They were contemporaries who played a pivotal role in our nation's history. Had they lived, they would have jumped for joy the next day when the Health Care bill was passed.
LIZ CARPENTER died that morning in Austin, Texas. She was 89. A prolific author, humorist and activist she worked for Presidents Johnson, Carter and Clinton.
"This is a sad time for all people. We have suffered a loss that cannot be weighed. For me, it is a deep personal tragedy. I know that the world shares the sorrow that Mrs. Kennedy and her family bear. I will do my best. That is all I can do. I ask for your help and God's."
Carpenter transferred to Lady Bird Johnson's office as her staff director and press secretary. During that time she and the First Lady forged a friendship that lasted for 60 years and feisty Liz became the darling of the media.
She was a dedicated Democrat often joking that she never met a Republican until she was 17, "and it terrified me."
Between her stints working for Presidents Carter and Clinton, she wrote several books and fought diligently for women's rights.
Carpenter and Udall
STEWART UDALL also died on Saturday at his home in Sante Fe, N.M. He was 90.
Udall's admirable tenure at Interior was at the front end of a 20-year period in which Congress passed laws protecting the country's air, water, natural beauty, and animal species. "That was a wonderful time, and it carried through into the Nixon administration, into the Ford administration, into the Carter administration," he said.
At that time, Udall said, Republicans and Democrats alike saw the value of conservation and environmental protection and acted in concert to put them in statute. He said the bipartisanship fell apart as political candidates sought contributions from corporate interests with a financial stake in developing public lands and eroding resource protections.
The nation owes Udall a debt of gratitude for his tireless efforts to protect America's natural treasures and resources.
They were great Liberals, and they will be missed. Thanks for honoring them.
ReplyDeleteThe interesting thing is, Udall's proposals were passed with bipartisan support, including Orin Hatchet.
ReplyDeletevery thoughtful of you to honor these fine people Leslie.
ReplyDeleteLeslie: I did not know about these two deaths, so I’m glad you posted about these two good people. Those of us of a certain age knew them well and knew of their accomplishments.
ReplyDeleteBack in the late 60s and early 70s Americans really did care about the environment. At that time I was working in public relations at St. Regis Paper Company’s “world’s largest paper mill.” I remember getting a memo from the home office explaining what “ecology” was. Imagine that! Can’t say it for every corporation, but I know what St. Regis did to keep the environment pure – from reforestation to preventing dissolved oxygen in the river. Wonder where all that commitment went? BJ
I think a lot of it has to do with geography. Most people in the West are still very committed to conservation and the environment for the most part. In this neck of the woods, not so much. Greed.
ReplyDeleteBoth shall be sorely missed.
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