WIST Quotations https://wist.info Wish I'd Said That! Thu, 30 Apr 2026 22:16:56 +0000 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 https://wist.info/wp/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/little-w-little-box-60x60.jpg Smith, Margaret Chase – WIST Quotations https://wist.info 32 32 43606282 Smith, Margaret Chase -- “Declaration of Conscience,” Congressional Record, vol. 96, 81st Congress, 2d. sess. (1 Jun 1950) https://wist.info/smith-margaret-chase/6435/ https://wist.info/smith-margaret-chase/6435/#comments Mon, 27 Oct 2008 10:08:53 +0000 Dave http://wist.info/wp/?p=6435 It is high time that we stopped thinking politically as Republicans and Democrats about elections and started thinking patriotically as Americans about national security based on individual freedom. It is high time that we all stopped being tools and victims of totalitarian techniques — techniques that, if continued here unchecked, will surely end what we have come to cherish as the American Way of Life.


Margaret Chase Smith (1897-1965) American politician (US Senator, Maine)
“Declaration of Conscience,” Congressional Record, vol. 96, 81st Congress, 2d. sess. (1 Jun 1950)
    (Source) ]]> https://wist.info/smith-margaret-chase/6435/feed/ 1 6435 Smith, Margaret Chase -- “Declaration of Conscience,” Congressional Record, vol. 96, 81st Congress, 2d. sess. (1 Jun 1950) https://wist.info/smith-margaret-chase/6506/ https://wist.info/smith-margaret-chase/6506/#respond Fri, 14 Nov 2008 10:18:13 +0000 Dave http://wist.info/wp/?p=6506 The nation sorely needs a Republican victory. But I don’t want to see the Republican Party ride to political victory on the Four Horsemen of Calumny — Fear, Ignorance, Bigotry, and Smear.


Margaret Chase Smith (1897-1965) American politician (US Senator, Maine)
“Declaration of Conscience,” Congressional Record, vol. 96, 81st Congress, 2d. sess. (1 Jun 1950)

Full text.

 ]]> https://wist.info/smith-margaret-chase/6506/feed/ 0 6506 Smith, Margaret Chase -- “Declaration of Conscience,” Congressional Record, vol. 96, 81st Congress, 2d. sess. (1 Jun 1950) https://wist.info/smith-margaret-chase/6640/ https://wist.info/smith-margaret-chase/6640/#respond Tue, 30 Dec 2008 12:24:19 +0000 Dave http://wist.info/wp/?p=6640 As an American, I condemn a Republican “Fascist” just as much as I condemn a Democrat “Communist.” I condemn a Democrat “Fascist” just as much as I condemn a Republican “Communist.” They are equally dangerous to you and me and to our country. As an American, I want to see our nation recapture the strength and unity it once had when we fought the enemy instead of ourselves.


Margaret Chase Smith (1897-1965) American politician (US Senator, Maine)
“Declaration of Conscience,” Congressional Record, vol. 96, 81st Congress, 2d. sess. (1 Jun 1950)

Full text.

 ]]> https://wist.info/smith-margaret-chase/6640/feed/ 0 6640 Smith, Margaret Chase -- “Declaration of Conscience,” Congressional Record, vol. 96, 81st Congress, 2d. sess. (1 Jun 1950) https://wist.info/smith-margaret-chase/6737/ https://wist.info/smith-margaret-chase/6737/#respond Tue, 27 Jan 2009 10:46:46 +0000 Dave http://wist.info/wp/?p=6737 I don’t believe the American people will uphold any political party that puts political exploitation above national interest. Surely we Republicans aren’t that desperate for victory. I don’t want to see the Republican party win that way. While it might be a fleeting victory for the Republican Party, it would be a more lasting defeat for the American people.


Margaret Chase Smith (1897-1965) American politician (US Senator, Maine)
“Declaration of Conscience,” Congressional Record, vol. 96, 81st Congress, 2d. sess. (1 Jun 1950)

Full text.

 ]]> https://wist.info/smith-margaret-chase/6737/feed/ 0 6737 Smith, Margaret Chase -- “Declaration of Conscience,” Congressional Record, vol. 96, 81st Congress, 2d. sess. (1 Jun 1950) https://wist.info/smith-margaret-chase/6762/ https://wist.info/smith-margaret-chase/6762/#respond Tue, 03 Feb 2009 10:46:44 +0000 Dave http://wist.info/wp/?p=6762 As a United States Senator, I am not proud of the way in which the Senate has been made a publicity platform for irresponsible sensationalism. I am not proud of the reckless abandon in which unproved charges have been hurled from this side of the aisle. I am not proud of the obviously staged, undignified countercharges that have been attempted in retaliation from the other side of the aisle. I don’t like the way the Senate has been made a rendezvous for vilification, for selfish political gain at the sacrifice of individual reputations and national unity.


