Paul Wellstone's passing leaves Minnesota in the midst of an uncertain politics of mourning. Our houses of faith-our synagogues, parishes, and mosques--have the most developed rituals for dealing with death. Religious traditions provide the liturgies, eulogies, and hymns for our funerals. Some communities of faith prescribe periods of mourning and tell members how long to wear their mourning clothes
Unlike our religious institutions, politics does not give us formal rites for dealing with death. Yet our politicians assume the mantle of quasi-religious leaders and become the priests of our political culture. They must help us grieve and tell us when to change out of our mourning clothes so that we can resume our political lives. Just as good priests and rabbis will transcend politics, we now look for political icons who can rise above the political din.
Speaking for his family, Paul Wellstone’s son has directed our eyes on Walter Mondale. If anyone can claim the mantle of our political high priest, it is he. The preacher's son from Elmore has served the country as Senator, Ambassador, and Vice-President. He served before as our civic rabbi when Hubert Humphrey died a quarter century ago. In his eulogy for Humphrey, the Vice-President proclaimed that the Happy Warrior "taught us how to live and now taught us how to die."
Whoever replaces Wellstone will have a crucial role in setting the rituals of our transformed political life. Our political priest can lead us from the memorial service back into the political struggle. In the few days remaining before this election, it cannot be politics as usual. But it will be politics. And Walter Mondale, no less than Paul Wellstone, is known for his strong convictions about political causes. Because of his stature and experience, Mondale can transcend politics even as he is immersed in it. He can direct us back to the political struggle and shape the tone of our political discourse.
Often the political tides run with the allies of those who have tragically died. Following Senate candidate Mel Carnahan's death in Missouri, his widow gained his Senate seat even though her name was not even on the ballot. In Minnesota during the 1930s, when Floyd B. Olson died of cancer in the midst of his Senate candidacy, his Farmer-Labor party had a banner year. In national politics, the death of John F. Kennedy seemed to energize the causes that he championed. Lyndon Johnson pressed legislation as a memorial to our slain president.
At other times, death has wrought turbulent political waters. When Martin Luther King, Jr. and Robert Kennedy were killed in 1968, the liberal movement seemed to falter amidst Hubert Humphrey's narrow presidential loss. After Hubert Humprey's death a decade later, the DFL experienced a stunning defeat in the so-called Minnesota Massacre of 1978. The Republicans ended decades of DFL dominance as they swept two U.S. Senate seats and the Governor's chair.
Paul Wellstone's politics will continue after his death. Just 24 hours after the fatal crash in Eveleth, peace activists did not cancel a planned anti-war rally on the steps of the State Capitol. They marched and carried Wellstone signs with a kind of solemn strength.
The exuberance and passion of Wellstone's life are now poignantly juxtaposed with his tragic death. Politicians will continue to invoke Wellstone's legacy, but the success of their efforts is not guaranteed. Whatever the outcome of next Tuesday's election, whatever the fate of our candidates and parties, we will still feel Paul Wellstone's presence and influence. As we try to give voice to the voiceless and bring justice to our state and nation, the spirit of Paul Wellstone will be with us all.
-- Dan Hofrenning is chair of the political science department at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota |
