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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 when 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 noncombatant 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.