41 Most Famous Patrick Leahy Quotes

Last update:

DISCLAIMER: This post contains affiliate links. Should you make a purchase through our links, we may receive a commission at NO cost to you.

Looking for the best Patrick Leahy quotes? You’ve come to the right place.

Patrick Joseph Leahy is an American politician and attorney who is the senior United States senator from Vermont and serves as the president pro tempore of the United States Senate. A member of the Democratic Party, Leahy is now in his eighth term of office. 

He is the most senior senator in, United States and took office at a younger age than any other current senator. Democrats were first elected to Congress in the wave election of 1974 that followed President Richard Nixon’s resignation over the Watergate scandal. He was third in the presidential line of succession.

He is also the former United States chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee. 

He is a senior politician and currently serving as the President pro tempore of the United States for the 2nd time.

He holds the record to be both the only Democrat and longest-serving senator from Vermont.

Leahy was born to Alba and Howard Francis Leahy in Montpelier, Vermont. Leahy studied political science from Saint Michael’s College in Colchester and graduated in 1961. In 1964, he received his Juris Doctor from Georgetown University Law Center.

Leahy is now serving his 8th successive term of office as a senator of the United States.

Leahy earned his Juris Doctor Degree from Georgetown University Law Center. He was admitted to the bar and became an associate at the firm headed by Philip H. Hoff. He also served as Governor of Vermont.

Leahy entered his professional political career after obtaining his J.D in 1964. He became the associate of the Governor of Vermont, Philip H. Hoff. Later on, he was appointed as the State’s Attorney of Chittenden County by Hoff. 

In 1966, Leahy was elected as a full-term State’s Attorney of Chittenden and re-elected in 1970. 

He practiced law and served for 8 years as a state attorney of Chittenden. Leahy gained a lot of respect and fame for his law enforcement activities. 

Senior Senator Leahy is currently the president pro tempore of the United States Senate. Leahy is the Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee. 

He is the most senior member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and Senate Agriculture Committee. 

Leahy has served as a member of several committees and subcommittees during his 47 year-long political careers. 

Some of the major committees and subcommittees are Agriculture, Forestry, Nutrition. Also Science, Defense, Homeland, Climate, Commerce, and Natural Resources.

Sen. Leahy became the youngest U.S Senator ever to be elected from Vermont at the age of 34.

Sen. Leahy has always remained proactive about the issues of data privacy, relief, human rights, civil liberties, and agriculture. 

After the deadly terrorist attacks of September 11, Leahy headed the negotiations to ensure the protection of civil liberties and rights. 

Sen. Leahy recovered more than $2 billion by closing 1100 offices of the Department of Agriculture through the 1994 Leahy-Lugar bill.

You can find out more about the senator here.

Here’s our collection of the Patrick Leahy Famous Quotes:

Patrick Leahy Quotes on Politics/Power

When I first came to the Senate, people in both parties went out of their way to have personal relationships.

Patrick Leahy

Everyone in Congress wants our country to lead, to build alliances, to help American companies compete, and to protect the interests and security of our citizens. You can’t have it both ways. You can’t expect others to follow if you can’t lead, and you can’t lead if you don’t pay your way.

Patrick Leahy

The rights of copyright holders need to be protected, but some draconian remedies that have been suggested would create more problems than they would solve.

Patrick Leahy

If the United States is to be a beacon of hope around the world, our actions have to match our ideals.

Patrick Leahy

The people of South Sudan deserve leaders who will work to build a democratic and prosperous country, not hold onto power and enrich themselves. The U.S. and other govts. should support peaceful advocates for change, and sanction those who stand in the way.

Patrick Leahy

I remember George W. Bush, who spoke about bringing the country together. Here’s a man who knew that he lost the popular vote but ended up with the Electoral College vote. He had lost that, and he spoke in a very inclusive way of bringing Republicans and Democrats together. It reflected what a president should do. 

Patrick Leahy

Our alliances and our credibility are crucial elements of our working capital in advancing America’s interests in the world, and they have been eroded over the last four years.

Patrick Leahy

You get fifteen democrats in a room, and you get twenty opinions.

Patrick Leahy

Why do the President and Vice-President constantly change the subject when asked to explain why things are going so badly in Iraq? The answer is simple. They have been consistently wrong about Iraq, and the results speak for themselves.

Patrick Leahy

Patrick Leahy Quotes on Tax/Economy

For many Americans, this tax filing season will be a complicated one. All taxpayers must be able to access the resources they need to prepare their taxes.

Patrick Leahy

Yet as taxpayers prepare their 2021 taxes, many still haven’t received prior tax refunds. Others can’t reach the IRS for the most basic questions.

