a billion here, a billion there

[Gerald Cohen]

This isn't the sort of statement that would make its way into a
political speech. It's much more likely to be said privately. And if
Dirksen denied authorship of the saying, can the denial be taken at
face value?

Gerald Cohen


>For decades, I've heard this statement - or variations
>  of it - attributed to Sen. Dirksen, and I love to
>  repeat it myself, giving credit to Sen. Dirksen.  But
>  my understanding is that the statement has never been
>  found in Sen. Dirksen's speeches or writings, and Sen.
>  Dirksen himself didn't recall saying it.  Any
>  enlightenment on this?
>
>  --- Fred Shapiro <fred.shapiro at YALE.EDU> wrote:
>
>  >
>  > Fred Shapiro
>  > QUOTES DEEMED `UNFAMILIAR'
>  >
>  ...
>  > "You spend a billion here and a billion there.
>  > Sooner or later it adds up
>  > to real money." - Everett Dirksen.
>  ...