USA TODAY International Edition

Walter Mondale fought the good fight

He was the first VP who held real responsibi­lity

- Ken Rudin, a former political editor at NPR, is the host of “Ken Rudin’s Political Junkie” radio program.

The election wasn’t even close. Walter Mondale, the former vice president, was crushed in his 1984 challenge to President Ronald Reagan — 49 states to 1. Even the one Mondale carried, his home state of Minnesota, was close. A shift of fewer than 3,800 votes would have given Reagan an unpreceden­ted 50- state sweep.

And yet, when one thinks of Walter Mondale, who died Monday at the age of 93, failure is the last word that comes to mind. In his long political career, he fought for, and believed in, helping those who could not help themselves. He believed in government as a positive force. He believed in the goodness of others. Thoughts not widely found in today’s politics.

A determined liberal, he fought for civil rights and a strong labor movement and was a strong opponent of U. S. involvemen­t in Vietnam.

What Mondale told me

His mentor, Hubert Humphrey, went from a liberal crusader in the Senate to a tormented vice president under Lyndon Johnson, whose conduct of the war dishearten­ed Humphrey. A few years ago, I asked Mondale whether Humphrey’s experience as VP gave him a reason to pause when Jimmy Carter offered the vice presidenti­al spot to him in 1976.

“I was very discourage­d by what Humphrey went through,” Mondale told me. “I actually think he would have been far better off had he stayed in the Senate. There is no question in my mind that one of the war’s greatest victims, other than those injured and killed, was the career and psyche of Hubert Humphrey.” When Mondale was offered the position by Carter, “I went to see Humphrey. ‘ I got a shot at vice president but do I want it?’ I asked him. ‘ I know what you went through.’ ”

As it turned out, Humphrey emphatical­ly insisted Mondale take it. And in doing so, Mondale became the first vice president in history who held the office with real responsibi­lity — a model later emulated by Al Gore, Dick Cheney and Joe Biden.

On the night President Carter lost reelection, in 1980, staffers were already touting Mondale as the Democratic nominee for 1984. But while “Fritz” had strong support from labor unions, women’s groups and African Americans, he was seen by many as representi­ng stale, tired politics — which gave rise to challenger Gary Hart. Mondale ultimately won the nomination — a debate with Hart in which he asked the Colorado senator, “Where’s the beef?” was seen as a critical moment — but he went into the San Francisco convention as a long shot at best to defeat President Reagan.

Choosing Geraldine Ferraro, the congresswo­man from New York, as his running mate made history — the first woman to appear on a major party ticket. It gave the campaign an enthusiast­ic push into the general election.

Even so, the polls were not encouragin­g. The only time where Mondale’s hopes brightened came in his first debate with Reagan, who suddenly appeared old and confused.

That ended in the second debate when Reagan, the old Hollywood hand, came up with one of the best lines of his career. Asked whether he thought that he was too old to be president, Reagan responded, “Not at all. … I want you to know that also I will not make age an issue of this campaign. I am not going to exploit, for political purposes, my opponent’s youth and inexperien­ce.”

A public servant to the end

Everyone in that Kansas City hall, including Mondale, roared with laughter. And the election was all but over.

Mondale’s political career unexpected­ly resurfaced in 2002, when Sen. Paul Wellstone of Minnesota perished in a plane crash just more than a week before the election. The Democratic Party turned to Mondale to help save the U. S. Senate seat. But in the memorial service for Wellstone, rather than appearing mournful, the participan­ts were so over- the- top partisan that it turned off the electorate and damaged Mondale’s candidacy; he lost, narrowly, to Republican Norm Coleman.

Just two days before his death, Mondale sent out an email to his former staff. “Before I go I wanted to let you know how much you mean to me. Never has a public servant had a better group of people working at their side. Together we have accomplish­ed so much, and I know you will keep up the good fight.”

Rest in Peace, Mr. Mondale. You fought the good fight.

 ?? Ken Rudin ?? “Ken Rudin’s Political Junkie”
Ken Rudin “Ken Rudin’s Political Junkie”
 ??  ?? Former President Jimmy Carter cheers on former Vice President Walter Mondale in 2009 in Atlanta.
JOHN BAZEMORE/ AP
Former President Jimmy Carter cheers on former Vice President Walter Mondale in 2009 in Atlanta. JOHN BAZEMORE/ AP

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United States