Patrick Leahy

The current challenges IRS faces have been years in the making, caused by systemic underfunding and staff cuts. This must change. I have long fought to increase funding so the IRS can be more responsive. I am working to ensure that the IRS can meet its obligations to taxpayers.

Patrick Leahy

Patrick Leahy Quotes on Foreign Affairs

United States policy toward Cuba is replete with contradictions, hypocrisy, arrogance and missed opportunities. Instead of clinging to a failed policy that has made things worse for the Cuban people, we should be guided by what is in our national interests.

Patrick Leahy

Patrick Leahy Quotes on Equality/Society

It is wrong for the federal government to deny benefits or privileges to couples who have lawfully wed.

Patrick Leahy

Our nation relies on immigrants.

Patrick Leahy

I worked hard to ensure the IIJA would rebuild, repair, and revitalize communities throughout the country, especially in rural areas.

Patrick Leahy

Vermont will receive $1.4B in federal highway funds and $225M for bridges over the next 5 years, a result of the bipartisan infrastructure bill. 

Patrick Leahy

A bedrock principle of our justice system is ensuring a fair day in court, something that is especially important for children who cannot advocate for themselves.

Patrick Leahy

The American public is sick and tired of being lied to.

Patrick Leahy

We should not let the echoes of the bigotry that robbed so many people of the right to marry for so long rob them once again after they have lost their loved ones.

Patrick Leahy
Patrick Leahy won’t seek re-election. But will he do more Batman movies? Credit: NBC News

Patrick Leahy Quotes on Security

If we harm civilians when it could reasonably have been avoided, and if we fail to fairly and promptly help the innocent victims, the local population will turn against us – and make the fight against violent extremists even more difficult.

Patrick Leahy

That the Islamic State is guilty of horrific atrocities is common knowledge. But most Americans seem unaware of the human toll of our own actions, the consequences this has for our national security and our reputation, and that, too often, the civilian casualties we cause are the result of avoidable mistakes. This must change. 

Patrick Leahy

Since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the number of violent extremist groups has grown across multiple continents. From Syria to Somalia to Pakistan, the United States is combating many of these groups – usually with bombs and missiles. Large numbers of innocent people are invariably caught in the middle.

Patrick Leahy

A victim is a victim is a victim. We should stop setting up standards that say we will have one standard of law enforcement for one group of victims but not for another.

Patrick Leahy

Contrary to what some believe, taking all reasonable and feasible precautions to protect civilians – and mitigating the resulting anger when we harm them – does not need to impede military operations.

Patrick Leahy

Patrick Leahy Quotes on Rights/Justice/Constitution

Seeking equal protection under our laws for the LGBT community is the right thing to do.

Patrick Leahy

It is common sense that in our immigration courts, where children fleeing devastating violence abroad often find themselves, kids need lawyers to advocate on their behalf. After all, lawyers go to school for years to understand the nuances of our legal system.

Patrick Leahy

The American people deserve to have a fully functioning Supreme Court.

Patrick Leahy

A lot of people in my state of Vermont are gun owners.

Patrick Leahy

The Supreme Court of the United States is too important to our democracy for it to be understaffed for partisan reasons.

Patrick Leahy

There have been 111 Justices in the Supreme Court of the United States. Only three have been women. If she is confirmed, Solicitor General Kagan will bring the Supreme Court to an historical high-water mark, with three women concurrently serving as Justices.

Patrick Leahy

Judiciary is where my passion is.

Patrick Leahy

We need to consider nominations as thoroughly and carefully as the American people deserve. No one is entitled to a free pass to a lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court.

Patrick Leahy

About the only gun law we have in Vermont is during deer season. If you have a semi-automatic, you can’t have more than six rounds in it.

Patrick Leahy

Other Patrick Leahy Quotes

I’m not in good enough shape to be Batman. I’ll just be Bruce Wayne.

Patrick Leahy

A Grateful Dead concert is much more than the music: it’s an experience, almost like being in a family of thousands of people.

Patrick Leahy

I’m an old trial lawyer.

Patrick Leahy

Stealing is stealing. I don’t care if it’s on the Internet or you’re breaking into a warehouse somewhere – it’s theft.

Patrick Leahy

I’m a gun owner.

Patrick Leahy

I relax more when I’m behind the camera than anything else. I love that.

Patrick Leahy

Batman doesn’t have any superpowers. He has to use his brain and his courage. That’s what always appealed to me.

Patrick Leahy

Summary

I hope you have enjoyed our collection of some of the best Patrick Leahy quotes! 

Don’t forget to share them on social media with your friends and family.

As a reminder, you can contact the senator here.

Stay Strong!


Similar Content


Photo of author
Editor
Sabrina is a former campaign manager who has decided to focus her effort to help people contact senators and get help. She leads our Editorial Team with Ronald and Lawrence to curate content and resources that help us navigate the system.

Leave a Comment