Chafee’s Moderate Example

Sen. John H. Chafee exemplified a time and a dedication to service that is quickly fading from the American scene. A son of wealth and privilege, descended from one of Rhode Island’s leading families, Chafee dedicated his life to public service--as a combat Marine, in the Rhode Island Legislature, as governor, secretary of the Navy, and for the last 22 years in the U.S. Senate. Chafee died of heart failure late Sunday. He was 77.

Tempered by the Depression and war, Chafee was one of the last of the so-called Rockefeller Republicans, moderates who believed in the ability of government to improve people’s lives. He worked to forge bipartisan legislation that benefited millions of Americans, notably in the fields of health care for the aged and poor and protection of the environment.

Chafee often clashed on policy with his more conservative Republican colleagues as well as Democrats, but he always had their respect.

One of his last votes was in favor of ratification of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty this month--sadly, on the losing side. As chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, he blunted efforts of GOP conservatives to weaken environmental laws and regulations.

Chafee’s life was extolled Tuesday with words like decency, civility, integrity, honesty. John Hubbard Chafee was a quiet American hero. When he announced this year his plans to retire from the Senate, Chafee said others like him would come along. We hope so.