A Short Ode to Civility

I want to start with a photo.

And, I want to follow it with a note from President George H.W. Bush to the incoming President Bill Clinton.

Are you nostalgic yet? Of course, not all former Presidents began as friends, but in the case of Jimmy Carter and Gerald Ford, that friendship grew and became a lifelong bond.

Now, look. I'm not trying to say that all Presidents from opposing parties got along, but for the sake of the country, efforts are made. Eisenhower frankly didn't much like Harry Truman for Truman's bitter comments about Ike not defending General George Marshall against attacks on his loyalty from the notorious Senator Joe McCarthy.

But they rode together for Ike's inauguration, Bess had Mamie over for the traditional tea, and everyone was at least civil. President Obama put the scurrilous birth certificate nonsense behind them and did the traditional invitation for a White House meeting to the incoming President Trump. Yes, Michelle held the traditional tea with Melania as well.

I'm sure all involved needed dental work later from a couple of hours of gritted teeth.

And like JFK and Eisenhower in the first photo, many Presidents have consulted with their predecessors for advice on issues that carry on for multiple presidencies. In some cases, like George W. Bush and Bill Clinton, genuine friendships were forged, allowing them to work together on international assignments, as those two did for President Obama. Barbara Bush even commented that she seemed to have another adopted son, as Bill and George were doing so many projects together.

In fact, W. seems particularly amenable to letting bygones be bygones...

Campaigns have always been hard-fought affairs. But today's politics harks back to the most partisan extremes of the 19th century, where the insults were blunt and often very personal.

"Ma, ma, where’s my pa?" was a famous 1884 campaign chant targeting Democratic presidential candidate Grover Cleveland, referring to his alleged illegitimate child with Maria Halpin. Cleveland admitted to the relationship and financial support, which unexpectedly helped him win, leading to the counter-chant: "Gone to the White House, Ha! Ha! Ha!". 

That's why these moments with John McCain stand out...

He certainly wasn't a perfect man, but a genuinely decent one.

Now, lest I be accused of letting nostalgia overwhelm my rapidly diminishing sense of reality, I know politics, particularly at this level, are always going to be tough and often personal. Just ask Eric Swalwell, Tony Gonzales, or Matt Gaetz. No, seriously, you ask them because I'd really rather not.

But we have entered what feels like a different era. Most politicians, to a greater or lesser extent, try to convince you that the other guy will lead us down the path to ruin, or communism, or eating dogs and cats, or something. But they knew deep down that it was a campaign ploy and let it go after the race was over. If you lost, you put on a brave face and promise to work with the winner. If you won, you have things to do, and one of them is not re-litigating the last race.

But now, every race is rigged, well, if it doesn't go your way, even the Virginia redistricting vote this week. And the insults about the other guy or gal just go on and on. Even on Easter, with kids who have no idea what the hell you're talking about...

That'll teach them to talk to strangers. And of course, when he lost in 2020, in addition to riling up a mob he formed who later tried to prevent an Electoral College vote, President Trump broke a 152-year tradition and headed home instead of attending the inaugural. Sorry, Jill, no tea for you.

And thanks to the internet, you can forget dogs and cats. Democrats are accused of holding child sacrifices like a 1960's Hammer horror film. And the difference is that now, even without Christopher Lee or Vincent Price as Dracula, a lot of voters believe the most scurrilous rumors. The other guys are not just wrong, they are evil. They aren't just careless or greedy, they are the spawn of Satan, no matter what Pope Bob says.

And of course, Kamala Harris was deemed a slut online for having a social life before she got married. Stormy? Care to weigh in?

And, I know this isn't going to change at least for another two and a half years, but when it's over, is it possible to return to somewhat civilized politics? We have had close elections before, and no one whined for the next several years about it. If anyone had the right to question results, it would have been Thomas Dewey, Richard Nixon, or Al Gore. But they sucked it up, said all the right things, and got on with life.

Maybe we should call it the McCain Standard. Fight hard, take your shots, and if it doesn't go your way, don't be a sore loser.

Nah, what am I thinking?