Robert Dole Salutes Casket of George H.W. Bush

Robert Dole

Pol Light Moment #161 occurred on December 4, 2018, when Robert Dole stood from his wheelchair to salute the casket of President George H.W. Bush who was lying in state at the United States Capital. Robert Dole served as a United States Senator from Kansas from 1969-1996. Dole was the Senate Majority Leader in 1995-1996 and the Senate Minority Leader from 1987-1995. Prior to serving as a senator he served in the House of Representatives from 1961-1969.

On Tuesday, December 4, 2018, when George H.W. Bush was lying in state at the United States Capital, Robert Dole saluted him. Dole and Bush are both veterans of World War II. Robert Dole, who is now 95 years old and bound to a wheel chair, received assistance to stand in respect at the casket. While standing in front of the casket, Robert Dole saluted George H.W. Bush as a final act of respect to his long-time friend.

Here is a video of this touching moment in history.



Robert Dole has been featured on other Pol Light posts. Find them under the label of Robert Dole on the blog.

Pol Light does not endorse political candidates. We present a brighter side to politics when they are found on either side of the aisle. We don't have to agree with all of a person's politics to recognize these bright moments.

The photo of Robert Dole is in the Public Domain.

John McCain Concedes 2008 Presidential Election

John McCain

Pol Light #159 occurred late in the evening of November 4, 2008, when John McCain conceded the 2008 United States Presidential Election to Barack Obama. John McCain has served as a United States Senator from Arizona since 1986. From 1982-1986 he served in the United States House of Representatives.

The following is a video of Senator John McCain's concession speech delivered from the Arizona Biltmore Hotel in Phoenix on November 4, 2008. 



One of the key portions of the speech included these remarks about Barack Obama:

This is an historic election, and I recognize the special significance it has for African-Americans and for the special pride that must be theirs tonight. 

I've always believed that America offers opportunities to all who have the industry and will to seize it. Sen. Obama believes that, too. But we both recognize that though we have come a long way from the old injustices that once stained our nation's reputation and denied some Americans the full blessings of American citizenship, the memory of them still has the power to wound. 

A century ago, President Theodore Roosevelt's invitation of Booker T. Washington to visit -- to dine at the White House -- was taken as an outrage in many quarters. America today is a world away from the cruel and prideful bigotry of that time. There is no better evidence of this than the election of an African-American to the presidency of the United States. Let there be no reason now for any American to fail cherish their citizenship in this, the greatest nation on Earth (Transcript of John McCain Speech, NPR).

The following is an audio of the entire speech.


John McCain has been featured on other posts at Pol Light. You can read them by searching with the "John McCain" label at Pol Light.

Pol Light does not endorse political candidates. We present a brighter side to politics when they are found on either side of the aisle. We don't have to agree with all of a person's politics to recognize these bright moments.

Photo: The photo of John McCain in this post is in the Public Domain.

John Conyers Helps Grieving Family Travel to Funeral

John Conyers

Pol Light Moment #134 happened in June 2009, when John Conyers provided airline tickets for a family in Detroit to attend their slain relatives funeral in Washington DC.  John Conyers is a member of the US House of Representatives from Detroit who has represented Michigan's 13th District (1st District until 1993) since 1965.

Stephen Johns was shot and killed on June 10, 2009, when he was working as a security guard at the United States Holocaust Museum in Washington DC (Source: Wikipedia).  John Conyers reached out to his Michigan family about their needs and he provided nine airplane tickets for Detroit based members of Stephen Johns' family to fly to Washington DC for the funeral on June 19, 2009.

Special thanks to the Positive Detroit blog for preserving the essential information in June 18, 2009 about this inspiring moment from a Detroit politician.

Pol Light does not endorse political candidates. We present a brighter side to politics when they are found on either side of the aisle. We don't have to agree with all of a person's politics to recognize these bright moments.

The photo of John Conyers is in the Public Domain.

Robert Dole Shares About Turning 90

Robert Dole

Pol Light Moment #124 occurred on July 22, 2013, when Robert Dole talked about turning 90. Robert Dole served as a United States Senator from Kansas from 1969-1996. Dole was the Senate Majority Leader in 1995-1996 and the Senate Minority Leader from 1987-1995. Prior to serving as a senator he served in the House of Representatives from 1961-1969.

Here is the televised interview with Bob Dole about his 90th birthday.

In the video Bob Dole thanked the people of Kansas for their support over the years. Dole said, "I've had a great life. Kansas - the people, have been good to me. And I want to say thak you to them for voting for me (KSHB.com, Mark Clegg, Former Senator Bob Dole Reflects on Kansas, Washingon, and the GOP As He Turns 90, July 22, 2013)."

At the occasion of turning 90, Dole mentioned how he wants to be remembered. He said, "I'd just like people to remember me as somebody who kept the faith, had integrity and honesty - but above all, knowing who I was and where I was from (KSHB.com, Mark Clegg, Former Senator Bob Dole Reflects on Kansas, Washingon, and the GOP As He Turns 90, July 22, 2013)."

Robert Dole has been featured on other Pol Light posts. Find them under the label of Robert Dole on the blog.

