American politics

Explore 200 quotes about American politics

Is it not the glory of the people of America, that, whilst they have paid a decent regard to the opinions of former times and other nations, they have not suffered a blind veneration for antiquity, for custom, or for names, to overrule the suggestions of their own good sense, the knowledge of their own situation, and the lessons of their own experience?

James Madison

Federalist 14

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Topic

American politics US Constitution Politics

Author

James Madison

Source

Federalist 14 The Federalist Papers

Medium

Essay

Genre

Political literature

Language

English

Time

1787 1780s 18th century

Era

American Revolutionary Period

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Madison, James [published as Publius]. "Federalist No. 14: Objections to the Proposed Constitution From Extent of Territory Answered." New York Packet, 30 Nov. 1787.

Current Citation

Madison, James. "No. 14: Proposed union not too large for republican government.--Madison." The Federalist: A Commentary on the Constitution of the United States, edited by Robert Scigliano. The Modern Library, 2001.

I think there is blame on both sides. You look at, you look at both sides.

Donald Trump

On the 2017 rally in Charlottesville, Virginia that included white supremacists and counter-demonstrators.

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Topic

American politics

Speaker

Donald Trump

Medium

Press conference

Language

English

Time

2017 2010s 21st century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Trump, Donald. Statement about deadly violence in Virginia. 15 Aug. 2017, Trump Tower, New York City, NY, USA. Press conference.

The American people have spoken-but it's going to take a little while to determine exactly what they said.

Bill Clinton

More information about this quote

Topic

Elections American politics Politics

Speaker

Bill Clinton

Language

English

Time

2000 2000s 20th century

Authentication Score 2

Citation

Clinton, Bill. Comment on 2000 presidential election. 8 Nov. 2000, The White House, Washington, DC, USA.

Well, when the president does it…that means that it is not illegal.

Richard Nixon

More information about this quote

Topic

Presidential power Executive power American Presidency American politics

Speaker

Richard Nixon

Source

Interview with David Frost

Medium

Interview

Language

English

Time

1977 1970s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Nixon, Richard. "Nixon Interviews." Interviewed by David Frost. ABC, 19 May 1977, pt. 3.

The influence of factious leaders may kindle a flame within their particular States, but will be unable to spread a general conflagration through the other States.

James Madison

Federalist 10

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Topic

Political faction Federalism American politics

Author

James Madison

Source

Federalist 10 The Federalist Papers

Medium

Essay

Genre

Political literature

Language

English

Time

1787 1780s 18th century

Era

American Revolutionary Period

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Madison, James [published as Publius]. "Federalist No. 10: The Same Subject Continued: The Union as a Safeguard Against Domestic Faction and Insurrection." Daily Advertiser, 22 Nov. 1787.

Current Citation

Madison, James. "No. 10: An extensive republic a remedy for mischiefs of faction.--Madison." The Federalist: A Commentary on the Constitution of the United States, edited by Robert Scigliano. The Modern Library, 2001.

The patriots of 1776 did not fight to replace the tyranny of a king with the privileges of a few or the rule of a mob. They gave to us a republic, a government of, and by, and for the people, entrusting each generation to keep safe our founding creed. And for more than two hundred years, we have.

Barack Obama

Second Inaugural Address of Barack Obama

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Topic

American founding American democracy American politics

Speaker

Barack Obama

Source

Second Inaugural Address of Barack Obama Presidential inaugural address

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Language

English

Time

2013 2010s 21st century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Obama, Barack. "Second Inaugural Address." 21 Jan. 2013, West Front, US Capitol Building, Washington, DC, USA.

Constantly bearing in mind that in entering into society "individuals must give up a share of liberty to preserve the rest," it will be my desire so to discharge my duties as to foster with our brethren in all parts of the country a spirit of liberal concession and compromise.

