Daniel Patrick Moynihan, academic, policy wonk and Senator from New York, died today at age 76.
When Moynihan announced his retirement from the Senate three years ago, columnist George Will suggested that his seat be covered in black and left unfilled, as no one would be able to truly fill his shoes. His passing reminds us that those comments were true: the institution is diminished by his absence.
His impact on political discourse – from his controversial report on minority families in the '60s, to his fights to refurbish Grand Central and Penn Stations in New York, to the coining of “defining deviancy down,” to his study of social security reform – was profound. A Democrat by party affiliation, Moynihan defied easy categorization, throwing his considerable intellect behind both liberal and conservative policies as his conscience dictated.
Great man. One of the few who would speak his mind regardless of the party line and refused to demonize those across the aisle. Sad to see that politics in the States has devolved into incessant demagoguery and rhetoric on both sides.
Heard him speak at a law firm seminar on political contributions law about two years ago. Fascinating, erudite, and insightful. What a loss to us all. He’s doubtless explaining something to St. Peter right now.