Pete McCloskey is a true red, white and blue American legend. I first met the Bay Area politician in the spring of 2006 when, in the backroom of a downtown Morgan Hill coffee shop, we had a one-hour chat for a newspaper article.
I have no doubt McCloskey's fascinating life story is worthy of a documentary film. And in fact, this Fourth of July weekend, KQED-TV will premiere the film "Pete McCloskey: Leading from the Front."
McCloskey was born in Loma Linda on Sept. 29, 1927. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1946 to 1947, and graduated from Stanford University in 1950. That same year he joined the U.S. Marine Corps. As a "Leatherneck," he found himself involved in brutal combat in the Korean War. He was awarded the Navy Cross, the Silver Star, and two Purple Heart medals. In 1954, he graduated from Stanford's Law School and practiced law and taught legal ethics at Santa Clara University for many years.
In 1967, McCloskey ran in and won a special election to fill the congressional seat of deceased U.S. Rep. J. Arthur Younger. During his 16 years in Washington, the San Mateo-based congressman proved himself in the political process to be a leader of integrity. In 1972, he sought the Republican nomination for U.S. President by running on a pro-peace platform against incumbent Richard Nixon. In 1973, McCloskey co-authored the Endangered Species Act. With Democratic Senator Gaylord Nelson, he also
co-founded the annual Earth Day event.
I interviewed McCloskey at that Morgan Hill coffee shop a few years ago because, at age 78, he had decided to come out of a well-earned retirement and campaign in the Republican Primary against then-Congressman Richard Pombo. McCloskey's squinting blue eyes revealed a passion for politics as he described how his family had proudly been Republicans since his Irish immigrant grandfather joined that political party in 1859. He talked about how his beloved party produced upstanding moral leaders such as Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt.
McCloskey's eyes turned sad as he told me how disappointed he felt when he saw how his party had evolved in recent years. Its slide into "moral peril" began when Newt Gingrich became the speaker of the house in 1994 and certain party members had grown arrogant with political power. "'Absolute power corrupts absolutely,'" he said, quoting Lord Acton.
For McCloskey, Pombo symbolized an arrogance of power that leads to inevitable corruption. The District 11 congressman had got too cozy with K Street lobbyists including the notorious Jack Abramoff.
McCloskey lost the primary election to Pombo. But as a political legend, the national attention he brought to the race and his endorsement of Democratic candidate Jerry McNerney led to Pombo losing his congressional seat to McNerney in November 2006.
I believe McNerney might never have won that race if McCloskey had chosen to simply stay on his farm and tend his oranges. But like the Roman general Cincinnatus who left his wheat fields to defend ancient Rome against the Aequians, McCloskey saw the "barbarians" ransacking our nation's capitol and left his orchards to defend Americans against political hubris.
McCloskey and I talked about the state of American politics in the 21st century. During his years serving in Congress, he faced fray and friction between Republicans and Democrats. But the conflict was never malicious, he told me. Politicians back then did their jobs with a dignified respect for the opposition. Today, too many politicians feel more loyalty to their party leaders than to the folks back home who hired them with their votes.
During our coffee shop interview, I told McCloskey I believed a huge part of the problem was the sense of cynicism many Americans today feel toward politicians. This attitude causes too many of us to fail to fulfill our most sacred obligation as citizens to cast our Election Day votes. And too many potentially well-qualified candidates for Congress decide never to seek that office because they fear being tainted by the D.C. culture. McCloskey serves as one example that politicians who follow a moral compass and lead with integrity can make a big difference in making America a better country for all who live here.
This weekend, I encourage you to check out the premiere of the documentary "Pete McCloskey: Leading from the Front" which KQED public television will broadcast on Sunday night at 6 p.m. Produced by my friend Rob Caughlan, the bio-flick highlights the life and times of one of America's most fascinating political leaders - and someone who has had a major impact on the South Valley's local history.
The Independence Day weekend is a perfect time to view the film. Like Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and John Adams, Pete McCloskey is a true red, white and blue American legend.
Martin Cheek Marty Cheek is the author of 'The Silicon Valley Handbook.' His column appears every other Friday. You can reach him at martych@gte.net.
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