The Honorable Henry Hyde Remembered

National Review Online: Former Republican Congressman Leaves A Noble Legacy

(National Review Online)  This column was written by the editors of National Review Online.

---

Henry Hyde, the former Republican congressman from Illinois, died early Thursday morning. His departure marks the passing of an important voice for American foreign policy and for the human rights of the unborn.

Hyde spent 32 years in the House of Representatives. He made his mark in many areas - as a tough-minded leader on foreign affairs and chairman of the Committee on International Relations, as the head prosecutor in the Clinton impeachment case, and as one of the GOP’s most persuasive debaters.

He will be most remembered for the Hyde Amendment. First passed in 1976, when Hyde was new to Washington, it bans the public funding of abortions though Medicaid. The year before it passed, the federal government had financed 300,000 abortions for low-income women. Afterward, this number dropped essentially to zero - the women either found another way to pay for their abortions or chose life for their unborn children. The National Right to Life Committee has estimated, conservatively, that the Hyde Amendment has prevented at least one million abortions. That’s one million Americans who are alive today because of Henry Hyde.

The Hyde Amendment has proven remarkably durable, undergoing only one important revision. In 1993, Congress added rape and incest exceptions to the life-of-the-mother clause that had been in place from the start. It is without question the most important piece of pro-life legislation ever to pass Congress.

Despite his right-of-center politics - he is one of just a few congressmen to have his own entry in American Conservatism: An Encyclopedia - Hyde was popular among both Republicans and Democrats. They understood him as a man of good cheer and firm principle, even when they disagreed with him - as liberals did on many issues, and as some conservatives did when Hyde argued against congressional term limits or supported gun control.

Hyde’s reputation withstood a severe test during the Monica Lewinsky scandal, when he led the House in impeaching Bill Clinton but failed to convince the Senate to remove Clinton from office. He was attacked repeatedly and often ruthlessly. His determination to press the case nevertheless led to a meaningful punishment for Clinton (the disgrace of impeachment), as the public wanted and as justice demanded.

During the height of the impeachment controversy, Rep. Maxine Waters, a left-wing Democrat, tried to scold Hyde: “History will not be kind to you.”

She was, mercifully, wrong. History will remember Henry Hyde for precisely what he was: One of the great congressmen of his generation - or any generation.

Earlier this month, Congressman Hyde was honored at the White House with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Hyde was recovering from surgery and could not attend the ceremony. With the congressman’s son, Bob, accepting the medal in his place, President Bush said of Hyde: “He used his persuasive powers for noble causes. He stood for a strong and purposeful America - confident in freedom's advance, and firm in freedom's defense. He stood for limited, accountable government, and the equality of every person before the law. He was a gallant champion of the weak and forgotten, and a fearless defender of life in all its seasons. Henry Hyde spoke of controversial matters with intellectual honesty and without rancor.”

He’s been gone from Congress for a year and now has left us for eternity. We will miss his voice.

[alanrobisch]

FAR worse than anything Bill Clinton did.


Posted by dj0114 at 07:42 PM : Dec 02, 2007
+ report abuse

I guess you represent the can''t see beyond of the nose person. Bill clinton brought the entire mess upon himself and people like me were outraged by his bald faced lies and attempts to discredit those who actually told the truth. If he had simply told the truth in court there would have been no impeachment. He found it necessary to lie in court. In my business I warn people that if they intentionally make false statements to obtain benefits they are subject to the laws of perjury. He didn''t think he was. Hyde''s action were wrong but not illegal. what clinton did was illegal. He was disbarred for it.

[dj0114]

Hyde- great name befitting the man. Sympathies to his family and other son.


Posted by dj0114 at 11:33 AM : Dec 02, 2007

I guess when bill clinton dies you''''ll give him a eulogy or don''''t you admire him for his lies and philandering or are you unable to forgive anyone for their mistakes?

