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Reviving Liberal Republicanism in America

Mark Hatfield

Mark Odom Hatfield (July 12, 1922 – August 7, 2011) was a Republican politician from Oregon. Hatfield served two terms as Governor of Oregon before being elected to the United States Senate, an office he held for 30 years.[71] [72]

Hatfield was one of the most openly religious men in American politics at that time but, unlike most other evangelical Baptists, his faith led him toward a generally progressive philosophy.[73] For example, during the Vietnam War (even in an election year and at a time that the war was supported by 75 percent of the public) Hatfield was the only person to vote against a resolution by a Governors’ conference that expressed support for the U.S. involvement in the war in Vietnam.[74] [75] Later, in 1970, along with Senator George McGovern (D-South Dakota), Hatfield co-sponsored the McGovern-Hatfield Amendment, which called for a complete withdrawal of U.S. troops from Vietnam.[76] The American bombing of North Vietnam struck him as especially immoral. “Terroristic or indiscriminate bombing must involve the deaths of non-combatant men, women, and children and merits the general condemnation of humanity,” he insisted. “It cannot be justified as an instrument for the fulfillment of United States foreign policy.”[77]

Although a prominent evangelical Christian, Hatfield opposed government-sponsored school prayer and supported civil rights for minorities.[78] Hatfield frequently broke with his party on issues of national defense and foreign policy, such as military spending and the ban on travel to Cuba.[79] [80] In the 1980s, Hatfield co-sponsored nuclear freeze legislation with Democratic Senator Edward M. Kennedy.[81] He was the lone Republican to vote against the appropriations bill for the Department of Defense in fiscal year 1981.[82] In 1990, Hatfield voted against authorizing military action against Iraq in the Gulf War, one of only two members of the Republican Party to do so in the Senate.[83] [84]

Hatfield was rated as the sixth most respected Senator in a 1987 survey of fellow senators.[85] Sometimes referred to as “Saint Mark”, Hatfield enjoyed warm relations with members of both the Republican and the Democratic parties.[86] [87]

Mark Hatfield

Mark Odom Hatfield (July 12, 1922 – August 7, 2011) was a Republican politician from Oregon. Hatfield served two terms as Governor of Oregon before being elected to the United States Senate, an office he held for 30 years.[1][2]

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Hatfield was one of the most openly religious men in American politics at that time but, unlike most other evangelical Baptists, his faith led him toward a generally progressive philosophy.[3] For example, during the Vietnam War (even in an election year and at a time that the war was supported by 75 percent of the public) Hatfield was the only person to vote against a resolution by a Governors’ conference that expressed support for the U.S. involvement in the war in Vietnam.[4][5] Later, in 1970, along with Senator George McGovern (D-South Dakota), Hatfield co-sponsored the McGovern-Hatfield Amendment, which called for a complete withdrawal of U.S. troops from Vietnam.[6] The American bombing of North Vietnam struck him as especially immoral. “Terroristic or indiscriminate bombing must involve the deaths of non-combatant men, women, and children and merits the general condemnation of humanity,” he insisted. “It cannot be justified as an instrument for the fulfillment of United States foreign policy.”[7]

Although a prominent evangelical Christian, Hatfield opposed government-sponsored school prayer and supported civil rights for minorities.[8] Hatfield frequently broke with his party on issues of national defense and foreign policy, such as military spending and the ban on travel to Cuba.[9][10] In the 1980s, Hatfield co-sponsored nuclear freeze legislation with Democratic Senator Edward M. Kennedy.[11] He was the lone Republican to vote against the appropriations bill for the Department of Defense in fiscal year 1981.[12] In 1990, Hatfield voted against authorizing military action against Iraq in the Gulf War, one of only two members of the Republican Party to do so in the Senate.[13][14]

Hatfield was rated as the sixth most respected Senator in a 1987 survey of fellow senators.[15] Sometimes referred to as “Saint Mark”, Hatfield enjoyed warm relations with members of both the Republican and the Democratic parties.[16][17]

[1] Walth, Brent, “Mark of distinction,” The Oregonian, December 29, 1996.

[2] In 1968, Hatfield was considered as a running mate for Richard Nixon on the Republican Party presidential ticket.

[3] Geoffrey Kabaservice, Rule and Ruin: The Downfall of Moderation and the Destruction of the Republican Party, From Eisenhower to the Tea Party (New York: Oxford University Press, 2012), 182 Kindle edition.

[4] Balmer, Donald G.  “The 1966 Election in Oregon.” The Western Political Quarterly Vol. 20, No. 2, Part 2. (June, 1967), 593–60.

[5] “Governors back Viet action.” The Register-Guard, July 8, 1966.

[6] Timothy Egan, “Oregon’s Hatfield to Retire After 5 Terms in Senate.” The New York Times, December 2, 1995.

[7] Geoffrey Kabaservice, Rule and Ruin: The Downfall of Moderation and the Destruction of the Republican Party, From Eisenhower to the Tea Party (New York: Oxford University Press, 2012), 186. Kindle edition.

[8] Egan, Timothy. “Oregon’s ‘Out-of-Step’ Senator Steps Forward.” The New York Times, November 26, 1994.

[9] Egan, Timothy. “Oregon’s ‘Out-of-Step’ Senator Steps Forward.” The New York Times, November 26, 1994.

[10] Safire, William. “Not ‘Ready to Go’. The New York Times, April 8, 1993.

[11] Peter de Leon, “Review: Freeze: The Literature of the Nuclear Weapons Debate.” The Journal of Conflict Resolution, 27 (1983), Accessed 2010, 181–189.

[12] Florio, David H.  “Elections, Policy Issues, and Research Agendas.” Educational Researcher, 10 (1981), 22–23.

[13] Egan, Timothy. “Oregon’s ‘Out-of-Step’ Senator Steps Forward.” The New York Times, November 26, 1994.

[14] “On This Day: 12 January: 1991: US Congress votes for war in Iraq.” BBC. Retrieved on April 20, 2008.

[15] John R. Hibbing and Sue Thomas. “The Modern United States Senate: What is Accorded Respect.” The Journal of Politics, 52 (1990), 126–145.

[16] Egan, Timothy. “Oregon’s ‘Out-of-Step’ Senator Steps Forward.” The New York Times, November 26, 1994.

[17] “Governor Mark O. Hatfield’s Administration” Oregon State Archives.