Senator Harkin’s Introduction of former Republican Congressman Jim Leach

(In American sign language) I’m happy to see so many people with disabilities here. I am proud to have your support for the Democratic Party.

(Spoken) We Iowans have a strong, vibrant, two-party political system. However, we do not genuflect to blind ideology. We value thoughtful discourse rather than slogans and posturing we hold dear our freedom.

As our state motto declares: “our liberties we prize, and our rights we will maintain.” We are willing to do what’s right, not what is easy. And nobody exemplifies the Iowan spirit more than Jim Leach-our thoughtful, respected, long-time former Republican congressman from Iowa City.

Back in the early 1970s, Jim was a Foreign Service officer in the Nixon Administration who served as a delegate to the Geneva disarmament conference and the United Nations General Assembly. But when Richard Nixon fired his attorney general and the independent counsel investigating Watergate in 1973, Jim resigned in protest. Two years later, he ran for Congress and won.

Over the next 30 years, Jim stood for election 14 more times. He served three decades in the House. He chaired two committees. He ran two national organizations dedicated to Republican causes. He did all of these things as a strong, proud, influential Republican.

At a time when some would have us believe that America is a nation divided by red state and blue state, Jim is here today because he knows that red and blue are not nearly as important as red, white, and blue.

Ladies and gentlemen, it is my pleasure to introduce a fellow Iowan, a thoughtful lifelong Republican, and a proud supporter of Barack Obama as the next President of the United States-Jim Leach.