Posted by alanrobisch2 at 04:33 PM : Dec 02, 2007

Bill Clinton was wrong for lying about the affair yet I would submit he suffered far more for that affair than Mr. Hyde did for breaking up a marriage, fathering a child and covering it up for 22 years.

I forgive Bill- I don''t forgive Mr. Hyde. He helped drag this country through an unnecessary impeachment procedure.

By the ReichPublican standards back then (and yours now), Bush and Cheney should be impeached for the lies that have gotten us into a war.

FAR worse than anything Bill Clinton did.

[alanrobisch]

Hyde- great name befitting the man. Sympathies to his family and other son.


Posted by dj0114 at 11:33 AM : Dec 02, 2007

I guess when bill clinton dies you''ll give him a eulogy or don''t you admire him for his lies and philandering or are you unable to forgive anyone for their mistakes

[alanrobisch]

And Alan, I don''''t have ***. You stupid two-inched goon! ( are you offended by my "method of birth control"?)

Posted by MedusasBigO at 11:58 AM : Dec 02, 2007

I find you to be a coarse individual who has no compassion for the unborn child and whose only concern is a selfish one. I have had one sexual partner in my life and it was my wife and she if she could would have had more children. I am aware of many agencies in this country who help women with unwanted pregnancies by helping them make ends meet and by either helping the child after they are born or helping the mother find good parents for a child.

the hair dresser we go to adopted a healthy boy who was born to a women who could not care for him. He has a life unlike what you think a baby who is unwanted by her mother. My sister also adopted a child but because of her age had to adopt a child from guatemala.

Note did you read the article about a women who aborted her child because she wanted to have a smaller carbon foot print

[medusasbigo]

TO:
alanrobisch2

Your logic is devoid of intelligence. First of all, your quote "..it takes two to tango. If women don''''t want the burden of an unwanted pregnancy then don''''t have s-e-x." avoids the biological contrast of male and female *** drives. Yours is on a 24 hour cycle. Mine ( I am female, you idiot) goes for years without being noted. SO INSTEAD, IF YOU DON''T WANT AN UNWANTED PREGNANCY, WHY DON''T YOU CUT OFF YOUR N-U-T-S? If you have any. How many times was the male''s *** drive to blame in an UNWANTED pregnancy? Incest, rape, and paid ***, all forced by males, are all classic reasons why unwanted pregnancy occurs.
Alan, without safe abortions you can complete villages of brothels with the victims who had your much valued "safety while in the womb". If you don''t believe me, go to Cambodia and look around at real life for women and their unwanted kids.
And Alan, I don''t have ***. You stupid two-inched goon! ( are you offended by my "method of birth control"?)

[dj0114]

Henry Hyde- his last name is perfect for what he did. He was ''Hyde''ing the fact that he had broken up a marriage by sleeping with someone''s wife and fathering a child.

Did he do the honorable thing- admit the affair at the time, express his regret over his moral failure, ask for forgiveness and support the child?

No.

''Hyde''ing the facts of his ''youthful indiscretion'' (his words to describe what happened, not mine) for nearly 22 years isn''t honorable (he was in his 40''s or 50''s when this happened- how is that a ''youthful indiscretion''?). And he wasn''t the one who exposed this ugly little secret so he can''t even claim any moral ground there.

Hyde- great name befitting the man. Sympathies to his family and other son.

[alanrobisch]

At least he''''s dead now!!! DEAD. You''''d think he felt guilt about something in his own life that he exorcised with his power..


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by MedusasBigO at 03:36 PM : Dec 01, 2007
+ report abuse

Boy you are a brave man hiding behind a fake name to critcize a man who that babies in the womb are people too and deserve protection. How horrendous. Also note it takes two to tango. If women don''t want the burden of an unwanted pregnancy then don''t have ***.