Andrew Jackson

Second Inaugural Address of Andrew Jackson

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Topic

Political compromise Political theory American politics

Speaker

Andrew Jackson

Source

Second Inaugural Address of Andrew Jackson Presidential inaugural address

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Language

English

Time

1833 1830s 19th century

Authentication Score 2

Citation

Jackson, Andrew. "Second Inaugural Address." 4 Mar. 1833, House Chamber, US Capitol Building, Washington, DC, USA.

Let the word go forth from this time and place, to friend and foe alike, that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans—born in this century, tempered by war, disciplined by a hard and bitter peace, proud of our ancient heritage.

John F. Kennedy

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Topic

Americans American politics

Speaker

John F. Kennedy

Source

Inaugural Address of John F. Kennedy

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Language

English

Time

1961 1960s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Kennedy, John F. "Inaugural Address." 20 Jan. 1961, East Portico, US Capitol Building, Washington, DC, USA.

The powers delegated by the proposed Constitution to the federal government are few and defined. Those which are to remain in the State governments are numerous and indefinite.

James Madison

Federalist 45

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More information about this quote

Topic

Constitutional theory Federalism American politics

Author

James Madison

Source

Federalist 45 The Federalist Papers

Medium

Essay

Genre

Political literature

Language

English

Time

1788 1780s 18th century

Era

American Revolutionary Period

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Madison, James [published as Publius]. "Federalist No. 45: The Alleged Danger From the Powers of the Union to the State Governments Considered." Independent Journal, 26 Jan. 1788.

Current Citation

Madison, James. "'No. 45: Whether the mass of powers will endanger the states.--Madison." The Federalist: A Commentary on the Constitution of the United States, edited by Robert Scigliano. The Modern Library, 2001.

We are a nation that has a government—not the other way around. And this makes us special among the nations of the Earth. Our government has no power except that granted it by the people. It is time to check and reverse the growth of government, which shows signs of having grown beyond the consent of the governed.

Ronald Reagan

First Inaugural Address of Ronald Reagan

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Topic

Limited government Citizen and state American politics

Speaker

Ronald Reagan

Source

First Inaugural Address of Ronald Reagan Presidential inaugural address

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Language

English

Time

1981 1980s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Reagan, Ronald. "First Inaugural Address." 20 Jan. 1981, West Front, US Capitol Building, Washington, DC, USA.

This will not stand. This will not stand, this aggression against Kuwait.

George H.W. Bush

Press Conference, August 5, 1990

On Iraq's invasion of Kuwait.

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Topic

Persian Gulf War American politics International politics

Speaker

George H.W. Bush

Source

Press Conference, August 5, 1990

Medium

Press conference

Language

English

Time

1990 1990s 20th century

Authentication Score 1

Citation

Bush, George H. W. Remark during news conference about the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. 5 Aug. 1990, South Lawn of the White House, Washington, DC, USA.

We're the party that wants to see an America in which people can still get rich.

Ronald Reagan

More information about this quote

Topic

Republicans American politics

Speaker

Ronald Reagan

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Language

English

Time

1982 1980s 20th century

Authentication Score 2

Citation

Reagan, Ronald. Remark at Republican congressional dinner. Salute to President Ronald Reagan Dinner. 4 May 1982, Washington, DC, USA.

North Vietnam cannot defeat or humiliate the United States. Only Americans can do that.

Richard Nixon

Read this speech at The Nixon Library

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Topic

Vietnam War War American politics

Speaker

Richard Nixon

Source

Silent Majority Speech on the War in Vietnam

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Language

English

Time

1969 1960s 20th century

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Nixon, Richard. Televised address to the Nation on the War in Vietnam. 3 Nov. 1969, Washington, DC, USA.

Current Citation

Nixon, Richard. Richard Nixon: Speeches, Writings, Documents, edited by Rick Perlstein. Princeton University Press, 2008, ch. 19.

