired, won, and secured by the ideals and the courage and the compassion of the American people. They are not from America, most of these visitors, and yet in a certain sense of course they are. In these halls, I have also noticed in recent weeks the number of tourists in the Capitol who speak no English. I notice now the statues of old and great and, in some cases, almost forgotten heroes that line the halls of this building that stand in Statuary Hall. I walk these halls with a keener perspective. I noticed that Lincoln’s chair, the man who sought above all peace and reconciliation, keeps one of his hands in a perpetual fist. I noticed that under Jefferson’s dome the statue of the man is relatively understated while his etched words still thunder from the marble with the power to drive history.
I noticed that in Washington’s obelisk, the father of our country is represented not as an object of glory, but as a dutiful sentry at attention minding his post for eternity. I noticed things like I haven’t in years. In the weeks since I announced my retirement, however, I found myself doing just that. The schedules we’re forced to keep during our days in Washington are not always hospitable to sitting back and reflecting on the historical significance of our surroundings. It’s one of those things in political life that you always know but seldom notice. What a castle of hope this building is, this institution is for the people of the world. Speaker - the real speaker, he’s on his way - I - it - it - I want to tell the real speaker it’s been an honor to serve with Denny Hastert, and who is my good friend, my most trusted partner and colleague, and I want to take just a moment to congratulate him myself on becoming the longest serving Republican speaker in history. It has been an honor and a privilege to serve them here. Everything I have ever been able to accomplish here I owe and dedicate to them. I wish to begin the end of my congressional career by publicly thanking for the last time as their representative the people of the 22nd District of Texas. And despite the fervent and mostly noble exertions of my adversaries over the years, I rise today to bid farewell to this House under the happiest of the available options. Speaker, political careers tend to end in one of three ways: defeat, death, or retirement.
Tom Delay Farewell Address to House of Representatives delivered 8 June 2006″Partisanship is the worst means of settling fundamental political differences - except for all the others.” *Mr.