Historic Tidbit: In 1978, bombastic freshman California Congressman Bob Dornan was challenged by Cary Peck, son of the prominent actor. The district had given Gerald Ford 60% in 1976 and Dornan was not the man of obvious vitriol that would define his later career. But Peck actually outspent the incumbent slightly and came within 3,500 votes of unseating him (51-49%). Peck tried again in 1980 but this time, Dornan outspent him by more than $1 million. Peck still took 47%.

From 1969 to 1983, two mid-western Republican Governors, William Milliken and Robert Ray, held the top office in Michigan and Iowa, and would enjoy popularity that by far made them the most popular Chief Executive’s of their states in modern times. Both had sky high popularity by serving their diverse states by diligently going about their responsibilities, and offending few. And by rarely hesitating to take on their own party, they made clear that moderation was the way to go and that ideological purists need not apply.

In his book, William Milliken: Michigan’s Passionate Moderate, Dave Dawson said Milliken “stands as an icon of decency even among the state’s most cynical political observers. Often seen by the public as a man above politics, Milliken was in truth an astute deal maker who governed by crafting coalitions with politicians that spanned the gamut from Detroit’s hard-left Coleman Young to the rural conservatives of his own Republican Party.”

A Traverse City guy and a Yale man, Robert Downes of the Northern Express called Milliken, “an honest-to-gosh war hero,” Noting that he flew 50 missions, survived two crash landings, had to bail another time, and suffered a stomach wound. That would earn him seven medals. He would start a department store chain that bore his name.

Milliken’s political career began with a stint on the Michigan Waterways Commission, which quickly turned into a run for the State Senate, where he’d serve as floor leader. By 1964, he was running for Lieutenant Governor alongside George Romney.

Romney’s pick of Milliken as his running mate in 1964 was not particularly voluntary. Afraid that Milliken, with his charming and charismatic style, might upstage him, Romney wanted the State House Speaker. But he stayed out of it and Milliken emerged the pick. Despite the Johnson sweep, the ticket prevailed. By ’69, Romney was resigning to become Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and Milliken was in charge of the “Wolverine Statehouse.’

(Vintage Images photo)

Milliken was viewed as a Governor willing to take unpopular stands, even before election time. That earned him the name “King William the Ethical.”

First and foremost was the environment. Milliken’s concern was genuine. He had advocated for a tough bottle law but the beverage industry “bottled” it up in the Legislature. A conservation group put it on the ballot and Milliken campaigned for it. It was ratified by the voters.

Milliken established the Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore, the Wetlands protection Act, and limits on phosphates in laundry detergents. After hiking the Pigeon River State Forest, he decided to limit oil and gas drilling. He lobbied for Detroit’s People Mover Monorail. He signed the The Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act, which was a means against discrimination in education and the workplace.

Milliken didn’t please everyone. There was anger over the sales tax. He backed aid to parochial schools. Milliken’s one Achilles heel was the PBB dairy contamination crisis, where flame retardants were mistaken placed in cattle. Many said Milliken was slow to respond.

Tim Skubick of MichiganLive said of Milliken: “he had his detractors, mostly in his own beloved Republican party. He was always a little too moderate for that far-right crowd and they didn’t much like him hanging around with Democrats, with whom he fashioned an exemplary record during his record 14 years in office.” But he was beloved by voters, though staying in office was a struggle.

(Photo from the Glen Arbor Sun)

Milliken’s first re-election against State Senator Sandy Levin was perilously close. Milliken’s 51-49% win came after a dwindling lead and nearly 24 hour count which saw Detroit plagued by computer woes. His 114,000 vote lead with 88% counted had dwindled to just 45,000 when the votes were finally tabulated. Levin had won Wayne (Detroit) handily, but mustered just a 17,000 vote lead in Genesee (Flint).
But Millken carried Macomb, which is the county most associated with the term Reagan Democrats, and even Ingham (Lansing).

Four years later, Levin tried again. The race was referred to as the “bland leading the bland,” as both candidates had exceptional personalities, but were not exactly flashy. The GOP suffered disastrously nationwide in the wake of Watergate, but many viewed Michigan as one of few places where Ford provided a boost to the ticket. He campaigned for Milliken, and he again held off Levin, this time 52-48%.

Levin would later call Milliken “a thoroughgoing pluralist. He cherishes diversity and differences of opinion and he shuns extremism…My hope is that history will show he was closer to the mark than the Republican Party of today.”

Milliken’s 1978 race would be much easier. He’d beat State Senator Bill Fitzgerald 57-43%.

And there was his humor. Skubick recalls trying to get Milliken to state his position on dog racing (he opposed gambling and the lottery). “What’s the difference between dog racing and horse racing? Milliken replied, “Well, the difference between horses and dogs, I suppose.”

After leaving office, Milliken continued his Republican crusades, which resulted in his backing of Democrats at the national level. “The truth is that President George W. Bush does not speak for me or for many other moderate Republicans on a very broad cross section of issues.” Milliken noted the “increasing rigidity” of the GOP and said, “I think Gerald Ford would hold generally the same view I’m holding…”

In 2008, he backed McCain in the primary but, turned off by his tactics, abandoned him for Obama in the general. It may have contributed to Obama rolling up 57%.He had words for local Republicans as well. Tactics by supporters of Dick Posthumus “morally wrong and politically stupid.”

Milliken and his wife (Glen Arbor Sun)

Ray never was confronted with the political near death experiences of Milliken, as Iowa was a much more Republican state in his era. Like Milliken, Ray’s background was also legislative but in a different mold. He was the reading clerk for the States Senate. Eventually, he practiced law and became GOP State Chair.

In office, Ray sought to use the bully pulpit for advancing his priorities. He signed Executive Orders for Civil Rights, and energy conservation. Among other things via Wiki: Governor’s Economy Committee, the Iowa Council for Children, the Task Force on Government Ethics, the Science Advisory Council, and the Iowa High Technology Commission. He fought for the nickel deposit on aluminum cans. He worked with Indian Tribes, to protect the graves of Native-American graves. The result was the Iowa Burials Protection Act of 1976.

The Almanac of American Politics 1982 said Ray’s “chief assets include an even temperament, complete honesty, a reputation for moderation, and basic competence.” He is exactly the kind of leader people in Iowa want.” They also note that Ray made futile efforts to get the Iowa GOP to follow him. For Ray bemoaned the rise of ideological purists within his party.

Ray also had another defining legacy. It seems hard to associate an Iowa Governor with post-Vietnam policy but in working to allow the Tai Dam to settle in Iowa.

Ford had sent a letter to the Governors urging a place to house the refugees, but they weren’t permitted to stay in one location. Ray I didn’t think we could just sit here idly and say, ‘Let those people die’. We wouldn’t want the rest of the world to say that about us if we were in the same situation…Do unto others as you’d have them do unto you.” And arrangements were made to keep them in Iowa.

He would win the Cristine Wilson Medal for Equality and Justice.
(Photo from Sportslot.com)

Ray’s efforts enabled Vietnam refugees to give Iowa a try (Iowa Pathways photo)

A change in the Constitution giving the Governor four year terms made Ray the first Governor to win one. Actually, two. And both times, he took 58%.

Both Milliken and Ray received mention for the office of the vice-presidency, though it’s not clear either was seriously considered.

Milliken is now 91 and Ray nearing 85. Both have continued speaking out on issues of importance, and have moved mountains to remind their parties that moderate is far from a dirty word.

Gazette Photo