Pol Light does not endorse political candidates. We present a brighter side to politics when they are found on either side of the aisle. We don't have to agree with all of a person's politics to recognize these bright moments.

The photo of Robert Dole is in the Public Domain.

Paul Ryan Uses Social Security to Go to College

Paul Ryan

Pol Light Moment #96 happened in August 1988 when Paul Ryan went to college at Miami University in Ohio with money he had saved from receiving Social Security survivors benefits. Paul Ryan is a member of the US House of Representatives from Janesville who has represented Wisconsin's 1st District since 1999.

Paul Ryan was 16 years of age when his father died in the summer of 1986. After the unexpected death of his father by a heart attack, Paul Ryan said, "I grew up real fast (Talking Points Memo, August 20, 2014)."

Paul Ryan received Social Security survivors benefits after his father died until he reached age 18. He saved the money he received from Social Security and used it to pay for his education at Miami University in Ohio. In 1992, Paul Ryan graduated with a bachelor's degree in economics and political science from Miami University (U.S. News & World Report, July 23, 2008).

Pol Light does not endorse political candidates. We present a brighter side to politics when they are found on either side of the aisle. We don't have to agree with all of a person's politics to recognize these bright moments.

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Photo: The photo of Paul Ryan is in the Public Domain.

Elise Stefanik Becomes Youngest Woman Ever Elected to Congress

Pol Light Moment #94 happened on November 4, 2014, when Elise Stefanik was elected to the U.S. Congress to represent New York's 21st Congressional District. Elise Stefanik became the youngest woman ever elected to Congress at age 30. She was born on July 2, 1984, and she secured the primary nomination to represent her party at age 29.

The following is Elise Stefanik giving her acceptance speech the night of November 4, 2014.

Prior to the election of Elise Stefanik, former Brooklyn Representative Elizabeth Holtzman held the record for the youngest woman to serve in Congress. Holtzman was elected in 1973 at age 31 and she continued to check each election cycle to see if a younger woman was in a position to break her record. Elizabeth Holtzman said about Elisie Stafanik's campaign, "But hats off to her. We need more young women in Congress (New York Post, November 3, 2014)."

You can read some more information on Elise Stefanik's election to Congress at these links.

• Meet the Youngest Woman Ever Elected to Congress
• Elise Stefanik Makes History at Midterms

Pol Light does not endorse political candidates. We present a brighter side to politics when they are found on either side of the aisle. We don't have to agree with all of a person's politics to recognize these bright moments.

Bill Cassidy Helps Sick Airline Passenger

Bill Cassidy

Pol Light Moment #73 is when Bill Cassidy helped a sick passenger on a commercial flight on April 7, 2014.  Bill Cassidy is from Baton Rouge and has represented Louisiana in the United States Senate since January, 2015. He served in the US House of Representatives and represented Louisiana's 6th District from 2009-2015.

On April 7, 2014, Bill Cassidy was on Southwest Airlines flight 2157 headed from New Orleans to Baltimore when he was awoken from his nap by an official call for the help of a doctor on the flight to assist a male passenger who had lost consciousness. Bill Cassidy, a medical doctor by profession who specializes in liver diseases, and another doctor on the flight helped the man regain consciousness. The plane then received priority landing and the man was able to get medical treatment on the ground.

More Information: You can find more information about Bill Cassidy helping a sick airline passenger in these articles.

• Doctor-congressman comes to aid of sick passenger
• Bill Cassidy puts on doctor's hat to treat sick passenger on Southwest flight
• Bill Cassidy helps ill flight passenger

Pol Light does not endorse political candidates. We present a brighter side to politics when they are found on either side of the aisle. We don't have to agree with all of a person's politics to recognize these bright moments.

Photo: The photo of Bill Cassidy in this post is in the Public Domain.

Steve King Helps Veterans Visit Their Memorial

Steve King

Pol Light Moment #65 is when Steve King helped Veterans visit the World War II Memorial on October 1, 2013. Steve King is a member of the US House of Representatives who has represented Iowa's 5th District from 2003-2013 and because of redistricting has represented Iowa's 4th District since 2013.

The World War II Memorial along with other open air memorials in Washington DC had been closed and barricaded on October 1, 2013, by the Obama Administration due to the federal government shutdown. Stephen King and other Congressional Representatives helped take down the barricades for veterans to visit the site of the World War II Memorial.

World War II honor vets from Iowa and a delegation from Mississippi arrived for their scheduled visit to the World War II Memorial on October 1, 2013. They were not able to get in because the government put up barricades around the open air memorial. Rep. Steve King reportedly distracted the police, while the barriers were removed (WWII Vets Storm Shut Down Memorial as GOP Congressman Reportedly Distracts Cops). Below is a new story on this moment in political history.

The following tweet on Twitter was an eye witness account of Rep. King's actions at the memorial.

Credit where due -- I watched Rep Steve King distract a park police officer while vets and staffers knocked down the fences here. #shutdown
— Leo Shane III (@LeoShane) October 1, 2013

Rep. Steve King told CNN that he was disappointed that intervention was necessary at all. "We don't have guards around them at any other time," King said (Veterans Break Past World War II Memorial, CNN Blog).

