WIST Quotations

Ferber, Edna -- Cimarron, ch. 23 [Sabra] (1930)

Dave — Wed, 09 Apr 2025 22:51:59 +0000

If American politics are too dirty for women to take part in, there’s something wrong with American politics.

Edna Ferber (1886–1968) American author and playwright
Cimarron, ch. 23 [Sabra] (1930)

The book is set in the late 19th Century.

Johnson, Lyndon -- Letter (1965-03-15), “Special Message to the Congress on the Right to Vote”

Dave — Fri, 01 Nov 2024 18:48:53 +0000

Unless the right to vote be secure and undenied, all other rights are insecure and subject to denial for all our citizens. The challenge to this right is a challenge to America itself. We must meet this challenge as decisively as we would meet a challenge mounted against our land from enemies abroad.

Lyndon B. Johnson (1908–1973) American politician, educator, US President (1963–69)
Letter (1965-03-15), “Special Message to the Congress on the Right to Vote”

Johnson, Lyndon -- Speech (1960-03-10), U.S. Senate

Dave — Fri, 02 Jun 2023 21:01:19 +0000

The only basis for fearing the votes of men is to fear those men themselves. To deny the right to vote is to increase those fears.

Lyndon B. Johnson (1908–1973) American politician, educator, US President (1963–69)
Speech (1960-03-10), U.S. Senate

As Senate Majority Leader.

Warren, Earl -- Reynolds v. Sims, 377 U.S. 533, 561-562 (1964) [majority opinion]

Dave — Tue, 13 Sep 2022 17:43:49 +0000

Undoubtedly, the right of suffrage is a fundamental in a free and democratic society. Especially since the right to exercise the franchise in a free and unimpaired manner is preservative of other basic civil and political rights, any alleged infringement of the right of citizens to vote must be carefully and meticulously scrutinized.

Earl Warren (1891–1974) American jurist and politician; Chief Justice of the Supreme Court (1953–69)
Reynolds v. Sims, 377 U.S. 533, 561-562 (1964) [majority opinion]

Paine, Thomas -- Essay (1795-07), “Dissertation on First-Principles of Government”

Dave — Tue, 02 Aug 2022 15:41:18 +0000

The right of voting for representatives is the primary right by which other rights are protected. To take away this right is to reduce a man to slavery, for slavery consists in being subject to the will of another, and he that has not a vote in the election of representatives is in this case.

Thomas Paine (1737–1809) American political philosopher and writer
Essay (1795-07), “Dissertation on First-Principles of Government”

Black, Hugo -- Wesberry v. Sanders, 376 U.S. 1, 17–18 (1964) [majority opinion]

Dave — Tue, 07 Dec 2021 18:48:53 +0000

No right is more precious in a free country than that of having a voice in the election of those who make the laws under which, as good citizens, we must live. Other rights, even the most basic, are illusory if the right to vote is undermined. Our Constitution leaves no room for classification of people in a way that unnecessarily abridges this right.

Hugo Black (1886–1971) American politician and jurist; US Supreme Court Justice (1937–71)
Wesberry v. Sanders, 376 U.S. 1, 17–18 (1964) [majority opinion]

The ruling held that congressional districts must have roughly equal populations if possible, such that "one man's vote in a congressional election is to be worth as much as another's."

Johnson, Lyndon -- Speech (1960-03-10), U.S. Senate

Dave — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 12:52:22 +0000

Whatever the laws may provide, however lofty may be their sentiments, a man without a vote is a man without protection; he is virtually helpless.

Lyndon B. Johnson (1908–1973) American politician, educator, US President (1963–69)
Speech (1960-03-10), U.S. Senate

As Senate Majority Leader.