Letter: Why Reid should heed Mansfield’s legacy

Tuesday, May 1, 2007 | 7:15 a.m.

I want to thank Lisa Mascaro for her April 29 article on Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and his parallels to former Senate Majority Leader Mike Mansfield. As a firm believer that we tend to repeat history until beaten and bloody, it's heartening to see Harry Reid compared with a man such as Mike Mansfield.

I was raised in Missoula, Mont., where Mike Mansfield and another great Montana peacemaker, Jeanette Rankin, the first congresswoman, both remain popular names today. Mike and Maureen Mansfield were well-known in Montana for their efforts as peacemakers and later (Mike Mansfield) as ambassador to Japan for keeping the peace.

My grandmother was one of those who had a hand in starting the Oral History Department at the archives in the library at the University of Montana that is named for Mike and Maureen Mansfield - so I have known their names my entire life.

Jeanette Rankin is another; Mike Mansfield was simply following in her footsteps with his actions when she voted against entering World Wars I and II. She became the most unpopular member of Congress as well. Although she wasn't exactly understood then, there is a building at the University of Montana named for her and a peace center as well. The Mansfield legacy is that of education and peace.

If Harry Reid is following in their footsteps, he could hardly do better.

Thank you for the reminder . History will indeed tell.

Shonna Rhein-Gariepy, Las Vegas