Former U.S. senator from Indiana - staunch Vietnam war critic - dead at 84

[MaineDem]

Vance Hartke, a U.S. senator from Indiana for 18 years and briefly an anti-war candidate for president in 1972, died of heart failure, his son said. He was 84.

Hartke, a Democrat and a native of the southern Indiana coal-mining town of Stendal, died Sunday. He was first elected to the Senate in 1958. He was re-elected in 1964 and 1970 before losing to Richard Lugar. After his defeat in 1976, Hartke opened a private law firm near Washington

http://famulus.msnbc.com/famulusgen/ap07-28-082301.asp?t=apnew&vts=72820031020

[Rowdyboy]

1. Hartke and Birch Bayh....

combined were one of the most impresssive state senatorial teams in the country. Indiana was once well represented.

[kmla]

3. But then, there was Dan...

Probably one of the least intelligent senators ever elected. Defeated Birch Bayh in 1980 only because he rode on Ron Reagan's coattails. Was promoted to VP so he could make the ticket a little easier on the eyes.

I was glad to see him go away. As was most of America...

Now who do we have in Indiana? Dick Lugar, who IS intelligent, but boring. And Evan Bayh. Usually votes with intelligence, but he sure as hell isn't his father. The next time I vote, I will have to hold my nose when I pull the lever for Evan. He has disappointed me GREATLY in the last year and a half.

Oh well. You gotta make the best of a bad situation.

[blackcat77]

10. I can vote for Lugar with more enthusiasm than I can Bayh

And Lugar has been a voice of dissent regarding US foreign policy a lot more than Bayh has. Bayh was front and centre at the Rose Garden dog and pony show last fall -- Lugar was not.

[JackSwift]

17. C'mon Dapper Dan

looks like Einstein next to the Shrub

[IndianaGreen]

15. Damn right, Hartke and Birch Bayh were giants!

Too bad that Birch's son Evan has turned out to be such a major disappointment!

Hartke and Birch Bayh were early opponents of the Vietnam war. And Bayh led the fight against Nixon's nominees to the Supreme Court, Clement Haynsworth and Carswell.

Evan Bayh would be voting for Bush nominees!

[JasonBerry]

2. Hartke and others

A good man!

Those were good old days - Birch Bayh, Vance Hartke, Fred Harris, Frank Church - real, true-blue liberals.

I often wonder what Birch would think of his son's politics. He was such a believer in traditional liberal/progressive ideals.

[BeHereNow]

4. Evan is in bed with the PHARMA-cartel...

His dad is probably rolling over in his grave.
Eugune Debs and Paul Dresser were both
very influential on the period of great leadership in
Indiana- I grew up just miles from their birthplace
in Terre Haute, Indiana, and the city was full of
tributaries to their work.
Makes me damned proud to have grown up there!
Unfortunately, Evan is no where near the man his father was.
Quite the traitor to his father's integrity actually.
Pfizer-Pharma ($$$)whore...

BHN

[NewYorkerfromMass]

8. Eli Lilley too I imagine

if what you say is true.
Indiana is another depressing casualty of the right wing zealots. I know there are a lot of liberals there waiting to be liberated!

[blackcat77]

9. Birch Bayh is still alive nt

[Old and In the Way]

12. Met Fred Harris in '72.

He was campaigning for President. He'd have been an excellent one, IMHO.

[jiacinto]

13. Maybe his father realizes how Republican Indianai is

nt

[indypaul]

5. My deepest sympathy

goes to Martha and family. We will surely miss the
voice of a true representative of the people. The
days Senator Hartke spoke in opposition to Viet-Nam
may be his most notable hours. However, many Hoosiers
will remember him best by his down-to-earth approach
to their problems and his service to them. His keen
friendship with Senator Byrd will always be remembered
and at this time when Senator Byrd speaks one can
remember with pride the voice of Senator Vance Hartke.
May he rest in peace.

[salin]

6. R.I.P, Senator Hartke

Back in the day, Indiana had 2 progressive democratic senators, Vance Hartke and Birch Bayh. Seems oh so long ago.

[goobergunch]

7. The days when there were progressives in the Senate...

May Hartke rest in peace.

;(

[JohnKleeb]

11. sigh I want progressiveism back and it gonna come back if most kids

are pukes check out my thread in GD goob and we can puke together.
May he rest in peace.

[Rowdyboy]

14. Just remember for a moment what we've lost....

Frank Church, Wayne Morse, Vance Hartke, Birch Bayh, George McGovern, William Proxmire, Gaylord Nelson, William Fullbright, Wendell Ford Albert Gore Senior, Dale Bumpers, Ralph Yarbrough, Fred Harris, Ed Muskie, Don Riegle and George Mitchell-and that's just off the top of my head!

And even some decent Republicans: Mark Hatfield, Charles Percy and Edward Brooke.

I'm not saying these men were giants, but compare them to Daschle, Dorgan, Nelson, Boxer, Schumer and Sarbanes.

We've lost so much and replaced it with so little. The Senate and House now more nearly resemble the Jerry Springer Show. Its very disheartening and is somewhat indicitive of the general disintergration of civil society. The progressive movement in the US has moved from front and center to fringe in 25 years.

[DemBones DemBones]

16. Eugene McCarthy was another of the good guys back in the day.

I was thinking about Birch Bayh today, watching a bit of the DLC meeting on C-SPAN, with Evan Bayh speaking.

R. I. P., Vance Hartke. We thank you for the good work you did. If we had anti-war leaders in the Senate today, perhaps we could have stopped the war train from rolling on Iraq.

[salin]

18. Can we add... Howard Metzembaum, and Alan Cranston...

on the okay republican side add Lowell Weicker, Warren Rudman, and John Chafee.

Heck on the dem side I used to enjoy watching Alabama Sen Heflin get a bit hard and fighting with some of the repubs.

Even some of todays' crop had a little more "spit and vinegar" in them in the mid eighties... but have toned down after shortly after the Bork hearings. I would highlight Sen Biden in this respect.

I think we do have some fighters in there - and I would put Boxer, Wyden, Feingold, Levin, and Milkulsky in that category. When she chooses to be, Clinton can be pretty tough as well.

Not the same crop - and a very different political context. I mourn for those no longer with us - and I recognize the different political context of today. And I hope that as the context continues to shift - and the media is suddenly willing to cover all sides of issues again - that some will refind their fire and start some serious issue igniting. (having hope, while sometimes futile, is always good.)

[Rowdyboy]

19. Also....

Claiborn Pell, Ernest Gruening, Hubert and Muriel Humphrey, Daniel Inouye, Mondale, Philip Hart, Ruebin Askew, "Walkin'" Laughton Chiles and Bobby Kennedy.

Republicans:Margaret Chase Smith and Charles Mathias.

[Rowdyboy]

20. If any Democrat ever deserved a DONKEY KICK...:

:dem: :kick: :dem: :kick: :dem: :kick:

It is Vance Hartke. Rest in peace, brother, you fought the good fight...