I did not expect to be here this long. And my wife, marcelle and i talked about it right after the last election. And we pretty firmly said thered be a last one. I knew from the polls that every day out i could easily be reelected this year. But i. Me too. We wanted to go home. I want to have more time. My kids are grandkids. We both like school, but i would have more time for that. But also, i. Its time for somebody else to come in there. And i wanted to be able to do things, but i. University of vermont and other places to help people. Oh, whats happened . The last half century, you know, youre you are not, in fact, the youre the president protem of the senate, but you are not the oldest senator. There are four others who are older than you, senator feinstein is 89. She was just elected to another term. Senator grassley is 88. Hes in the middle of a reelection campaign. Why is it so hard for so many senators to do what you have decided to do . Well, each one has to answer their own r
Last election. And we pretty firmly said thered be a last one. I knew from the polls that every day out i could easily be reelected this year. But i. Me too. We wanted to go home. I want to have more time. My kids are grandkids. We both like school, but i would have more time for that. But also, i. Its time for somebody else to come in there. And i wanted to be able to do things, but i. University of vermont and other places to help people. Oh, whats happened . The last half century, you know, youre you are not, in fact, the youre the president protem of the senate, but you are not the oldest senator. There are four others who are older than you, senator feinstein is 89. She was just elected to another term. Senator grassley is 88. Hes in the middle of a reelection campaign. Why is it so hard for so many senators to do what you have decided to do . Well, each one has to answer their own reasons. Of course, i served there with 400, approximately 400 of the 1900 senators whove been here
Last election. And we pretty firmly said thered be a last one. I knew from the polls that every day out i could easily be reelected this year. But i. Me too. We wanted to go home. I want to have more time. My kids are grandkids. We both like school, but i would have more time for that. But also, i. Its time for somebody else to come in there. And i wanted to be able to do things, but i. University of vermont and other places to help people. Oh, whats happened . The last half century, you know, youre you are not, in fact, the youre the president protem of the senate, but you are not the oldest senator. There are four others who are older than you, senator feinstein is 89. She was just elected to another term. Senator grassley is 88. Hes in the middle of a reelection campaign. Why is it so hard for so many senators to do what you have decided to do . Well, each one has to answer their own reasons. Of course, i served there with 400, approximately 400 of the 1900 senators whove been here
Senator patrick leahy, youre doing something that is hard for a lot of senators to do. And that is to retire voluntarily. What made you decide to do that . Well, i never thought i was going to be here this long. You know, im the only democrat elected vermont history, the youngest one time. And everybody said id be a one term senator. I thought that was quite possible, but then it got a little bit easier getting reelected. I did not expect to be here this long. And my wife, marcelle and i talked about it right after the last election. And we pretty firmly said thered be a last one. I knew from the polls that every day out i could easily be reelected this year. But i. Me too. We wanted to go home. I want to have more time. My kids are grandkids. We both like school, but i would have more time for that. But also, i. Its time for somebody else to come in there. And i wanted to be able to do things, but i. University of vermont and other places to help people. Oh, whats happened . The last
Term senator. I thought that was quite possible, but then it got a little bit easier getting reelected. I did not expect to be here this long. And my wife, marcelle and i talked about it right after the last election. And we pretty firmly said thered be a last one. I knew from the polls that every day out i could easily be reelected this year. But i. Me too. We wanted to go home. I want to have more time. My kids are grandkids. We both like school, but i would have more time for that. But also, i. Its time for somebody else to come in there. And i wanted to be able to do things, but i. University of vermont and other places to help people. Oh, whats happened . The last half century, you know, youre you are not, in fact, the youre the president protem of the senate, but you are not the oldest senator. There are four others who are older than you, senator feinstein is 89. She was just elected to another term. Senator grassley is 88. Hes in the middle of a reelection campaign. Why is it s