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Mike Gravel Quotes (1930-2021)
President, Politician
About Mike Gravel
Maurice Robert "Mike" Gravel (/ɡrəˈvɛl/; born May 13, 1930 – June 26, 2021) is an American politician who was a Democratic United States Senator from Alaska from 1969 to 1981 and a candidate in the 2008 U.S. presidential election and the 2020 U.S. presidential election. Gravel is known for his anti-war, anti-establishment, and anti-corporate political stances.
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Explore our curated collection of the most famous and impactful Mike Gravel quotes.
“COOPER: How many people here a private jet or a chartered jet to get here tonight? GRAVEL: I took the train…”
“The military-industrial complex not only controls our government lock, stock and barrel, but they control our culture.”
““George Bush's oil war was a mistake. We need to stop killing Americans and Iraqis. Been around since the beginning of time. It's not a war. It should be a police action based on global intelligence. It's the most serious problem facing humanity today.””
“Chris Matthews: “Where have you been for 35 years, sir?” Mike Gravel: “Hiding under a rock for ten years because I was so disgusted.” -- On Gravel's hiatus from politics. Interview.”
““The people must be brought into the operation of government, to make the laws that affect their lives, and thereby become the fourth check in our government’s system of checks and balances.” -- Mike Gravel on the 'National Initiative'. Video.”
““First off, what’s wrong with Iran acquiring nuclear devices. Truthfully, look at it. We’ve got ‘em. China’s got ‘em. India’s got ‘em. Anybody’s who’s afraid of us has got them." -- On Iran’s Nuclear Program. Interview.”
““No, outsourcing is not the problem. What is the problem is our trade agreements that we have that benefit the management and, of course, the shareholders, and have neglected on either side of the issue, whether it’s in Mexico or in other countries or the United States. That’s the problem that must be addressed.””
“"George Bush communicated over a year ago that we would not leave there until he left office. What, do we not believe him? … How do you get out? You pass a law. Not a resolution, a law, making it a felony to be there." — On Gravel's plan to pull out of Iraq. Speech.”
““Education? Yes. Health care? Yes. But understand that the health care that we’re talking about, by and large, is going backwards, going backwards. We’re subsidizing the insurance companies. And all the plans that I’ve heard of, except Dennis’s, is a continued subsidization of the insurance companies.” ”
““But that’s before I had a chance to stand with them a couple of three times. It’s like the Senate. You go there and you say, ‘How the hell did I get here?’ You stay there six months, and you say, ‘How the hell did the rest of them get here?’” — On Gravel's intent to win the Presidency. Speech.”
““How the hell do you think I was able to stop the draft with a five month filibuster? I’m a good tactician! And here’s how you do it Chris. You know that he’s going to veto it, so you get 2/3rds vote to override his veto!” — Being questioned on the viability of passing anti-war legislation. Interview.”
““What we’ve got to have is a law! A law, not a resolution, a law.. A law that says that if you don’t get out of Iraq, what you’ve got to do is prosecute the President criminally for disobeying the law!” — On how his views on the Iraq War differed from then-candidate Obama’s. Interview.”
““If we were to chase them out, aren't we playing to the nativists, the crazies, who are opposed to anybody coming in since they got here? And the media plays into this. The Congress plays into this. Just open our doors. When the jobs are there to be filled, they'll come in. If the jobs aren't there, they'll go home. We can deal with all these other problems in trade.””
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Amy Goodman on Mike Gravel
“Gravel attempted to read the Pentagon Papers into the public record. He went to the floor of the Senate to filibuster a bill he opposed that would extend the military draft, but a Senate quorum was not present, so that ploy failed. He then called a late-night meeting of the Subcommittee on Buildings and Grounds, which he chaired, and began reading the papers aloud there. He opened with a statement: "Recently I gained possession of the Pentagon Papers. I do not have all of them, but I believe that I possess more than half the work. I did not seek these papers. When they were offered I accepted them ... It is a remarkable work." He continued, "As I speak now, the war goes on. Immediate disclosure of these papers will change the policy that supports the war. If we act today, perhaps one life will be saved, one village not bombed..."”
About Mike Gravel
Maurice Robert "Mike" Gravel (/ɡrəˈvɛl/; born May 13, 1930 – June 26, 2021) is an American politician who was a Democratic United States Senator from Alaska from 1969 to 1981 and a candidate in the 2008 U.S. presidential election and the 2020 U.S. presidential election. Gravel is known for his anti-war, anti-establishment, and anti-corporate political stances.