In 50 years, change hasn’t hindered Dingell in Congress

loyalties Democrat even from among Detroit Republicans inspires

WASHINGTON — When Rep. John Dingell A rst arrived in Congress from Detroit, tail A ns and V-8 enginesw ere the rage among new car buyers. His hometown was the nation’s fourth most populous city. And his Democratswere a year into a 40- year reign as majority party in the House.

Today, skyrocketing gas prices are causing Detroit’s muscle cars to fall out of favor. Detroit ist he eighth- largest city. And Democrats face an uphill battle to reclaim the House majority they lost 11 years ago — along with the gavel Dingell used to wield as chairman of the powerful House Energy and Commerce Committee.

Still, the 79- year-old Michigan lawmaker remains a force to be reckoned with.

Tuesday, Dingell will go to the White House to celebrate his 50th anniversary as a member of Congress. He’ll be lunching with President Bush, even though the pugnacious Democrat recently described the Bush administration as “ incompetent.” The fete shows how much in J uence Dingell continuest o have, with Republicans as well as Democrats. “ Even when we’ve disagreed, John has always been someone I respected,” Vice President Cheney, a former House colleague, said recently.

John Dingell Jr. joined the House on Dec. 13, 1955, after winning a special election to replace his late father, who had been a House member since 1933.

Since the younger Dingell’s arrival, 10 presidents have come and 10 have gone, the Berlin Wall was built and dismantled, Alaska and Hawaii entered the union, and the civil rights movement transformed the nation. When Dingell entered the House, there were three black members. Today, there are 42.

Time hasn’t softened Dingell’s razor tongue, which he wields freely against himself and his own party. “ I made some A ne, dumb- ass blunders,” he says, refusing to enumerate them. “ I’m smart enough to admit I made the mistakes. I’m not dumb enough to tell you what they are.”

He’s not so coy when it comes to the Democratic Party’s blunders. Asked why Republicans control the House today, Dingell declares, “ We gave it to them. Bad candidates, bad behavior, bad policies, bad politics. We made mistakes. Hubris.”

But Dingell also thinks his party is a v ictim of i ts own success . A A erce advocate of national health care and labor unions, Dingell says the voterswho remember his party’ss trugglesto improve wages, health and labor standards are mostly gone. “ A lot of them have died,” he says, but their children have “ gotten af J uent. Now they think they’re Republicans.”

Asth e top Democrat on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Dingell has helped craft legislation on matters ranging from natural gas prices to telecommunication to health care. The auto industry advocate has battled against increasing fuel ef A ciency standards. But as an avid sportsman who lines his of A ce walls with hunting trophies, Dingell also has been a champion of cleaning up water pollution and expanding wilderness areas.

Not everyone is impressed with hist enure. Paul Jacob of U.S. Term Limits, a group that succeeded in establishing term limits for Michigan’ss tate legislators but not for Congress, said Dingell’s 50 years in of A ce “ isway too long for any one person to hold power.”

Former representative Lynn Rivers, who was forced by redistricting to run against Dingell in a bitter primary three years ago, begs to differ with Dingell’s assertion that he has remained friendsw ith most of his political opponents. “ I don’t A nd myself in a position where I can be friendswi th him,” Riverss ays.

But if Dingell can be, in the words of House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer, “ gruff and intimidating,” he also inspires A erce loyalties, even among Republicans.

White House chief of staff Andy Card, whom Dingell once recommended for a job as president of the auto industry’s trade group, is a fan. Cheney recently spoke at a party in Dingell’s honor. The son of former Reagan administration aide Ken Duberstein, Andy, calls the congressman “ Uncle John.”

Though his Democratic Party has been out of power for more than decade, Dingell still has clout. His wife, Debbie, isvi ce chairwoman of the General Motors Foundation and a member of the Democratic National Committee. Many Dingell protégés have top- level jobs in government and industry. “This town is full of people who graduated from the John Dingell school,” says former representative Vic Fazio, D-Calif.

If Dingell ever pines for the days when Democratsr an the House and Detroit dominated the auto industry, he doesn’t let it show.

“ I’ve tried a lot of times in my life to go back,” Dingell says. “ But that can’t be.”

Friendss ay that attitude isth e secret to Dingell’s longevity. “ What’s impressive about the guy is he’s stayed J exible,” Fazio says. “ He’s given up on some battles and moved on to others. John always stayed with the times.” Contributing: James R. Healey and Paul Overberg

Tribute: Bill Clinton, left, in camou J age here with John Dingell, recently spoke at a party in his honor.

In the early days: Rep. John Dingell, left, here with Harry Truman, has served with 11 presidents.

By Tim Dillon, USA TODAY At home in the House: Rep. John Dingell will mark a half-century in Congress on Tuesday.