Senator [George] Mitchell is a man of many talents and he's swift on his feet, but one would not think of him as 'dancing with the stars.' And we had this great rock 'n' roll fund raiser. Barbara Mikulski More Quotes by Barbara Mikulski More Quotes From Barbara Mikulski What I like best in Baltimore is the people, the neighborhoods and what goes on in the neighborhoods. Each has its own stories, own diners and own quirks. It's about community. I also like everything Old Bay. Barbara Mikulski community goes-on people I'm so proud of Maryland's firefighters, risking their lives to protect others, but we need to protect our protectors with the best equipment training and resources Barbara Mikulski firefighter training needs George [Mitchell] introduced the idea that we'd go on a retreat [and] to really regularize caucuses. He's the one who had I think [Tom] Daschle become the Democratic Policy Committee chairman, so I think it lived through with Tom. Barbara Mikulski goes-on ideas thinking There was a whole group that really welcomed me: George Mitchell was one, Ted Kennedy, Chris Dodd, the reformers were really delighted to see me. So if you were one of those squeaky clean, shiny bright, let's reform the world, you were very glad to see Barb Mikulski, and George Mitchell was in that category. Barbara Mikulski reform groups world Senator Paul Sarbanes really was a big help to me. He was so well known and so well respected, and he said, "Give her a chance here." And he showed me the ways of power and the corridors of power, [as did] Bob Byrd. [They] helped with [my] committee assignments. Barbara Mikulski bob giving way I held out my hand and George Mitchell said, "Like in everything else, you lead and I'll follow." And the crowd broke up, and we did a twirl or two around the dance floor. And that's like him, you know, he was there for his members, he campaigned for us, he believed in us, and he was really a good sport as well. Barbara Mikulski sports two hands I didn't know how we were going to get jobs out of NAFTA, but I tend to be suspicious of these things, like NAFTAs and WTOs and so on. Barbara Mikulski nafta know-how jobs I think George Mitchell believed in promoting women. Barbara Mikulski promoting thinking I think the legacy was set because the way George Mitchell was the leader enabled Tom Daschle to be the leader he is. It carried on the spirit of integrity and of reform, of also working both with committee chairmen but bringing in the newer members to be able to have a voice and a say and participate in the deliberations, to always look at a modern way of doing it. Barbara Mikulski voice integrity thinking His great passion for education and [making sure] people have an opportunity. Of course that's what came out of the George Mitchell Institute and his scholarships in those high schools. Barbara Mikulski passion opportunity school In my state [ Maryland] we've lost jobs to NAFTA, we did not gain jobs from NAFTA. But I think it's very difficult when your state is right up against the northern border, you do see things differently. Barbara Mikulski borders jobs thinking When you're up in Maine, there is Canada, I mean it's looking right at you; it's a different viewpoint. Barbara Mikulski viewpoints different mean George Mitchell was a very good leader, and we were more than satisfied with his leadership. And I know the guys were jealous. Barbara Mikulski jealous guy leader I would say that in some ways George Mitchell is kind of an old fashioned guy, in terms of these basic values, but he was a very modern person, encouraging, he was not only accepting but he was actually encouraging. Barbara Mikulski guy kind way Martha Pope herself is a legend within the institution, and he was enormously supportive. And me and the women candidates. Barbara Mikulski legends pope supportive I knew of Senator [George] Mitchell because he was very close friends with who was soon to be the senior senator, Paul Sarbanes. Paul Sarbanes and George Mitchell were kind of pals together. Barbara Mikulski pals senior together One hundred thousand dollars was the bridge that enabled me to go on TV, not miss a beat or miss an opportunity, and raise then my own money to carry me forth. And that's how I got to be the first Democratic woman in the United States Senate's history. Barbara Mikulski bridges missing opportunity My own father had died of Alzheimer's. George [Mitchell] had been also, I think, deeply moved by a similar tragedy. Barbara Mikulski alzheimers father thinking [During] the passage of the Lilly Ledbetter [Fair Pay Act], equal pay for equal work, the women led that fight. Barbara Mikulski equal-pay passages fighting There were times, though, when the women came together on a partisan basis. [When we stopped] the privatization of Social Security during George Bush, we linked arms. Barbara Mikulski arms social together