Mathias of Maryland: Remembering a Lincoln Republican in the Senate

by Frederic B. Hill (Editor), Monica Healy (Editor)

Overview

Senator Charles "Mac" Mathias was a lifelong Republican who won every election in a 26-year congressional career in heavily Democratic Maryland. A courageous risk-taker, Mathias led efforts to advance civil rights, voting rights, environmental initiatives to clean up the Chesapeake Bay, and establish the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. On foreign policy, he was an early critic of the Vietnam War and a consistent advocate for nuclear arms control, Middle East peace and sanctions against apartheid South Africa.

His story, captured here by senior staff members, members of Congress and others, is an inspiring example of what a courageous political leader can do when he follows his conscience and is acts on principle. His remarkable career is a stark reminder of the days when the Republican Party stood for the rule of law, respect for the Constitution and a bipartisan foreign policy.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781476694207
Publisher:	McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers
Publication date:	05/23/2024
Pages:	206
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.42(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Frederic B. Hill was a foreign correspondent for The Baltimore Sun, foreign affairs director for Senator Mathias in 1985 and 1986, and then conducted wargaming exercises on national security for the Department of State. He is the author of books on shipbuilding, journalism and American politics. He lives in Arrowsic, Maine. Monica Healy was a senior legislative assistant for Senator Mathias for twelve years and later staff director of the Senate Democratic Policy Committee for Majority Leader George Mitchell (D-ME) and Senator Tom Daschle (D-S.D.). She also held senior positions in the Clinton Administration at the Department of Labor and the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation. She was Director of the D.C. office for Maryland Gov. William Donald Schaefer and Vice President of Government Affairs for Teach for America. She lives in Washington, D.C.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments
Foreword
Norman J. Ornstein
Preface
Frederic B. Hill and Monica Healy
Biographic Profile
Frederic B. Hill and Monica Healy
I. In the National Interest
Mathias and the Civil Rights Movement
Michael R. Klipper and John Hough, Jr.
Saving the
Monica Healy
Healing the Wounds of Vietnam
Monica Healy
An Impressive Legacy in Foreign Affairs
Casimir Yost
II. The Rule of
Mathias on Grim Outlook for Nixon
Frederic B. Hill
Standing Alone Against Fear
Steven J. Metalitz
His Conscience Was His Guide
Rep. Steny Hoyer
Ordered Liberty: Senator Mathias’ View of the Constitution
Randolph Marshall Collins
III. Bipartisan Spirit
Reaching Across the Aisle on South Africa Sanctions
Frederic B. Hill
Two Senators, Two Parties, One Goal
Judith Davison Keenan
The Long Book of History
Richard L. Berke
IV. Character
“­Meth-I-ess”
Sen. Alan K. Simpson (Ret.)
“30 miles west of Frederick”
Ann Terry Pincus
Just a Glass of Sherry Before Lunch
Stuart S. Janney, III
V. Successors
Team Maryland
Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski (Ret.)
From Staffer to Successor
Sen. Chris Van Hollen
Appendix 1: Eulogy at February 2, 2010, Memorial Service at the National Cathedral by Vice President Joseph Biden
Appendix 2: In His Own Words: Excerpts from Speeches and Testimony
Appendix 3: In Their Own Words: Remarks from Others
About the Contributors
Index

Editorial Reviews

Senator Mac Mathias was mild-mannered and lion-hearted. He feared no man, refused to pay tribute to false idols, and never trimmed his sails to catch the political winds of the moment. Mac remains a shining example of what it means to be a true public servant and patriot, faithful to one's oath of office and allegiance to the Constitution and rule of law. Sadly, there are too few today who claim to be the heirs of Lincoln's legacy but also have Lincoln’s (and Mac's) courage and integrity.”—William S. Cohen, Secretary of Defense (1996-2000) and U.S. Senator (R-ME), 1978-1996

From the Publisher