at little OT: Hubert Humphrey

[MBS]

Just watched a video of a PBS program (originally aired last year),called: " Hubert Humphrey: The Art of the Possible." I may post something about this "out there" later in GD, etc., but
I wanted to start here.I only got to see about 10 minutes of the program when it first aired, but what I saw convinced me that this 2-hour piece was something special, so I ended up buying the DVD. And boy, am I glad I did, because I will definitely watch it again, and again. (It's available on Amazon and the PBS online store, if you end up with the same thought. . and should also be available for rental).
General: this is a political biography of Hubert Humphrey, and, given his long life in politics, not so incidentally, a history of American politics from the 1940's to the 1970's. One website reviewer said, "Every American should see this." Another said something like , "If you're as fed up with contemporary politics as I am, this DVD tells you how politics can and should be done"

Relevance to JK: watching this, HH reminded me more than a bit of JK, in his unstinting energy for reform, in his relentless optimism. Above all, his integrity and his decency.LIke JK, HH was in the game for something larger for himself. He was more interested in making things happen than in demanding credit for everything. (Did you know that the Peace Corps was originally Humphrey's idea?? I didn't . just one of many revelations). Like JK, there were people in power (Johnson) who used him, and abused him, who managed to forget to give him credit for things. But he managed to just keep on working, and not let himself be trapped in bitterness. (Also, HH was chair of SFRC in the 60's. . )
It made me wonder whether JK ever met HH in person, what he thought of him. (The timing might have been bad, as HH was just waking up from a short period of self-delusion about Vietnam, about the time that JK was out there testifying on Capitol Hill.. )

Larger themes: there are plenty of lessons for us:
1. a totally gripping account of HH's masterly, courageous work on the Civil Rights act.. Think about it , guys: at that time, on the face of it, passing this act was a POLITICAL IMPOSSIBILITY, with the Dixiecrats pulling the same tricks as the tea partiers today.. But HH made it happen. He had the advantage of a Dem president (LBJ) who supported and encouraged him; and a Dem house and Senate. But that didn't mean progress was easy, or even imaginable, as there were those Dixiecrats, who really put tons of roadblocks in the way. . but It HAPPENED. (And HH was no Johnny-come-lately to the cause: there is an equally moving moment in the DVD recounting HH's courageous speech to the Dem convention in 1948, denouncing the Dixiecrat racist elements to the Dem platform. Moral:don't give up!
2. Humphrey's wisdom about the Constitution, stressing all the "action words" in the Preamble ."It's all there in the Preamble", he kept on saying.

And just all the characters:
--LBJ at his best (civil rights, and encouragement of HH's efforts in Congress) and his worst (Vietnam, cruelty to HH, especially on Vietnam and his presidential candidacy.. Humphrey had to wrestle with loyalty to the president, then the straitjacket that LBJ put him in, and his growing doubts about Vietnam)
--Nixon's dirty tricks (or as someone called it , simply, and aptly, "treason") in sabotaging Vietnam peace talks just before the 1968 pres election
-- Strom Thurmond, as dixiecrat (disgusting no matter what his party)
-- stunning footage on civil rights movement in early days (we HAVE made progress in some areas.. ) and Vietnam protests.

The moving joint-congressional tribute to HH just before he died of cancer... his making a joke about how he'd wanted to stand before the joint houses of Congress in different circumstances. .(sound familiar?)

It's just all there. I was close to tears at several points in the video.
Highly recommended!

[karynnj]

1. Hubert Humphrey was one of the people JK met while he was at Yale

There was a photo of the two that was in one of the 2004 things. Here by the magic of google -
http://www.corbisimages.com/Enlargement/U1492212.html

Earlier, Kerry handed Hubert Humphrey a petition, signed by 550 people, advocating legal protests against the US involvement in South Vietnam and condemning such illegal protests as draft card burnings.

That petition is so John Kerryish - whether then, the 70s or now.

I agree that there are major similarities - and agree with you on every one you listed. I remember HHH was called the Happy warrior. I doubt people would see JK as that, but the fact is watching him in committee, he clearly loves what he is doing. With people, though he is not a backslapper (often phony), he always looks happy. (I love the photo from Tahir Square where he is holding a tee shirt.)

[wisteria]

2. Thank you for the heads-up. My Dad took me to meet HH years ago.

I remember being thrilled that I got an opportunity to meet him and shake his hand. I still have that picture hanging around and pull it out every once in a while.

[TayTay]

3. Hubert Humphrey was a "happy warrior"

He is one of the people I think about whenever I tend to get mopey about the present state of politics.

I remember being a student in DC at the time Mr. Humphrey passed away. I went, with friends, at midnight to the Capitol to see his body lying in State in the Rotunda. It was such an honor for someone who really, richly deserved it.

One of my heroes. Thanks for posting this and thanks for bringing back such good memories of a good and decent man.