Remembering PAUL TSONGAS

[Bluebear]

Who died this week in 1997. Fondly remembered.



In the nine years he served in Washington, Paul Tsongas established a reputation as a bright, hard-working, and well-respected lawmaker.

Tsongas' political career began in 1968 at the age of 27. Upon his return home from service as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Ethiopia, he challenged the political establishment and won election to the Lowell City Council. Four years later, he was elected Middlesex County Commissioner and fulfilled his promise to rid county government of corruption.

In 1974, he became the first Democrat in this century to win election to serve the Massachusetts Fifth District in Congress. As U.S. Senator from 1979 to 1985, Tsongas served on the Foreign Relations Committee, the Energy and Natural Resources Committee and the Small Business Committee. Following his two terms in Congress, Tsongas forged a record that established him as one of America's most effective leaders.

Colleagues and supporters were shocked in 1984 when Tsongas announced he would not seek re-election, but would return home with his family after being diagnosed with cancer.

After receiving a bone marrow transplant in 1986 to battle his lymphoma, (a proceedure he now compares with what must be done to the U.S. economy) he returned to the swimming pool after a 27-year hiatus to repair lung damage caused by his cancer treatment.

A former Dartmouth swimmer, class of'62, Tsongas swam the 200-7ard breaststroke and scored in two meets during his collegiate career by placing second in wins over Columbia and Springfield College. At this time, only two swimmers could be entered in each event and, as the third best man in his event, Tsongas often was on the reserve list. Tsongas joined the team as a mediocre swimmer and by his senior year he had earned his varsity letter. That year Dartmouth finished the season 5-5.

In announcing his presidential candidacy in March 1991, Tsongas renewed his quest to not only change the country, but to change the Democratic Party. Embracing pro-growth positions and a liberal social agenda, Paul Tsongas outlined a detailed plan to rebuild America's economy. This program which is outlined in his book, A Call To Economic Arms: Forging A New American Mandate, emphasized the need to make the hard choices today so that America will continue to be a great country tomorrow.

[MuseRider]

1. Thanks.

I always thought he seemed like a very nice guy. RIP.

[JohnLocke]

2. Rest in peace, Senator.

He is watching down on the current administration from heaven, with disamay...

[tridim]

3. I will always remember Franken's Tsongas impersonation

"I'm not Santa Clause" :D

[idlisambar]

4. I was too young to know much about him then...

...but I've just read some excerpts from "A Call To Economic Arms" and I am impressed -- his economic prescriptions are even more badly needed today than they were then. It would be nice to have a few more Democrats thinking like this.

[OneBlueSky]

5. some years ago, I was privileged to work for an arts organization . . .

which included Paul Tsongas on its Board . . . a gentleman and a scholar in the truest sense . . . he was much loved and is greatly missed by many both in Massachusetts and throughout the nation . . .