[alanrobisch]

You haven''t a clue. He was an honorable man who felt Mr. clinton deserved impeachment for perjury. Having an affair isn''t the thing of impeachment perjury is. Mr. clinton was disbarred for this

[alanrobisch]

I hope he comes back as a worn out doormat--- or a tick on a horse''''s ***. In this lifetime he was without doubt a maggot.

Posted by MedusasBigO at 04:18 PM : Dec 01, 2007

do you even know the man? Your post is horrendous. He worked with others for what he believed in and was well loved by his fellow congressman

[medusasbigo]

I hope he comes back as a worn out doormat--- or a tick on a horse''s ***. In this lifetime he was without doubt a maggot.

[medusasbigo]

As long as men spread *** like Johnny Appleseed and women are as a result are made to know unbearable pain, economic hardship, emotional health issues, decades of legal liability, social stigma, and resulting inequities related to his *** deposit, while he is exempt form such realities, then abortion will be legal. MEN who would govern the bodies, reproductive functions, and destinies of WOMEN should mind their OWN sorted business by watching where they plant their apples!
READ "The Ciderhouse Rules" by John Irving before you try to control womens'' bodies through laws.
At least he''s dead now!!! DEAD. You''d think he felt guilt about something in his own life that he exorcised with his power..

[adian1-2009]

Yeah, yeah! I do remember Hyde. He was the champion of morality that had not disclosed what he had been hiding in his closet for decades and then championing the impeachment of Bill Clinton because the President had an affair with an intern lady.! Who is going to forget Hyde? He was instrumental in doing great damage to our nation and in demeaning our trust in our system that we should never forget, nor forgive him, for that matter!

[ubrew12]

redamerican said: "Hyde was one of a few to stand up against threats to the US [by supporting Ollie North]. "
The contra''s were actively involved in killing peasants in Central America. Incredible, and well-documented, war crimes (rape, baby-killing, priest-killing, whole-sale slaughter), which apparently you agreed with. Not least, the legacy of North is that these brutalized Central-American''s responded by emigrating to the U.S. God save you, cuz in my book you''re headed for hell. Say hi to Hyde while you''re there.

[cdfoxtrot]

Just curious. What is it that''s "Honorable" about this guy? Seriously, can anyone explain it?

[cdfoxtrot]

Another hypocritical "holier than thou" as_s-hole to bite the dust. Good riddance!

[ubrew12]

FlangeSqueal said: "Henry Hyde - scumbag - ******* - dead piece of *******. HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORAY!"

Says it all. Hyde seeking the removal of Clinton from office for lying about cheating on his wife was the ''final straw'' for me. Hyde chose his ''old-boy'' network over his personal ethics that day, and lost me as any kind of supporter forever.

[bm6005]

The unHonorable Henry Hyde. Wanted to get rid of Clinton because of a BJ but cheated on his wife himself!!! Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha. What a republicon!!! May he rot in he11 with Rostenkowski!!

[imnho]

He liked to throw rocks while living in a glass house. If what Clinton did was impeachable then henry hyde should have resigned years ago.

His obsession with abortion was the mark of an unresolved control problem.

[gkc99]

"Oliver North and Henry Hyde. True American Heros of the 20th Century. "--Posted by redamerican


Hyde was a hypocrit but he wasn''t a traitor like North. Ollie North is an oath-breaking officer, and a felon but for the pardon by the senile, moronic Ronnie Reagan. North should be sweating it out in the pen instead of having his own show on *** News.

Guess the Nazi Neoconscum likes lawbreakers after all. Even when they sell Stinger missiles to the ayatollahs.

Let''s hope Ollie doesn''t have such a peaceful end as Hyde.

[gkc99]

Warmed over BS, but all you can expect from NRO.

Hyde was part of America''s Taliban. The motormouth preacher man was all over Clinton but quiet as a little churchmouse about Bushit. Bushit lied us into a war; Clinton lied about a *******. Shows what totally phony scum these religion-mouthers are.

Hyde, welcome to Hell, here''s your accordian.