Treen was a model for classy politics
Written by WGNO ABC26 News
Sunday, 01 November 2009 13:00
ABC26 News
Just defeated for a second term by Edwin
Edwards in 1983, then-Gov. Dave Treen didn't hang up his hat and
leave the massive budget problems behind. Soon to be out of office,
Treen sat side-by-side with Edwards in a legislative hearing, the
pair pushing a proposal to plug the shortfall.
Decades later, it was Treen who pushed for a commutation of
Edwards' federal prison sentence on corruption charges. It was
Treen showing sympathy for the man who worked to undermine Treen's
term as governor, who mocked Treen as slow and who made him the
butt of jokes.
The efforts to win Edwards' early release failed, but they spoke
volumes about Treen, the 81-year-old Republican former governor who
died Thursday.
"That's classic Dave Treen. Classic Dave Treen doesn't hold
grudges and just looks at the human side of every angle of every
individual," said former Gov. Kathleen Blanco.
In the hours after Treen's death, the remembrances came back to
the same words: Kind. Humble. Gracious. Honest. A gentleman.
Stories recounted over the years by both Democrats and
Republicans about the former congressman and governor have
regularly returned to the same themes. No mean words were spoken.
Instead, people have talked of a man with little flash and little
need for pomp, a man with a good heart, personal grace and no
animosity for political foes. He was a classy guy.
"I admire this man and regret his passing, and I think I join a
lot of Louisianians who are so glad that Dave lived in our state
and gave so much to this state. He will be missed," said former
Gov. Buddy Roemer.
Today's elected officials could take a lesson or two from Treen
about how to survive politics with your dignity intact and without
spite for those people you defeated or who defeated you.
Treen died early Thursday of complications from a respiratory
illness, according to his son David C. Treen Jr. A memorial service
to honor the former governor is planned at the state Capitol on
Monday.
Arguments can be made about Treen's successes or failures as
governor and in politics, his accomplishments and woes. But no one
argues about his character or his intentions, and that's a rare
achievement in the grudge-filled world of politics and in a state
with the messy, backroom-dealing history of Louisiana.
"He governed with a good heart. His ultimate kindness and the
respect that he showed any individual preceded any of his governing
quandaries. He was a gentleman at every juncture, and so you really
couldn't hold anything against Gov. Treen," Blanco said. "I know
that there were some people who didn't agree with things he did,
but it could never be personal with him."
From prison, Edwards praised the man he worked to defeat, his
one-time political foe.
"He was a worthy adversary and an absolute honorable man. In
spite of the different roads we traveled, we had become very good
friends. I truly regret his passing and send condolences and
sympathies to his family," Edwards said in a statement released to
The Associated Press by Mary Jane Marcantel, an Edwards family
friend.
Blanco spoke of Treen's loss in the 1983 governor's race, the
same election that brought Blanco to the state House of
Representatives.
She remembered a trip to the state Capitol before Edwards'
inauguration when she watched a legislative committee hearing that
would seem largely unthinkable today after such a heated campaign.
Both Treen and Edwards were there together, she said, asking
lawmakers to pass a package of taxes to fill in a massive budget
gap.
"The two men were in complete accord. Dave Treen had just
gotten beaten by Edwin Edwards. It was just a remarkable
experience," Blanco recounted.
It was also classy politics.
