Our party once had giants

[roguevalley]

I remember Adlais Stevenson, McGovern, Truman and Roosevelt,
Johnson (an AWESOME senator), Rayburn, Hubert Humphries,
Muskie, Kennedy (all of them), Byrd, Ickes and many more.
They are and were GIANTS. But you wouldn't know that now. No
one takes the time to remember our heritage as Democrats.

Then there is the inimitable Wayne Morse.

There are many more. I would appreciate it if those who
remember can tell what they remembered. Also, if you have
any personal anecdotes.

My uncle knew all of them and had very close friendships
with Humphries. They were liberals, good men and shaped
the country. No one reading this hasn't benefited from their
efforts. It is hurtful and sad that Johnson should be only
remembered for Viet Nam. There is so much history for us as
a party, it makes my toes curl.

What about it? What do you remember? It will make you long
for the old days when the labor unions and their leaders
stood shoulder to shoulder with our democratic leaders and
the civil rights giants of the past to try and make the
world better. I sure do.

[roguevalley]

1. Crap. I am more bummed than I thought.

Hubert Humphrey.

What a good man. The Happy Warrior.
I still have a lapel pin from the
Stevenson compaign. Its a little
metal shoe with a hole in the sole.
He had a famous picture taken with
his shoe showing one. :)

[T Roosevelt]

2. Apparently all the giants were before my time

I know the names, but unless somebody was more recent than the Ford administration (about when I was old enough to start paying attention to the news).

BTW - "Our party once hard giants"? Take advantage of the new software and edit the title...

[Friar]

4. hey! no picking on typos!

hehe.

[Friar]

3. Agreed

Johnson is vilified for Vietnam, perhaps rightly so, but his many great accomplishments on the domestic front are largely ignored. I remember all those names you mention and you are right. They were (and are) great statesmen. The Democratic Party's legacy is superb since FDR and the Republicans, having left Lincoln in the dustbin of history, have only Nixon, Reagan, Gingrich, DeLay and the Bushs et. al. for a heritage.

[ewagner]

5. Wow!

Brought back some memories.

I met Humphrey and his wife in '65 in a chance encounter in Florida. They were so genuine and pleasant I was just immediately enthralled with them.

I remember the press corps mocking Humphrey when he talked about a "politics of joy". To this day I know he meant every word of it.

He was truly a giant.