Ten years ago today, we Americans lost one of our brightest lights in the political universe. On that icy morning, a small plane crashed just outside Eveleth in northeastern Minnesota. All aboard were killed. The victims included U.S. Sen. Paul Wellstone, as well as his wife, Sheila; their daughter, Marcia Wellstone Markuson; three Wellstone staff members, and the plane’s two pilots. For us, as for so many other Minnesotans, it’s impossible to forget the moment we first heard about the plane going down, and then the wait to get the final news that there were no survivors and that Paul was among the dead.
We live in an era when the approval rating of Congress has plummeted to as low as 9%. Think about that for a moment. Barely one out of every 11 Americans believe that Congress is doing what they were elected by the people to do. With that in mind, it’s easy to understand why the loss of Paul Wellstone was such a blow to the cause of democracy.
Ten years ago today, one of the strongest personalities in the Senate (and certainly in Minnesota politics) perished in a plane crash in the snowy woods of northern Minnesota. While any loss of this nature is a tragedy, the loss of Wellstone was a body blow for Minnesota and for Congress. Unlike most politicians, Wellstone’s passion and commitment was dulled by the realities of being a US Senator. His self-appointed mission to be a voice for the voiceless and powerless remained undiminished throughout his tenure on Capitol Hill. Remaining true to himself, his state, and his mission caused many observers in Washington to view as something of a gadfly, an eccentric populist whose time had passed and didn’t understand the rules of the game. Wellstone understood the rules; he simply chose not to play by them.
I’ll always remember the story of when Wellstone met President George H.W. Bush at his inauguration. Rather than follow protocol and engage in niceties and small talk, Wellstone seized the opportunity and launched into an entreaty on an issue that was important to him. After Wellstone moved on, Bush turned to the person next to him and asked, “Who is that chickenshit?” Few in Washington were ambivalent about Paul Wellstone; it wasn’t in his nature to meekly follow protocol and play by the rules
Yes, Paul Wellstone had a way of getting under the skin of those who stood for the status quo, and he certainly wasn’t a shrinking violet. Wellstone loved being a Senator, loved representing the people of Minnesota, and found joy in being a voice for the under-served and the under-represented. Though possessed of a powerful and passionate voice, Wellstone treated everyone- supporters and opponents alike- with respect, something conspicuous by its absence on Capitol Hill today.
Paul Wellstone’s legacy is one that Minnesotans and those who knew and loved him can be proud of. In addition to paving the way for perhaps the most principled and effective Senate delegations from any state (Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken), Wellstone was largely responsible for 1994’s Violence Against Women Act. He also teamed up with Sen. Pete Domenici (R-NM) on legislation that requires insurance companies to cover mental health treatment. Wellstone’s brother had struggled with mental illness, and he was determined to ensure that future generations of American had access to treatment. That victory didn’t come until after his death, but it’s a part of Wellstone’s legacy that will continue to impact millions of Americans, even though they may not know of his role.
Today we pause, during the frenetic last days of another election campaign, to honor the memory of those who died: Sen. Paul Wellstone, his wife Sheila Wellstone, their daughter Marcia Wellstone Markuson, staffers Tom Lapic, Mary McEvoy and Will McLaughlin, and pilots Richard Conry and Michael Guess.
With the Sturm und Drang of the Presidential campaign and the partisan vitriol that accompanies it, this 10th anniversary of Wellstone’s death might be missed by many. Having grown up in Minnesota and followed his career from his time as a professor at Carleton College in Northfield, I understand what a tremendous tragedy his loss represents. Wellstone died as he lived, surrounded by family and those he cared about. Most anyone familiar with Minnesota politics will remember him with respect, regardless of which side of the aisle they happen to sit on.
Given today’s contentious, hyperpartisan political environment, we likely won’t see the likes of Paul Wellstone again. The people of Minnesota, and all Americans, are poorer for his loss. I frequently use the phrase, “WE DESERVE BETTER.” Paul Wellstone was something better, and we should consider ourselves lucky for Wellstone’s passion and commitment. He represented the best of American democracy.
