"Twice the Republicans in the California legislature tried to block my seating because of my trips to Hanoi"

This quote by Tom Hayden talks to the political environment of the time. Hayden was a prominent figure in the anti-war movement and his trips to Hanoi were seen as controversial by numerous. The quote suggests that the Republican members of the California legislature were opposed to Hayden's existence in the legislature due to his trips to Hanoi. This opposition was so strong that they two times tried to obstruct his seating. This quote speaks with the political divisions of the time, with the Republican party taking a difficult stance against Hayden's anti-war advocacy. It also speaks to the power of the legislature, as they were able to try to obstruct Hayden's seating despite his election. This quote is a suggestion of the power of politics and the importance of defending one's beliefs.