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Mottos & Quotes

"The happiness in your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts."

-- Marcus Aurelius

“Look at a man in the mist of doubt and danger, and you will learn in his hour of adversity what he really is” 

-- Lucretius

"A faithful friend is a sturdy shelter; he who finds one, finds a treasure."

--Sirach 6:14 

“Human nature is the one constant through human history. It is always there.”

--Thucydides

“Luxury destroys more efficiently than war.”

-- Juvenal

"Yield Not to evil... Tu Ne Cede Malis"

-- Virgil (Aeneid)

“Proclaim the Gospel. Use words only when necessary.”

-- Saint Francis of Assisi

“I die the King’s good servant, and God’s first.”

-- Thomas More

"It doesn't matter who is right but what's right."

-- Unknown

“Example is always more efficacious than precept.”

-- Samuel Johnson

"Reputation is what men and women think of us; character is what God and angels know of us.”

-- Thomas Paine

"In matters of style, swim with the current; In matters of principle, stand like a rock."

-- Thomas Jefferson

"Search others for their virtues, thy self for thy vices."

-- Ben Franklin

"There is no education like adversity."

-- Benjamin Disraeli

“The American Republic will endure until the day Congress discovers that it can bribe the public with the public's money.”

-- Alexis de Tocqueville

"The greatest use of life is to spend it for something that will outlast it."

-- William James

"Learning to do, doing to learn, earning to live, living to serve"

-- Future Farmers of America 

"The farther backward you can look, the farther forward you are likely to see."

-- Winston Churchill

“People become the stories they hear and the stories they tell.”

-- Elie Wiesel

"It's not what you take when you leave this world behind you, it's what you leave behind when you go... "

--Three Wooden Crosses sung by Randy Travis

"But sooner or later the man who wins is the one who thinks he can." 

--Napoleon Hill

"Most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be."

--Abraham Lincoln

"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing."

--Edmund Burke

"What a man's mind can create, man's character can control."

--Thomas Edison

"Nobody who ever gave his best regretted it."

--George Halas

“Weak men act to satisfy their needs, stronger men their duties.”

 --Nassim Nicholas Taleb 

“The market for something to believe in is infinite.”

-- Hugh Macleod

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Michael is an advocate, author and public speaker. He has over 32 years of Washington experience working closely with the government, political, corporate, and technology sectors. He is the founder and principal of Kerrigan & Associates, Inc., a Washington-based management consulting and lobbying firm focused on creating business opportunities in the government contracts area.

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Testimonials

Michael is a valued friend and I respect his knowledge and understanding of our complicated political environment.  In a time of much cynicism, this book examines those who represent the best of what makes our political system work and underscores that good character is good politics. From my more than 55 years in the public relations business, I couldn’t agree more.

Howard J. Rubenstein, Public relations Executive

Today public cynicism about government officials is very high. Michael Kerrigan's well-done analysis of several people who have served with distinction reminds us that public service remains our highest calling and that it can and should be done well.

Joel Klein, Chancellor NYC Schools

Michael Kerrigan is a highly principled and deeply religious man.  In "Politics with Principle" he finds these same qualities in ten of his "pals in politics".  Because his probing questions are directed to close friends, the reader will discover, in their verbatim responses, some interesting nuggets about public figures that would never be found in a "Who's Who."

Charles S. Robb former Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States Senator and Marine

I have known Mike for many years both socially and professionally.  His insights into how government works and the people that make it work are the best in Washington.  I know many of the characters in his book and share his assessments of their characters and abilities.  The book will be a refreshing read at a time when the American people are questioning our political institutions and its leaders.

Thomas Hale Boggs, Jr. Founder and Senior Partner, Patton Boggs 

Michael Kerrigan is a longtime friend and has great insight into the functioning of government, history and our leaders. He has great appreciation for the need of moral, disciplined leadership to not only lead but to set examples for generations to come. It is in stark contrast to the comment "they are all crooks" and the cynicism that is so prevalent today. Many of our leaders are individuals with outstanding principles and character, which is seldom reported but greatly needed for our country to excel. Thanks to Michael we can gain insight and learn from some of them. 

Don Nickles, former United States Senator (R-OK)

Michael Kerrigan’s Characters with Character is a refreshing and timely showcase of the virtue and humility of men and women in service to others. In these tumultuous times, it is critical we light more candles and do less cursing the darkness. It’s about time we shine the light on the good guys.

Mary Matalin, formerly served as assistant to President George W. Bush and counselor to Vice President Dick Cheney, and was the first White House official to hold that double title.

Whenever people tell me things are getting bad, I always ask, "Yes, but are they bad enough."  In short, are they bad enough to spark real change?  When it comes to the moral fortitude of our leaders, my answer is yes!  We're fed up with what we read and see every day, and we're ready for that change.  

In this landmark book, Michael Kerrigan re-introduces us to the virtue of virtues, through his Characters with Character.  More importantly, in morally dark times, he gives anyone who is questioning the nobility and intelligence of answering the call to serve a vital light to guide their decision.  Let every current and aspiring leader be illuminated by this work.  

Paul G. Stoltz, Ph.D CEO and Founder, PEAK Learning, Inc. Bestselling author and creator of AQ® (Adversity Quotient®)

 

To my great fortune I met and became friends with Dick Carlson, one of the most compelling and interesting men I've had the pleasure of knowing....Actually that's and understatement -- Dick's a true patriot, a wonderful man of great character and honor but above all, one of the great raconteurs of all time -- Never have I met anyone funnier, wittier and unmatched in his abilities to tell a story and fortunately his stories are endless and endlessly entertaining. Mike Kerrigan has done us all a favor capturing the true character of Dick in this fascinating book that everyone should read.

James Manos, Jr.
Emmy winning writer for "The Sopranos"
Creator of the television series "Dexter
 

  Mike Kerrigan has done a masterful job of isolating and focusing on the elements of character that lead to principled and correct decision making. A solid read!

 

Frank Fahrenkopf, Co-Chairman of the Commission on Presidential Debates and former Chairman of the Republican National Committee.

 

These individuals are the kind of role models this nation needs, and Mike Kerrigan has done all of us a service in drawing attention to the integrity, the decency, and the strength of character their lives reflect in all they do. 

 

Bill Brock, United States Senator from Tennessee, United States Secretary of Labor, United States Trade Representative, Member of the U.S. House of Representatives, Chairman of the Republican National Committee 

 

 

At a time when trust in our institutions hangs at an all-time low, Politics with Principle is a beacon of hope. America still has public servants that have made truth, integrity, and strong values the centerpiece of their lives. The role models in this book are not historic figures, but real people who have struggled daily in their quest to live in an honorable manner. From their deep wisdom, we can learn the lessons to help buoy us in times of chaos and strife. Give a copy to your children and to your friends, they too will be inspired to rise to a higher standard.

Robert Porter Lynch,  Author, Consultant, Public Speaker and Teacher