Senator John Warner Quotes Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Poem, O Ship of State

During the height of the financial crisis in September 2008, Senator John Warner rose on the Senate floor to debate with Connecticut Democratic Senator Chris Dodd federal intervention in the financial markets. The Virginia Republican recalls a letter that President Franklin D. Roosevelt wrote to British Prime Minister Winston Churchill in January 1941, in which he quoted from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's poem, O Ship of State, to emphasize the seriousness of the economic crisis facing the country and the need for steady leadership.

Thou, too, sail on, O Ship of State!

Sail on, O Union, strong and great!

Humanity with all its fears,

With all the hopes of future years,

Is hanging breathless on thy fate!" close