We here in Oregon called him Senator Hatfield and we loved him.

Senator Mark O. Hatfield died last night.  It was the passing of a giant.  He was one of the youngest governors of the State of Oregon, one of the younger (and longest serving 30 years) US Senators.

Hatfield was an environmentalist who worked tirelessly to make sure that the state he loved was cared for properly.  At the same time, he also believed in expanding trade and educational opportunies for his people.

The list of things this man accomplished is as long as your arm.

What endeared him to his people most of all was his willingness to go against his own party if necessary.  With Sen. Hatfield it was neccessary.

In 1953 he introduced and passed legislation in the House that prohibited discrimination based on race in public accommodations before federal legislation and court decisions did so on a national level.

When he ran for Governor of Oregon, he was opposed by his own party.  That didn’t bother him a bit.  He won the primary and then the general election.  He was the youngest governor in the history of Oregon at that point in time at the age of 36.

His most famous vote was against the Vietnam War.

Mark O. Hatfield was a Governor, a U.S. Senator, and a statesman.

He was also a Republican.

Sen. Hatfield was one of two Republicans I’ve ever admired.  I don’t think we will see men like him again.

That is so sad.

We’ll miss you Sen. Hatfield.