I was genuinely saddened today to hear of the passing of Rep. John Seiberling of Ohio.
Seiberling was an environmental giant and was known for great integrity. He was a man of peace and originally ran for Congress in 1970 because of his opposition to the Vietnam War. Seiberling defeated an incumbent Republican in 1970 and served in Congress for 17 years. Most recently he directed the Institute of Peace at the University of Akron in his hometown. He was on the House Judiciary Committee that impeached Richard Nixon. Seiberling was a great friend of the National Parks and probably his greatest legacy was passage of the Alaska lands bill in the late 1970's that preserved so much of that beautiful state. Here is a link to the AP obit: http://ap.google.com/...
One of Rep. Seiberlings' sons is my neighbor and friend. I'll be happy to pass on any thoughts to his family from folks who knew Rep. Seiberling or who knew of his work. Seiberling was a humble and dignified man. I did not know him well but I did meet him several times and he sure commanded respect and conveyed a quiet disnity. He was a true public servent and the nation is poorer without him.