By Scott Crass
Just before he died, the “Saturday Evening Post” published a piece about President Warren G. Harding entitled, “A Calm Review of A Calm Man.” Tim Johnson, the erstwhile three term South Dakota Senator never had his integrity questioned, is healthy again, and isn’t even a Republican. But like Harding, the erstwhile Democrat is a proud son of a small mid-western town with a calm demeanor and an understated appeal.
It comes as a surprise to no one but Johnson announced his retirement today. When his term ends, Johnson will have spent 28 years in Washington, but few could ever say Washington had 28 years on him.
In Johnson, South Dakota had the kind of Senator all hope for but few get. Accessible, personable, mild-mannered, and warm — a voice of reason and tranquility amid sea of egos and camera chasers. Whether on the Capital subway among strangers or in small-talk with staffers, Johnson helped humanize an institution not always known for that, all the while doing his job.
Johnson was a quiet champion of South Dakota’s interests (country of orgin labeling of meat and flood/farm relief) but usually remained a reliable vote for his party. When he did abandon the Democratic fold he was almost never the only one (the Bush tax cuts was an example of a number of Democrats crossing the line), though he was one of just 4 Democrats to back Sam Alito for the Supreme Court (he also voted to confirm John Roberts). He was viewed as a true friend of veterans causes.
It was those skills that helped Johnson survive the race of his life against John Thune. The margin was just 524 votes out of 334,000 cast and many, including Johnson and myself, had gone to bed thinking he had lost. But Shannon County, home of the heavily Democratic Indian Reservations, was still out and that salvaged his career.
Strengths aside, Johnson’s ability to survive was remarkable. 2002 was the first election after 9/11 and Thune was considered the White House’s star recruit. He was thought aided somewhat by his central casting looks, a fact the Senator’s son Brendan alluded to that when he said he couldn’t imagine “his dad being asked to pose shirtless on a calendar.” Bush campaigned for Thune but Democrats returned fire with Tom Daschle doing “anything and everything” for his home-state colleague, as he had promised.
Thune tried to use Johnson’s past vote against the Gulf War against him but Johnson gained sympathy when he replied that he had a son who was stationed in harm’s way. Even after his win, he didn’t back down from his disgust with his critics.
Had Thune been in office as long as Johnson, he may have unseated him, but in a state where retail politicking is key, Johnson’s longevity (he had served eight years in the legislature pre-Congress) was enough to put him over the finish line. Thune ousted Daschle two years later, making it astonishing that his mentor and senior colleague, the Senate Minority Leader could be shown the door while Johnson would persevere for an another decade.
That Johnson still serves today is somewhat remarkable. A brain hemorrhage in late 2006 (he began slurring his speech in the middle of a news conference about farm subsidies) left many wondering about the odds of his survival, much less resumption of his political career. Johnson returned to work after a nine-month hiatus with a slurred-speech, but a long standing ovation by his colleagues.
A motor-scooter made it easier for Johnson to get around but in recent years, seeing him around the Capitol without aides, it was obvious that he was back to his own comfort level. Johnson attained the post of Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee.
Just a year after returning, Johnson had to run for re-election. He faced a capable State Senator, and was criticized somewhat for refusing to debate (he said he didn’t want the focus to be on his speech impediment) but it mattered little to the voters: he prevailed with 62%. But facing a far tougher race, Johnsone decided that he wouldn’t try to replicate it. In his announcement, he said, “I feel great, but I must be honest ..I appreciate my right arm and right leg aren’t what they used to be, and my speech is not entirely there.”
Johnson’s 1996 defeat of Pressler, the only Democrat to seize a GOP seat that year, was due in part to opinions that Pressler, himself a rare Republican to capture a Democratic House seat in 1974, had lost touch. Pressler had also angered folks with his maneuvering to privatize PBS, which prompted bumper stickers to run saying, “Lets Keep Big Bird and Privatize Pressler.” In the final days before the election, Johnson led by nine points, prompting even Republicans to conclude that Pressler couldn’t make up the gap. In the end, partisan leans made it close, as Johnson only prevailed 51-49%.
Despite his low-key demeanor and proclivity for working behind the scenes, Johnson was no pushover when it came to parochial interests. A former Chief of Staff once said that he learned early never to underestimate him, for when he put his mind to a cause, he would press hard.
In the last decade, Johnson has undergone surgery for prostate cancer, a hernia, and his hemorrhage. His wife has battled breast cancer. That’s likely not why hes retiring (Johnson would probably quote Reagan, who following cancer and being shot would quip, “I’ve never felt better.” . His wife has battled breast cancer. He genuinely seems ready to go home. And he’s earned it.
Tim Johnson has served South Dakota and his nation with a rare kind of decency and honor. As he transitions to his next phase, he’ll surely continue to aim high for South Dakota. No one would expect any less. After all, if you’ve taken the high road, you don’t mind making the trip.
Next column: The race to succeed Tim Johnson