Senator Riegle stands out in my mind for delaying the enactment of the Michigan Wilderness Act by eight years after he had originally introduced the legislation. The story is that after he introduced the bill he spoke to a group in the UP who objected to his legislation, and on the spot the senator reversed course, vowed to withdraw his legislation and to not support it going forward. The bill in the House were introduced first by Rep. Bob Carr and after he lost his election in 1982, Rep. Dale Kildee became the wilderness champion, reintroducing the legislation with the same bill number each session until it passed. In the House the bill drew bipartisan support from all MI Democratic members except John Dingell, and from Republicans Carl Pursell and Paul Henry and others.
Riegle maintained his opposition, getting ridiculed, as I recall, by Hugh McDiarmid, Sr., routinely, and drawing increasing numbers of people demanding he support the legislation. Senator Carl Levin, after his election in 1984, was reluctant to take on what was considered controversial legislation, but ultimately agreed after Gov. Blanchard and forest industry groups got on board in recognition of the limited scope of the wilderness protection - 90,000 acres out of 3 million acres of National Forest lands. Pressure on Riegle led him to quietly take a neutral stance, allowing his fellow democratic senator to introduce the Senate legislation. However, in 1986, the U.S. Forest Service (under President Reagan) at a hearing in the Senate on the legislation, called for the removal of the Nordhouse Dunes proposed wilderness from the bill because of private oil interests with leases under the only lower peninsula tract proposed for designation. Levin was furious, and in the first part of the following session moved the legislation quickly through the Senate while the House also passed their bill. Riegle never publicly backed off his opposition to the designation -- I wonder in his last years if he reconsidered as these wonderful places are still protected and available to non-motorized recreational users and studied by scientists.
O Congress was indeed a good inside look at Congress and what goes on. Maybe Tip O'Neals book is perhaps in the same genre. Maybe I have missed them but it doesn't seem like anyone wants to read how Congress seems to work and publishing houses don't want to loose money.
I remember one funny story was about his relationship with the last Democratic Senator from Idaho, Frank Church who he used to refer to as Senator Cathedral.
My best memory was a celebration at the Joe Lewis stadium. Riegle was the star, the Congressman who lobbied intensively for the federal bailout that saved Chrysler from oblivion. Packed house. Ricardo Montalban, the actor with the velvet voice, was MC. People were jubilant. Jobs would be saved. The third leg of the table hoisting the Big Three would still be around. Riegle did the hard work, but didn't overdo the praise of himself. He mattered, even if he didn't rise to heroic stature. That one day still echoes in my brain.
Jack, right again. Riegle certainly played a supporting role in the Senate, but Jim Blanchard did all the hard work in the House and in the Administration. Don was a decent man but not of great substance. Of course, for many years, he was Michigan's senior senator, ahead of Carl Levin, a true politician full of substance and goodwill.
In what may have been his last redeeming act the senator had his staff do some serious fact finding about the toxic exposures to our military in the first Gulf War. But then he was gone and Dick Cheney and his minions kept the lid on until the end of the Bush II administration. But at least some of the facts saw daylight. By the end of Cheney's time as VP most of the Gulf War I vets that were effected had died.
Senator Riegle stands out in my mind for delaying the enactment of the Michigan Wilderness Act by eight years after he had originally introduced the legislation. The story is that after he introduced the bill he spoke to a group in the UP who objected to his legislation, and on the spot the senator reversed course, vowed to withdraw his legislation and to not support it going forward. The bill in the House were introduced first by Rep. Bob Carr and after he lost his election in 1982, Rep. Dale Kildee became the wilderness champion, reintroducing the legislation with the same bill number each session until it passed. In the House the bill drew bipartisan support from all MI Democratic members except John Dingell, and from Republicans Carl Pursell and Paul Henry and others.
Riegle maintained his opposition, getting ridiculed, as I recall, by Hugh McDiarmid, Sr., routinely, and drawing increasing numbers of people demanding he support the legislation. Senator Carl Levin, after his election in 1984, was reluctant to take on what was considered controversial legislation, but ultimately agreed after Gov. Blanchard and forest industry groups got on board in recognition of the limited scope of the wilderness protection - 90,000 acres out of 3 million acres of National Forest lands. Pressure on Riegle led him to quietly take a neutral stance, allowing his fellow democratic senator to introduce the Senate legislation. However, in 1986, the U.S. Forest Service (under President Reagan) at a hearing in the Senate on the legislation, called for the removal of the Nordhouse Dunes proposed wilderness from the bill because of private oil interests with leases under the only lower peninsula tract proposed for designation. Levin was furious, and in the first part of the following session moved the legislation quickly through the Senate while the House also passed their bill. Riegle never publicly backed off his opposition to the designation -- I wonder in his last years if he reconsidered as these wonderful places are still protected and available to non-motorized recreational users and studied by scientists.
That was Riegle, all right
O Congress was indeed a good inside look at Congress and what goes on. Maybe Tip O'Neals book is perhaps in the same genre. Maybe I have missed them but it doesn't seem like anyone wants to read how Congress seems to work and publishing houses don't want to loose money.
I remember one funny story was about his relationship with the last Democratic Senator from Idaho, Frank Church who he used to refer to as Senator Cathedral.
There are some. I am in an airport but will message you later
I used to get a glossy Christmas postcard of his family every year.
And, at some point in my past, I campaigned for both of them!
But, alas, here we are, faced with some very important decisions in our fair state...decisions that will shape our future.
you are wise
My best memory was a celebration at the Joe Lewis stadium. Riegle was the star, the Congressman who lobbied intensively for the federal bailout that saved Chrysler from oblivion. Packed house. Ricardo Montalban, the actor with the velvet voice, was MC. People were jubilant. Jobs would be saved. The third leg of the table hoisting the Big Three would still be around. Riegle did the hard work, but didn't overdo the praise of himself. He mattered, even if he didn't rise to heroic stature. That one day still echoes in my brain.
Alas, you are wrong. Blanchard did all the hard work of saving Chrysler. Riegle only tried to share in the credit,
Jack, right again. Riegle certainly played a supporting role in the Senate, but Jim Blanchard did all the hard work in the House and in the Administration. Don was a decent man but not of great substance. Of course, for many years, he was Michigan's senior senator, ahead of Carl Levin, a true politician full of substance and goodwill.
In what may have been his last redeeming act the senator had his staff do some serious fact finding about the toxic exposures to our military in the first Gulf War. But then he was gone and Dick Cheney and his minions kept the lid on until the end of the Bush II administration. But at least some of the facts saw daylight. By the end of Cheney's time as VP most of the Gulf War I vets that were effected had died.
I was stunned to learn how many had died. But Clinton was there for six years after Riegle left.
At least Mr. Riegle ended up on the right side of things by supporting Sen. Sanders.
Christopher and Sen. Riegle,of course,both hailed from Flint.
Christopher?
My pal Christopher Curtis,an award-winning children's literature author.I'm a character in one of his books.
My buddy,the award-winning children's author Christopher Curtis,once worked for Mr. Riegle before Christopher came to live here in Windsor.
Oops- never mind