Historic Tidbit: Barry Goldwater and Hubert Humphrey were friends. Even in their fiercest legislative disagreements, they never let politics come between them. One day, Humphrey joked that Goldwater was handsome enough that he should consider a movie career. He said Goldwater should be part of 19th Century Fox.

Daily Times

A few months ago, former Pennsylvania Congressman Bob Edgar passed away at the age of 69. It was untimely, sudden, and a genuine loss for the nation. Though Edgar gas been out of office for more than a quarter of a century, he was still making a valuable contribution every day as President of Common Cause. That he would take on such a role would surprise no one who knew him.

While Edgar typified the class of 1974’s young and outsider status, some may be forgiven for wondering how somewhat so moral and decent could have swam with the sharks so effectively — and in a politically hostile district to boot.

Edgar was a Methodist minister who won his Congressional seat in a Philly collar county district that encompassed most of Delaware County, the first Democrat to hold the seat in 36 years. And his motivation to run stemmed from one word: Watergate. Edgar remembers being “so angry I looked up the word ‘Democratic’ in the telephone book. I was trying to find somebody to run against Larry Williams and I was the only Democrat in Delaware County I knew at the time.” Edgar took on the cause and captured the seat with 56%.

Edgar’s first brush with courage and altruism may have been his request for an investigation of his Pennsylvania colleague and fellow Democrat Daniel Flood. This was a powerful Appropriator who could have made Edgar’s life as it came to serving a Republican leaning district miserable. It was a popular stand to take back home but Edgar could also have remained silent and not incurred backlash.

Not that it would have make much difference. For Edgar often lived in a world of political suicide. Many Watergate era freshman talked change but fell right in line upon getting the job. Not Edgar. But vote wise, Edgar was doing that to himself. He would frequently vote for higher spending and defense cuts, but rail against pork barreling. But he had a genuine concern for his fellow human.

He backed Right to Know provisions of Super Fund legislation, and on Veterans Affairs, co-sponsored a G.I. Bill for the all-volunteer service, and legislation dealing with PTSD and the effects of Agent Orange.He advocated more counseling centers. But he was also very parochial. Edgar organized a Northesast-Midwest caucus, a “snow-belt” caucus, to see to it that his area was not shortchanged.

And the voters responded to his talents. Not that it was easy. My gosh, it was anything but easy. In 1976, as most freshman saw declines in their winning margins from two years earlier, Edgar only dropped modestly, to 54%. That was remarkable considering that voters were also giving Ford 54% on the other side of the aisle.

But 1978 was tougher. Edgar came within 1,100 votes of losing his seat, then took 53% in ’80 as Reagan was winning 55%. 1982 was a Democratic friendly year and far easier. But 1984 was tough. Real tough, as he held off Curt Weldon by a mere 412 votes. It was soon after that he decided to undertake a challenge to Republican Senator Arlen Specter.

To face Specter, Edgar had to battle a former congressman, Don Bailey from the Pittsburg area. It was an east vs. west race, but also cultural. Edgar backed abortion while Bailey did not. He won 47-45%. Against Specter, it was tougher. He hit the Senator on flip-flops, running an ad that said “Arlen Specter is not all he’s cracked up to be.” But Specter had $2 million more cash than Edgar and took 56%. Edgar didn’t lose his home district by a wide margin, but lost 61 counties, including usually Democratic Allegheny (Pittsburgh).

Still, his success was noted. A volunteer said “to maintain himself all those terms was extraordinary. He was someone who earned the respect of Republicans and Democrats alike. One of the true hallmarks of his tenure was that he was independent and he didn’t treat people differently because of their party affiliations.”

After leaving office, Edgar headed the Claremont School of Theology and became head of Common Cause in 2007, where he actively and tirelessly was pursuing good government reforms until literally nearly the moment of his death. He had just returned from an appearance in Wisconsin when the heart attack struck. He was praised by friend and foe alike. On the latter, few if any existed.

Ex-Delaware County Republican Chair Judge called Edgar “very, very conscientious. We only disagreed once a year and that was in November. He did a very good job as a congressman. I thought the world of him.” Bill Moyers noted “there are people in public life who cannot be bought, flattered, or hammered into submission. Bob Edgar was one of them.” And given the system today, those are traits all should try to achieve.

Edgar as Common Cause President