We lack, at some core level, meaning in our individual lives and meaning collectively-that sense that our lives are part of some greater effort, that we are connected to one another... We need a new politics of meaning. We need a new ethos of individual responsibility and caring. We need a new definition of civil society which answers the unanswerable questions posed by both the market forces and the governmental ones, as to how we can have a society that fills us up again and makes us feel that we are part of something bigger than ourselves.

Hillary Rodham Clinton

Speech at the University of Texas, April 7, 1993

More information about this quote

Topic

American politics Meaninglessness

Speaker

Hillary Rodham Clinton

Source

Speech at the University of Texas, April 7, 1993

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Language

English

Time

1993 1990s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Clinton, Hillary. Speech at the University of Texas at Austin. Liz Carpenter Lecture Series. 7 Apr. 1993, Austin, TX, USA.

Clearly, mistakes were made.

George H.W. Bush

Speech to the American Enterprise Institute, December 3, 1986

On the Iran-Contra scandal.

More information about this quote

Topic

Iran-Contra Political scandals American politics

Speaker

George H.W. Bush

Source

Speech to the American Enterprise Institute, December 3, 1986

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Language

English

Time

1986 1980s 20th century

Authentication Score 1

Citation

Bush, George H. W. Speech at the American Enterprise Institute. 3 Dec. 1986, American Enterprise Institute, Washington, DC, USA.

By a plan known only to Providence, the stolen sons and daughters of Africa helped to awaken the conscience of America. The very people traded into slavery helped set America free. My nation's journey toward justice has not been easy, and it is not over. The racial bigotry fed by slavery did not end with slavery or with segregation. And many of the issues that still trouble America have roots in the bitter experience of other times. But however long the journey, our destination is set: liberty and justice for all.

George W. Bush

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Topic

Civil rights American politics

Speaker

George W. Bush

Genre

Political speech

Language

English

Time

2003 2000s 21st century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Bush, George W. Remarks at Goree Island, Senegal. 8 July 2003, Île de Gorée, Dakar, Senegal.

No one man can terrorize a whole nation unless we are all his accomplices.

Edward R. Murrow

On Joseph McCarthy.

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Topic

McCarthyism Red Scare Cold War Communism American politics

Speaker

Edward R. Murrow

Source

See It Now

Medium

TV program

Language

English

Time

1954 1950s 20th century

Authentication Score 2

Citation

Murrow, Edward R. Private comments to staff prior to broadcast of See It Now. 9 Mar. 1954, New York City, NY, USA.

I actually did vote for the $87 billion, before I voted against it.

John Kerry

On a vote to fund the 2003 Iraq War.

More information about this quote

Topic

Iraq War American politics

Speaker

John Kerry

Statement Type

Political gaffe

Language

English

Time

2004 2000s 21st century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Kerry, John. Remark about the $87 billion bill. 16 Mar. 2004, Marshall University, Huntington, WV, USA.

I have fought against the people of the North because I believed they were seeking to wrest from the South its dearest rights. But I have never cherished toward them bitter or vindictive feelings, and I have never seen the day when I did not pray for them.

Robert E. Lee

More information about this quote

Topic

American Civil War North vs. south American politics

Speaker

Robert E. Lee

Language

English

Time

1865 1860s 19th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Lee, Robert E. Spoken to a friend who condemned the North at the end of the war. c. 1865.

Current Citation

Lee, Robert E. Quoted in The Civil War: An Illustrated History, by Geoffrey C. Ward. Alfred A. Knopf, 1990, ch. 5.

We are not about to send American boys 9 or 10,000 miles away from home to do what Asian boys ought to be doing for themselves.

Lyndon B. Johnson

More information about this quote

Topic

Vietnam War American politics

Speaker

Lyndon B. Johnson

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Statement Type

Broken promise Promises and vows

Language

English

Time

1964 1960s 20th century

Authentication Score 2

Citation

Johnson, Lyndon B. Remarks in Memorial Hall. 21 Oct. 1964, Memorial Hall, Akron University, Akron, OH, USA.