You know, for several decades, Sam Rabin was recognized to be the most powerful politician in America.

During his unusually long period of time as a Speaker of the House of Representatives in the Congress,

he was a very powerful man, to say the least. Presidents came and presidents went,

but Sam Rabin remained at the very center of power. In fact, historians would tell you

that he alone controlled the legislative process in the Congress in

Washington, D.C. Not one single bill came to a vote without his approval. There was no president

who was seeking success without Sam's support.

In later years, when Sam Rabin looked back on his life, on his illustrious career,

he recounted the most influential moment in his life.

One experience stood out above all the other experiences that impacted

his life. Let me tell you about it today. In fact, it occurred in a railway station, a tiny

railway station in East Texas. You see, throughout his life, and on many occasions,

Sam Rabin would tell this story, would tell about this life-changing experience, this experience

that molded his life to be the man that he was. He often

told this story with great joy. He often told that story with emotions for a tough man. He often

told a story with deep reverence. In fact, his biographer, Robert A. Carrow, said the following.

He said, Sam Rabin told this story every time he faced a crisis in his life.

It sustained him as he went through the tough times in life.

He said that in the year 1900, and in the midst of a wind-swept Texas prairie, Sam's dad, hitched the buggy and drove his 18-year-old son to town.

The boy was going off to college, and he's going to be leaving the family farm.

His father was a poor man who lived in that farm, as a dirt farmer, who told this land

for all his life.

...