Letter: Wyatt in Congress
Published 4:00 pm Thursday, November 28, 2013
Before his conquest of nicotine, my dad had around the house a large glass ashtray that was smooth and dark, and for a time held my fascination. Wide, far-flung corners and broad sloping sides fitted with cigarette sized grooves made this piece of glassware perfect for hosting parties. A thick flat bottom provided a sturdy platform to stabilize the bowl as it filled with ashes and the crumpled butts of multiple smokers.
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Like a bumper sticker or campaign button, the sleek and shiny ashtray came into our home a byproduct of old fashioned electioneering. Stamped in silver letters on one of its broad sides was the alliterate name Wendell Wyatt, followed by the words U.S. Congressman.
Only a boy at the time, without an inkling of what a U.S. congressman might be or do, Wendell Wyatt, on the other hand, was a name I had heard my dad mention many times. Wyatt was the man for whom both my father and grandfather had voted. As a boy, to me, voting was as much a mystery as was a U.S. congressman, but I knew if my dad thought enough of Wendell Wyatt to give him his vote, then he must be a good man.
Republican Congressman Wyatts entire congressional career was spent in a House of Representatives controlled by Democrats. Sponsoring or co-sponsoring nearly 60 bills in 10 years of service, Congressman Wyatt worked hard for all who lived within his district, not only those with whom he agreed.
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Wyatt went to Washington not to engage his fellow legislators in dogmatic battles, but to work together with them to pass legislation for the good of all the people he represented. Im sure the congressman had his detractors. Only the faithful believe in a perfect man, and only a fool could have faith in the notion of a perfect congressman.
But in my adolescent mind, Congressman Wyatt and the ashtray were a single entity, representing the party of my father and grandfather in a way that was sound, solid and secure. A party of people granted the trust to do the right thing, even when doing the right thing wasnt the popular thing to do.
Its been some time since I last saw that ashtray, or lately, that Grand Old Party.