Any Of His Kind Left?

I should say something to note the passing of Thomas Eagleton, the Democratic nominee for vice president on the ticket headed by George McGovern in 1972. He was also elected to the U.S. Senate from Missouri in 1968 and served three terms. While serving in the Senate (as noted in this Wikipedia article)…

…Eagleton was active in matters dealing with foreign relations, intelligence, defense, education, health care, and the environment. He was instrumental to the Senate's passage of the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act, and sponsored the amendment that halted the bombing in Cambodia and effectively ended American involvement in the Vietnam War.

The article also notes that Eagleton joined other Missouri Democrats in January 2001 to oppose the confirmation of John “Lost The Senate Seat To A Dead Guy” Ashcroft for U.S. Attorney General. As Eagleton said at the time, “John Danforth would have been my first choice. John Ashcroft would have been my last.”

Eagleton also led a group called “Catholics for Amendment 2” that challenged the opposition of the Catholic Church to stem cell research. The amendment criticized the Church, in part, for using “misinformation, scare tactics and distortions” to oppose the amendment.

But of course, Eagleton will be remembered most because he gave up his spot (or was asked to by McGovern, depending on who you believe) on the Democratic ticket in 1972 because it was revealed that he had been treated for depression, and had received electro-shock therapy as part of the treatment (Jack Anderson’s malicious accusation that Eagleton had a drinking problem, for which Anderson issued a retraction, didn’t help either).

And the Wikipedia article also notes that Eagleton was the victim of a 1980 blackmail attempt by a lawyer and Eagleton’s niece (!), with the money to be turned over to the Church of Scientology.

But as I read about Eagleton, I couldn’t help but think of how, if he were on a presidential ticket today, he may have been able to do the whole talk-show-circuit thing, shed a tear or two in front of Barbara Walters, and ended up using the whole depression controversy to his advantage. And I suppose it’s pretty crass of me to think of a man as honorable as Eagleton apparently was doing something like that (tells you more than a little bit about how politics have degenerated also, I suppose).

Happily for us all, and in particular for Missouri, I believe Eagleton’s legacy of good government will live on in Claire McCaskill, whom Eagleton campaigned for in her win over Jim No-Talent last year.