Nothing more becomes a summer’s day than a speech on CSPAN-2 from the House of Representatives in 1995. But, if you care about politics even a little, then you need to set aside 12 minutes to view Henry Hyde’s impassioned and reasoned argument on the House floor in defense of politics as a profession, and politicians as practioners. And the importance of both in keeping a democracy vital.  Hyde’s message is important during a time when it’s easy to be contemptuous of government and the people who serve in it.

http://www.c-span.org/video/?c4524922/henry-hyde-term-limits

Hyde was a conservative Republican Representative from suburban Illinois. There’s very little in his political views that I agree with, but he was generally regarded by his colleagues on both sides of the aisle as one of the best representatives in the eighties and nineties.

Hyde’s speech is his argument against term limits for senators and representatives. Many readers may recall that term limits were a big issues in the 1990s. For a variety of reasons, very few incumbent senators or representatives lost their reelection bids during the second half of the eighties and first half of the nineties. Thus, the move to limit the number of terms that a senator or congressman could serve.

Hyde makes the case against term limits, but, even as that issue has faded into history, Hyde’s speech remains a stirring defense of politics and the people who practice it.   Some of his main themes:

There are about two dozen of Hyde’s colleagues in attendance, evidence of the importance of the speech and their respect for Hyde.  Keep an eye out for some interesting cameos. There’s Independent Socialist Bernie Sanders.  Behind him Bill Richardson.  Close ups on David Obey and the legendary Henry P. Gonzalez.

To belabor the point, at a time when respect for the profession of politics and the skill and dedication of the people who practice it are at an all-time low. At a time when we have Trump. Hyde’s message resonates—or should–more than ever.