Sen. Patrick Leahy, the senior U.S. senator, says he’ll be moving back to Vermont after next year, leaving his seat open for the first time in seven terms.
“It’s time to pass the torch to the next Vermonter who will carry on the work for this great state,” he said. “It’s time to come home.”
Commentators say his departure will mark the end of an era in Washington. He’s now the longest-serving senator, and the last of a class known as the “Watergate Babies,” elected as Richard Nixon fled town with the dogs of impeachment hot on his trail.
Most probably would classify Sen. Leahy as a liberal, but he was not one of those who headed to Washington just to tax and spend and hewing to the party line. Pat Leahy believed in American democracy and knew how to work across party lines.
He fought for what he believed in and made more than a dent in the brick wall that is Washington. His causes included human rights, a ban on the use of crippling land mines and the environment, especially Vermont’s Lake Champlain. He fought for open government, not a popular cause in a town heavy with bureaucrats.
His record harkens back to the times when Republicans believed in civil rights and Bob Dole became the Senate majority leader.
Leahy was known as a somewhat quirky member, a fan of Batman and the Grateful Dead. His celebrity won him bit parts in five movies set in Gotham City, and he was a loyal Deadhead, viewing some concerts from the stage.
I got to meet him once, a chance encounter in the halls of the Senate office building. I introduced myself and shook his hand. I told him I was there representing the National Newspaper Association, and thanked him for his support of a stronger Open Records Act.
Sen. Leahy’s departure is not good news for the Democrats in a year when the betting already runs heavy that they will lose their slim hold on the Senate. His seat has been safe for 42 years now.
There’s apparently no strong Republican candidate, however, and while he’s a solid candidate, the Republican governor, Phil Scott, says he’s not moving to Washington. On the other side, the state’s only U.S. representative, Rep. Peter Welch, is viewed as the likely candidate, with plenty of backing and a big campaign account already built up.
Sen. Leahy says he’s leaving Washington with few regrets. He’s proud of his record for his home state and on larger issues. And while we certainly haven’t agreed with him on many issues, he has a right to be proud.
As a senator, he followed his heart and did not let labels or party lines get in his way. He could make deals when that made sense. What more, in this era of “my-way-or-the-highway” politics, could we ask for?
