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“An American President, commander-in-chief of the world’s greatest military power.

“Who during his presidency did not send one combat troop division abroad or drop one bomb, who used his presidency to break down the barriers of religious and racial equality and harmony in this country and to reach out to the victims of poverty and repression.

“Who encouraged Americans to serve their communities and to love their neighbors regardless of the color of their skin.

“Who waged war not on smaller nations but on poverty and illiteracy and mental illness in his own country, and who restored the appeal of politics for the young and sent Peace Corps volunteers overseas to work with the poor and untrained.

“Was in my book a moral president, regardless of his personal conduct.”

So wrote Ted Sorensen, friend and able assistant in so many indispensable ways.

All of the preceding is gleaned from the book “Jack,” by Chris Matthews, published in 2011.

So. Are you still up for some quotes from this informative and

heart-touching book? (Don’t answer that.)

Moving on down the line. Here are a few quotations:

“I know there is a God, and I know He hates injustice. I see the storm coming and I know His hand is in it. But if He has a place and a part for me, I believe that I am ready.”

“Man holds in his mortal hands the power to abolish all forms of human poverty and all forms of human life.”

“And so, my fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you -ask what you can do for your country.”

And that quotation, friends, seems the very best place to conclude today’s endeavor.

Peace. Note -Yes, I realize my use of so many quotations probably has become a bit too much. It just seems, temporarily I hope, the well has gone dry.

It happens.