Ribicoff, Abraham -- Speech, American Studies Club (1953?)

Dave — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 15:40:30 +0000

It’s not fame, at least not in the sense of publicity. They see their names and faces in the paper so often they take it for granted. It’s not money. There may be some congressmen with deals going, but most lose money while in office because of the cost of campaigning and entertaining. It’s not even the exercise of power, at least not in the sense of putting a bill through or having a part in policy decisions. For most of them it is something else. It’s more … seeing people jump. It’s a feeling … knowing that anywhere they go, people will move for them, give way, run errands, gather around … and jump.

Abraham Ribicoff (1910–1998) American politician
Speech, American Studies Club (1953?)

On what drives congressmen. Quoted in Tom Wolfe, "The Ultimate Power: Seeing 'Em Jump," New York (23 Dec 1968)

WIST Quotations

Ribicoff, Abraham -- Speech, American Studies Club (1953?)