God Bless You Henry Hyde ~ Rest In Peace

Henry Hyde – great man. He was one of the good guys.
Congressman Hyde spent more than three decades as a towering figure on Capitol Hill. But he first made his name in Washington more than 60 years ago.
He was on the Georgetown basketball team, and played in the NCAA Eastern championship game in 1943. After college and Navy service in World War II, he returned home to Illinois, and earned a law degree, and made his way into politics. This erudite, scholarly man has walked with kings and kept the common touch.
He won 20 elections, and gave steady service to the people of Illinois for 40 years.
In the House, Congressman Hyde rose to the chairmanship of two committees, Judiciary and International Relations. And from the first day, he was a commanding presence, and he was a man of consequence.
Colleagues were struck by his extraordinary intellect, his deep convictions, and eloquent voice. In committee and in the House chamber, the background noise would stop when Henry Hyde had the floor.
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.
Hyde was President of the Clinton impeachment trial, a high-level participant in the response to the 9-11 attacks.
However, more than anything else Henry Hyde is known for his stalwart defense of the right to life of unborn children.
He stood up against the Clinton slime machine and paid dearly. But, nonetheless, he stood. May God rest his soul.
Some office holders of long tenure become pliable and more compliant to their fellow office holders as they age. Others develop character and confidence in their principles and become, Statesmen. Hyde was a shining example of the later course in how to serve.
He was a good man.
God rest his soul.