Attributed to Lowell Weicker
Separation of church and state is the United States’ “greatest contribution to world civilization.”
“The United States is not a Christian nation. It is a great nation with Christians, among others, in it.
“The time has come to knock off this religion business in American politics. There’s no end to the mischief that can occur—it is like putting nitroglycerine in a Warring blender.…
“Our greatness is based on the fact that there is no official religion.”
Honorable Lowell P. Weicker Jr.
He gained national recognition as a U.S. Senator during the period of congressional hearings considering charges brought against the thirty-seventh President of the United States Richard Milhous Nixon.
The United States Senate Watergate Committee (officially, the Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities) considering the case of President Nixon was formed February 7, 1973; and dissolved after publication of its final report June 27, 1974.
https://watergate.info/impeachment/members-of-the-house-judiciary-committee
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Senate_Watergate_Committee#Members
https://watergate.info/chronology/1974-chronology
https://www.azquotes.com/author/41224-Lowell_P_Weicker_Jr
Lowell Palmer Weicker Jr. was born 1931 in Paris, France, of American parents. His membership in political parties included Republican (before 1990); Connecticut Party (1990–1995); Independent (1995–2023)
National, Governmental Service
Advice and Self Perception
“I think the income tax was probably the toughest governmental exercise I had ever been through.”
“I would like to think my … crowning achievement was I wrote most of the disabilities laws in the country, Watergate, oceans research. I can’t say I enjoyed Watergate, but I think I did a fair job.”
June 28, 2023, News
Remembered
The United States Senate Watergate Committee (officially, the Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities) considering the case of President Nixon was formed February 7, 1973; and dissolved after publication of its final report June 27, 1974.
Senate Watergate Committee SENATORS
|
Members of Democratic Party
|
Members of Republican Party
|
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Senate_Watergate_Committee#Members
https://watergate.info/chronology/1974-chronology
https://www.azquotes.com/author/41224-Lowell_P_Weicker_Jr
Paris, France1931 - Middletown, Connecticut 2023
National, Governmental Service
- Active duty and reserve U.S. Army (1950s and 1960s)
- First Selectman of the Connecticut town of Greenwich (1964–1968)
- Member of the Connecticut House of Representatives (January 1963 – January 1969)
- Member of the U.S. House of Representatives (January 3, 1969 – January 3, 1971)
- Member of the U.S. Senate (January 3, 1971 – January 3, 1989)
- Governor of Connecticut (January 9, 1991 – January 4, 1995)
Advice and Self Perception
Weicker in interview with Hartford Courant
To the young and to Contenders
“Don’t be afraid to lose.” “If you’re not afraid to lose, you’re the most dangerous man or woman on the field.
“You can speak the truth. … Maybe, if you tell the truth, you’ll lose. It is also true (that) maybe… you’ll win.”
“Forget the party.… You’ve got to value the state of Connecticut more than your political party.”
In office, there must be “negotiations” with officials who hold membership political parties other than your own.
Legacy as Perceived by Weicker
“I think the income tax was probably the toughest governmental exercise I had ever been through.”
“I would like to think my … crowning achievement was I wrote most of the disabilities laws in the country, Watergate, oceans research. I can’t say I enjoyed Watergate, but I think I did a fair job.”
June 28, 2023, News
Remembered
“I admire his independent way of leading …”His “service to our nation and state was always driven by the public good, whether it was caring for the disabled or defending our democracy and the constitution— (he never shied away) from entering ‘the arena’ of public affairs….”
He “never ducked a tough battle, absolutely convinced that he was right, and he usually was. He was always bigger than life, and he always will be. …”— Current Governor of Connecticut Edward “Ned” Miner Lamont Jr—
— Former Member of the Connecticut State House and current Member of the U.S. House of Representatives Joseph “Joe” David Courtney—
As Connecticut’s governor, he “helped create the state income tax while becoming one of the most dominant figures in Connecticut politics for decades.”—Hartford Courant—
Context: Exemplary of Modern Era’s True Blue
Weicker's passing opens a moment to reflect on U.S. eras and particularly the Modern era, which at present has the look and feel of a regressive era.
Major Eras catalogued in U.S. history…
according to some historians and journalists, are:
- The Age of Exploration (1492-1585)
- The Colonial Era (1607-1754)
- The Federalist Period (1788 -1800)
- The Era of Westward Expansion (1801-1861) [including Age of Jackson 1815-1840 and 1830s “Trail of Tears” forced removal of Native American tribes]
- The Reconstruction Era (1866-1877)
- The Prohibition Era (1920 to 1933)
- The Cold War Era (1945/1947-1991) and
- The Second Cold War Era (Cold War II or New Cold War beginning with U.S.-led NATO expansion to incorporate Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic from late 1990s, or from U.S. launched Global War on Terrorism in 2001).
Modern or Medieval
The U.S. Modern era—meaning a time “still within living memory”— is dated by researchers, historians, thinkers as beginning at the end of World War II in 1945 and extending through the present day.In terms of quality of being or all-round conditions—more advanced than earlier ancient and medieval times—the Modern Era is characterized by substantive forward movement not mere frivolity, fad, self-absorption, backwardness in act or attitude.
The Modern era is known for marked progress driven by deliberate human effort—and aimed at bettering the human condition through advances in a variety of sectors: politics, industry, society, economics, commerce, transport, communication, mechanization, automation, science, medicine, technology, and culture—that transform an Old World into a Modern or New World.
Whatever is the nature of the individual religion, in Weicker’s words The swing left or right is too extreme to hold the center, to mend and uphold the Union.
Sources
Connecticut Mirror June 28, 2023 “Connecticut reacts to the death of Lowell Weicker: The former Connecticut governor and U.S. senator played an outsized role in state politics during his career” Mark Pazniokas and Erica E. Phillips https://ctmirror.org/2023/06/28/lowell-weicker-death/
Hartford Courant, June 28, 2023“Former Connecticut Gov. and U.S. Sen. Lowell P. Weicker dies at 92” Author Christopher Keating | Reporter https://www.courant.com/2023/06/28/former-connecticut-lowell-p-weicker-dies-at-92/
Encyclopedia sources
Quote source
The time has come to remove religion (no matter how “religion” is defined or expressed) from American politics. Retaining religion subjective and divisive by definition “is like putting nitroglycerine in a Warring blender,” Lowell Weicker said.
“The United States is not a Christian nation. It is a great nation with Christians among others in it. But our greatness is based on the fact that there is no official religion.”
Sources
Connecticut Mirror June 28, 2023 “Connecticut reacts to the death of Lowell Weicker: The former Connecticut governor and U.S. senator played an outsized role in state politics during his career” Mark Pazniokas and Erica E. Phillips https://ctmirror.org/2023/06/28/lowell-weicker-death/
Hartford Courant, June 28, 2023“Former Connecticut Gov. and U.S. Sen. Lowell P. Weicker dies at 92” Author Christopher Keating | Reporter https://www.courant.com/2023/06/28/former-connecticut-lowell-p-weicker-dies-at-92/
Encyclopedia sources
Quote source
https://www.azquotes.com/author/41224-Lowell_P_Weicker_Jr
Composition and Commentary excluding quoted material and individual images
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