There are many ways to categorize or characterize members of Congress and others who are involved in politics and public affairs. The most common labels, of course, are Republicans, Democrats, conservatives and liberals -- though there can be significant gradations in those categories. And we hear frequent mention of populists, nationalists, autocrats, libertarians, etc.
Another way of looking at these denominations or classifications is to think of cynics and authentics.
Cynicism is widespread in Washington and the nation at a time when we desperately need foresight and leadership from those who are authentic -- who are not operating on false pretenses or meekly following, but groups and individuals who are genuine and realistic -- and willing to stand up. They are the authentics, committed to serving the broad interests of the nation, adhering to constitutional principles rather than proclaiming allegiance to narrow tenets and relying on hollow talking-points.
We have an ample supply of cynics in today's politics. Some of them are posers, playing to a political base driven by purposes of partisan advantage or drawing media attention. Cynics blame and belittle our institutions, including the media.
Speaking of the media, it is relevant to mention the recent White House Correspondents dinner. In recent years, that annual event had seemed increasingly cynical, reinforcing preconceived notions about media bias, and inviting cynicism. However, instead of stale jokes and mostly second-rate comedians, the featured speaker was Ron Chernow, Pulitzer-Prize winning biographer, acclaimed author of "Alexander Hamilton," which inspired the hit Broadway musical, "Hamilton." There was much to savor in Chernow's televised remarks. In particular, he focused on the what he called the media's "noble work to preserve democracy" at a time when "a rising tide of misinformation, masquerading as news, threatens to make a mockery of the First Amendment."
Chernow is most troubled by the assault on truth. Without the facts, he said, we cannot have agreement in our badly divided nation. More importantly, without the facts we cannot have an honest disagreement. In other words, we need authentics, not cynics. Thinking about all this brought to mind three former U.S. senators who died recently -- senators who were certainly authentics, men I had the privilege of working with, closely observing their dedicated service.
Richard Lugar, a longtime Republican senator from Indiana, was the featured speaker at the University of Arkansas for the 40th anniversary of the Fulbright scholarship program in 1986. Lugar was a strong advocate of educational exchange and was introduced at that event by Arkansas' U.S. Sen. J. William Fulbright, founder of the exchange program. Lugar and Fulbright had much in common, having both studied at Oxford as Rhodes Scholars, having both served as chairmen of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. And both were awarded the presidential medal of freedom.
Known for this bipartisan approach to foreign policy, Lugar was particularly concerned with proliferation of nuclear weapons. He also helped bring pressure to bring an end to apartheid in South Africa and to the Marcos regime in the Philippines.
In 2016, Lugar was awarded the J. William Fulbright Prize for International Understanding, joining such previous laureates as Nelson Mandela, the first honoree in 1993. Honored most recently was German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Among other notables receiving the Fulbright Prize are Colin Powell, Kofi Anan, Jimmy Carter, Corazon Aquino, Bill and Melinda Gates, Doctors Without Borders, and Desmond Tutu, all authentics to be sure.
Two other former members of Congress who died recently, John Culver and Birch Bayh, were appointed by President Bill Clinton to the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board while I was serving as chairman. The board oversees the global Fulbright Program. Both Culver and Bayh were dedicated to advancing mutual understanding among nations and were strong supporters of the Fulbright Program. Both Democrats were influential legislators, authentics with distinguished congressional careers.
Culver, a Marine veteran and Harvard fullback and law graduate, was a staunch defender of the First Amendment and constitutional checks and balances. The Iowan kept a close watch on the U.S. involvement in Iran and Vietnam. He was known for being true to his principles and was widely respected in Washington for his independence, often conveyed through his sense of humor or his booming voice and dogged determination.
The personable Bayh had major impact during his years of Senate service, 1963-81. He was instrumental in passage of some of the most enduring and historic legislation of the era. He was principal architect of two constitutional amendments: the 25th, dealing with presidential succession, and the 26th, giving 18-year-olds the vote. As Ira Shapiro writes in "The Last Great Senate," Bayh also played a central role in enactment of the landmark Title IX legislation, prohibiting discrimination against women in any federally funded education program. It resulted in greatly expanded sports programs for women. He was especially proud of that legislation, although quick to acknowledge that others also played key roles.
These authentics remind us and exemplify what can be done when authentics prevail over cynics.
Commentary on 05/08/2019