A Capitol of comity would do us good

By JOHN W. MASHEK, Other Views
Published November 10, 2007

With Congress in ideological and partisan paralysis, its public approval rating lower than President Bush's, what's the nation to do?

Democrats and Republicans have been fussing at each other for decades. The difference today is that anger and near hatred have erupted among partisans on both sides of the aisle. It was not always so.

In the 1950s and '60s, Senate Democratic leader Lyndon Johnson and Republican leader Everett Dirksen would tangle frequently. But they could find common ground on tough issues such as civil rights. And they got along personally.

In the House, Speaker Sam Rayburn was crankier than his Senate counterparts. But he had reasonable relations with Republicans except for the irascible right-wingers who were smaller in number than the House GOP membership of today.

Things got especially nasty when Republican Newt Gingrich became speaker in 1995. He and Democratic leader Dick Gephardt hardly spoke, and a serious breakdown in comity followed.

A remedy to today's lack of traction is simple: Both sides could use personality transplants at the top.

When lawmakers like Democrat Mike Mansfield of Montana and Republican Howard Baker of Tennessee were in power years ago, the environment was much different. Of course, they had disagreements on issues. But they did not let them morph down into personal animosity.

Mansfield was a smart and gentle soul, rarely riled and always willing to talk to Republicans. He and GOP Sen. George Aiken of Vermont had breakfast every morning in the Capitol.

When Baker was in control, he was always considerate of his opposite number. If Baker had a temper, it did not show in public, and he was surrounded by a staff of moderates like himself.

In more recent years, Democratic Sen. George Mitchell of Maine and Bob Dole of Kansas got along much better than the leadership now, even though they had sharp policy differences.

Dole was considered a Republican hatchet man when he ran for vice president in 1976, and he has since admitted that he erred in that losing campaign. One of Dole's closest friends in the Senate was Democrat George McGovern of South Dakota, one the chamber's most liberal members. Despite their differences, this odd couple closed ranks on agricultural policy and world hunger.

Mitchell could be an aggressive leader and earned the enmity of the first President Bush and his staff. However, when the situation called for it, he and Dole could put partisanship aside. Behind closed doors, Mitchell and Dole could share a laugh and tease each other without upsetting egos.

Journalist Ron Brownstein has written a new book on the paralysis in Congress. He writes about the "persuadable center" in America but asserts that neither party wants to go there.

Perhaps when the intransigent and ideological George W. Bush leaves office, the leadership on Capitol Hill will be able to move forward, restore civility and put the national interest first. But don't count on it.

John Mashek is a retired political reporter who covered politics in Washington for more than four decades.

[Last modified November 10, 2007, 01:41:22]