Yesterday marked the first session of Congress in 60 years that did not include a member of the Kennedy clan. That fabled family has served and led in ways that are known to us all.
There is another Democratic Dynasty that may be less flashy or well-known, but is, I think, worthy of note---the Udalls.
The Udall clan originally migrated south to the northern Arizona town of St. Johns in the 1800's. Who would have ever guessed that the progeny of Levi S. Udall, of the Arizona Supreme Court, would become Liberal Leaders and some of the most critical leaders of the Environmental Movement in the United States?
Stewart was first elected to Congress in 1954, where he served with some distinction until he was tapped in 1961 by JFK to serve as his Secretary of the Interior. In his nine years in that post, he rewrote the book on Environmentalism in this country, powerfully championing the causes of Clean Air and Water, Endangered Species, Wilderness Areas and National Parks, among others.
He had a powerful ally in his brother Morris, who assumed his seat in Congress, where he went on to serve for 30 years until his debilitating Parkinson's Disease made his continuation impossible. He served for many years as Chair of the Interior Committee, where his leadership on Environmental Affairs and protection of the rights of Native Americans was equally powerful to that of his older brother. Few recall that, in 1976, he made a strong run for President, finishing a close second to Jimmy Carter, by very narrowly losing the Wisconsin primary that year. As with everything in life, "Mo" applied his fabled dry and sardonic wit to even this Quixotic undertaking when, as he noted the fortunes of himself, Bruce Babbitt, and Barry Goldwater in coming up short for the Presidency (he could now add John McCain): "Arizona is the only state in the Union where Mothers don't tell their children they can grow up to be President."
His sense of humor was legendary. A great friend, Alfredo Gutierrez, running for reelection to the Az. Senate, once featured a fundraiser at a Tempe comedy club starring Mo Udall. No one was disappointed.
I was fortunate to have met both of these giants. I once arrived a bit early for a political meeting in Phoenix to find myself sitting next to Stewart. I was honored to share a chat with this down-to-earth hero of mine. Later, "Mo" showed up for a festival at a Phoenix park. It was my pleasure and honor to usher him around, even tho the toll that Parkinson's was taking on him was already quite evident.
The exciting part is that the sons of both of these great men seem to be carrying on their proud tradition in fine fashion. Both Stewart's son Tom and Mo's son Mark, following Congressional careers, were elected to the US Senate in 2008. While both the Levins in Michigan and Salazars in Colorado featured Senator/Representative brother acts, I'm not aware of another pairing of brother Senators since the Kennedys.
Like their fathers, they are not particularly flashy, but, even this early in their Senatorial careers, they demonstrate the commitment to principle and desire to mark solid accomplishments that was the hallmark of their fathers. Mark led in transforming Rocky Flats into a wilderness area. Tom is leading right now in the effort to effect filibuster reform in the Senate.
Ironically, there were for a time three 'Udalls' in the US Senate, as Mark and Tom's double second cousin Gordon Smith was there representing Oregon before he was defeated in his reelection bid by Jeff Merkley.
Inspired by their stellar fathers, I personally believe these two leaders are just beginning to make their mark. I welcome more input from those from New Mexico, Colorado, or elsewhere who may know more about them, and encourage you to read more about Stew and Mo in their Wikipedia entries or elsewhere. They are truly leaders of whom we can be proud.