Pol Light does not endorse political candidates. We present a brighter side to politics when they are found on either side of the aisle. We don't have to agree with all of a person's politics to recognize these bright moments.


The photo of Stephen King is in the Public Domain.

John Boehner Keeps Capitol Tours Open

John Boehner

Pol Light Moment #51 is when the Speaker of the House, John Boehner announced on March 7, 2013, that tours of the United States Capitol would not be cancelled due to sequestration budget cuts. John Boehner has served as the Speaker of the House of Representatives since January 3, 2011. He has represented Ohio's 8th Congressional District since 1991.

The following is a video of John Boehner making the announcement about the United States Capitol tours remaining open after the sequestration budget cuts, because the House leadership made other cuts that did not impact the tours.

Here is a copy of the letter John Boehner wrote announcing that United States Capitol tours would remain open.

March 7, 2013

The White House announced today that White House tours are being canceled effective Saturday, March 9, 2013 until further notice, due to staffing reductions resulting from sequestration.

Sequestration, as you may know, is the term for the mandatory federal budget cuts that went into effect March 1 under the terms of a bipartisan budget law enacted in 2011. Under sequestration, federal agencies are required to find ways to reduce unnecessary spending within their budgets, and to do more with less, as many American families are being forced to do in the current economy. 

While I'm disappointed the White House has chosen to comply with sequestration by cutting public tours, I'm pleased to assure that public tours of the United States Capitol will continue. Under the leadership of the House officers and their teams, who oversee daily operations in the Capitol in consultation with the Office of the Speaker, planning for the possibility of sequestration has been underway for some time. Consequently, alternative spending reductions have been implemented within the Capitol complex to ensure public tours and other regular activities can proceed as they normally would. 

I encourage you and your family to visit the U.S. Capitol during your trip to Washington, D.C. If yo haven't already made arrangements through my office for a Capitol tour, I encourage you to do so. Simply contact my congressional office at 202-225-6205

Sincerely,

John Boehner   Source of Letter

Tours of the Capitol may be scheduled at www.visitthecapitol.gov.

Pol Light does not endorse political candidates. We present a brighter side to politics when they are found on either side of the aisle. We don't have to agree with all of a person's politics to recognize these bright moments.

The photo of John Boehner used in this post is in the Public Domain.

Andy Harris Saves 2 Year Olds Life

Andy Harris

Pol Light Moment #26 is when Andy Harris saved the life of 2 year old Nathan Smith on August 26, 2012.   Andy Harris is a United States Congressman who has represented the 1st Congressional District of Maryland since 2011. Rep. Harris is also a physician and an anesthesiologist who works at Memorial Hospital in Easton, Maryland.

On August 26, 2012, Andy Harris took an alternative route because of storms and was driving on Route 50 in Talbot County, Maryland.  While driving on the highway, he saw vehicles pulled over along the side of the road but no damage to any vehicles. As he surveyed the scene he saw a 2 year old named Nathan Smith (the son of Brian and Jess Smith) lying on a blanket by the side of the road.  Harris then stopped to help.

Kevin Rector of the Baltimore Sun reported on the incident this way, "Harris said he knew the boy needed air, and turned him on his side and loosened his jaw to open his airway. At that point, the boy gasped, he said. An ambulance then arrived and took over the medical care of the boy (Baltimore Sun, 9/4/2012)."

Nathan Smith was discovered to have had a viral infection that caused him to have a seizure and stop breathing. Nathan made a full recovery after receiving medical treatment.

Pol Light does not endorse political candidates. We present a brighter side to politics when they are found on either side of the aisle. We don't have to agree with all of a person's politics to recognize these bright moments.

The photo of Congressman Harris was taken from Wikipedia and is in the Public Domain as an official portrait of a United States Government official.

Gabrielle Giffords Steps Down From Congress

Pol Light Moment #2 comes from Arizona, where Gabrielle Giffords who is fighting to recovery from a tragedy decides the best thing for her constituents is for her to step down. This moment includes an ongoing and inspiring fight for recovery from brain injury and and acknowledgment that there are things in life more important than politics.

Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords was shot on January 8, 2011 in Tuscon, Arizona along with 18 other people (Source). For a year Rep. Giffords has been fighting hard to recover from a traumatic brain injury caused by being shot at point blank range on that day.

In an unexpected move, Rep. Gabrielle Giffords resigned her seat in Congress on January 25, 2012, saying she needed more time to work on her recovery and she wanted to do what is best for Arizona. She had represented Arizona's 8th Congressional District from 2007 until her resignation in 2012.

Here is the announcement she made on YouTube about her resignation.

For more information on the long first year of Rep. Giffords recovery, see the ABC News 20/20 story on Gabrielle Giffords recovery.

Pol Light does not endorse political candidates. We present a brighter side to politics when they are found on either side of the aisle. We don't have to agree with all of a person's politics to recognize these bright moments.

Photo: The photo in this post is in the Wikipedia Commons because it is an official photo of a United States Representative.