Remembering, honoring a spirit of moderation

“He went through life with his arms flung wide. He welcomed all who wanted to accompany him on his journey ...”

So states Sen. Jay Rockefeller, son-in-law of former Illinois Sen. Charles H. Percy, in a reflection on behalf of the family upon Percy's death at the age of 91 Saturday. It's hard to imagine a more appropriate, or a more honorable, epitaph for an American public servant.

And, it's not insignificant that Rockefeller is a West Virginia Democrat in 2011 who — on the surface, at least — wouldn't seem to have much in common politically with an Illinois Republican who left public office 27 years ago.

Percy, rightly, is being remembered as the “fervent moderate” — his description — who criticized the Vietnam War, challenged his party's president and considered advancing the role of women in the federal government to be one of his proudest accomplishments in office. That inclusive passion is an important legacy, one worth celebrating as we reflect on the life of a longtime Kenilworth resident who achieved much both in business and politics.

There is in the tone of some of these reflections, however, an almost wistful longing for some forgotten time when the rancor of today's political climate did not exist and Republicans and Democrats worked together, shoulder to shoulder, for the common good. Such distortions of history aggravate today's political tensions, and ultimately dishonor the very spirit of collaboration for which Percy is remembered.

The fact is that during the era of Vietnam, Watergate, dirty tricks, WIN buttons and Iranian hostages, American politics exhibited plenty of rancor, and Percy took plenty of criticism, from within his own party as well as from the Democrats. Indeed, what is important to remember in honoring Percy's approach to politics is not how different it was from the politics of today but how steadfastly he practiced it in the face of great pressure to “choose sides.”

Percy set a good example for politicians of both parties, and his passing gives us pause to remember and honor that. But that's not to say that contemporary moderates — perhaps one day including another Illinois Republican known for openness, Mark Kirk — can't or won't live up to the standard. It's just that in the crucible of Washington's power struggles, such independence always will be difficult to cultivate.

“His insistence on a balanced perspective in his public life ... helped us understand it is both possible and preferable to live in a world without partisanship,” says the family statement Rockefeller penned.

Possible, maybe. Preferable, surely. But never easy. Today, a world without bipartisanship is just as important, and just as elusive, as it was during the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s. What's important to remember as we mourn Percy's passing is that, thanks to his service during that time, we have a better idea of how it can be created.