Margaret Chase Smith (1897-1965) American politician (US Senator, Maine)
“Declaration of Conscience,” Congressional Record, vol. 96, 81st Congress, 2d. sess. (1 Jun 1950)

Full text.

 ]]> https://wist.info/smith-margaret-chase/6762/feed/ 0 6762 Smith, Margaret Chase -- “Declaration of Conscience,” Congressional Record, vol. 96, 81st Congress, 2d. sess. (1 Jun 1950) https://wist.info/smith-margaret-chase/6813/ https://wist.info/smith-margaret-chase/6813/#respond Tue, 17 Feb 2009 10:05:38 +0000 Dave http://wist.info/wp/?p=6813 The American people are sick and tired of being afraid to speak their minds lest they be politically smeared as “Communists” or “Fascists” by their opponents. Freedom of speech is not what it used to be in America. It has been so abused by some that it is not exercised by others. The American people are sick and tired of seeing innocent people smeared and guilty people whitewashed.


Margaret Chase Smith (1897-1965) American politician (US Senator, Maine)
“Declaration of Conscience,” Congressional Record, vol. 96, 81st Congress, 2d. sess. (1 Jun 1950)

Full text.

 ]]> https://wist.info/smith-margaret-chase/6813/feed/ 0 6813 Smith, Margaret Chase -- “Declaration of Conscience” (1950-06-01) https://wist.info/smith-margaret-chase/5333/ https://wist.info/smith-margaret-chase/5333/#respond Thu, 27 Sep 2007 04:46:29 +0000 Dave http://wist.info/wp/?p=5333 Those of us who shout the loudest about Americanism in making character assassinations are all too frequently those who, by our own words and acts, ignore some of the basic principles of Americanism:

The right to criticize.
The right to hold unpopular beliefs.
The right to protest.
The right of independent thought.

The exercise of these rights should not cost one single American citizen his reputation or his right to a livelihood, nor should he be in danger of losing his reputation or livelihood merely because he happens to know someone who holds unpopular beliefs. Who of us doesn’t? Otherwise none of us could call our souls our own. Otherwise thought control would have set in.


Margaret Chase Smith (1897-1965) American politician (US Senator, Maine)
“Declaration of Conscience” (1950-06-01)
    (Source)

Speech given in the US Senate. ]]> https://wist.info/smith-margaret-chase/5333/feed/ 0 5333 Smith, Margaret Chase -- In Time, “Nation: Madame Candidate” (7 Feb 1964) https://wist.info/smith-margaret-chase/13831/ https://wist.info/smith-margaret-chase/13831/#respond Thu, 10 Feb 2011 14:40:52 +0000 Dave http://wist.info/?p=13831 When people keep telling you that you can’t do a thing, you kind of like to try it.


Margaret Chase Smith (1897-1965) American politician (US Senator, Maine)
In Time, “Nation: Madame Candidate” (7 Feb 1964)

On running for President. Full text. ]]> https://wist.info/smith-margaret-chase/13831/feed/ 0 13831 Smith, Margaret Chase -- Speech (11 Nov 1953) https://wist.info/smith-margaret-chase/6252/ https://wist.info/smith-margaret-chase/6252/#respond Tue, 02 Sep 2008 10:38:22 +0000 Dave http://wist.info/wp/?p=6252 My creed is that public service must be more than doing a job efficiently and honestly. It must be a complete dedication to the people and to the nation with full recognition that every human being is entitled to courtesy and consideration, that constructive criticism is not only to be expected but sought, that smears are not only to be expected but fought, that honor is to be earned but not bought.


Margaret Chase Smith (1897-1965) American politician (US Senator, Maine)
Speech (11 Nov 1953) ]]> https://wist.info/smith-margaret-chase/6252/feed/ 0 6252 Smith, Margaret Chase -- Speech, Westbrook Junior College (7 Jun 1953) https://wist.info/smith-margaret-chase/6377/ https://wist.info/smith-margaret-chase/6377/#respond Tue, 07 Oct 2008 10:02:23 +0000 Dave http://wist.info/wp/?p=6377 Moral cowardice that keeps us from speaking our minds is as dangerous to this country as irresponsible talk. The right way is not always the popular and easy way. Standing for right when it is unpopular is a true test of moral character.


Margaret Chase Smith (1897-1965) American politician (US Senator, Maine)
Speech, Westbrook Junior College (7 Jun 1953) ]]> https://wist.info/smith-margaret-chase/6377/feed/ 0 6377