Political transformation and transition are typically dictated solely by elections. In the wake of the previous election cycle, we know that even this can become unpredictable. But what happens when an elected official suddenly leaves office, not on his own accord, but rather due to the tenuous circumstances surrounding health problems and death?
After the senate elections in Missouri, America can humbly acknowledge that tragedy is pervasive in every facet of society, and its intrusion into politics is often magnified. The ramifications of a politician's death often extend beyond the sorrow and grief of the immediate family, and tend to affect the public as a whole, both emotionally and politically. President Kennedy's assassination on Nov. 22, 1963 caused an extended period of national mourning. Not since the bombing of Pearl Harbor had America been so infused with grief and mourning, and arguably not since have we been so emotionally united as a nation. But aside from the tragic immediate consequences of his death, there were pertinent political questions that remained unanswered. With the sudden strike of a bullet, the nation lost a leader, and suddenly we had a new president, and the world had a new leader. Political vacuums had to be filled; the transition had to be smooth and without fracture. It was a shock to the Washington establishment used to Kennedy's policies and style of governance, and forced the people and politicians alike to find an allegiance to the new president, Lyndon Johnson.
Although the assassination of President Kennedy is one the most extreme examples of political turnaround our nation has known, it highlights the essential aspects of any unexpected transition. Recently, health problems have plagued some of America's most respected and venerable politicians. Local US Representative Joe Moakley (D-MA) recently announced that he's been diagnosed with an incurable form of leukemia, and thus will not be running for reelection in 2002. Rudy Guiliani, mayor of New York, withdrew his candidacy for the New York senate seat due to prostate cancer. But possibly the most dynamic area in politics where health could significantly transform the nation's political landscape is in the senate.
Split 50-50, attention has been placed on Senator Strom Thurmond (R-SC). A presidential candidate in 1948, Thurmond is now 98 and has been in and out of the hospital over the past couple of years with fainting spells and other medical complications. He has already said he will not run for reelection in 2002, and there are some strong hints he may resign beforehand. The political fodder surrounding his health is quite intriguing. Should he retire due to health complications, or pass away, power in the senate could shift from the Republicans to the Democrats. The governor of South Carolina, Jim Hodges, is a Democrat, and would be hard pressed by the Democratic National Committee to appoint a Democrat to the vacated seat. To counter this, Strom Thurmond actually made a video and sent it the Governor's office stating that if he dies, he wanted his wife to be appointed to the seat.
The Governor respectfully declined the request. But should he die, there would be a lot of pressure on Hodges from the South Carolina Democratic Party to appoint a Republican. Why? Appoint a Republican who does not wish to run for reelection so that it doesn't seem like the Democrats stole the seat from the Republicans. Thus, if a Democrat were appointed, it may be harder for that Democrat to win the seat in 2002. There are so many variables surrounding Thurmond's seat that it is rumored there are unofficial contingency plans circulating around some Democratic circles outlining what to do should Thurmond pass away or retire.
Along with Thurmond, the health of another aged Republican senator, Jesse Helms of North Carolina, has come into question. The 79-year-old senator has been surrounded with rumors of terminal illness for the past years and an impending retirement due to health complications. On Dec. 7, the rumors got so bad that the Senate office of Jesse Helms had to put out the following press release:
Senator Helms is not sick. He is not in the hospital. He is not on life support. He does not have terminal prostate cancer. He does not have pancreatic cancer. He is absolutely fine and will (God willing) be around to torment you for a long time to come. (Taken from the official Jesse Helms website at www.senate.gov).
Like Thurmond's situation, a Helms death or vacancy could tilt the power balance of the Senate towards the Democrats, with Democratic Governor Michael Easley appointing a Democrat to the seat.
But over the past week, the greatest medical attention in DC has been focused on Vice President Dick Cheney, who suffered yet another cardiac complication. This time, it wasn't a heart attack, but a 90-percent narrowing of an artery that's being supported by a small metal stent. He underwent another angioplasty on Monday, and spent the night in the hospital. Cheney suffered his fourth heart attack in November of 2000, and has had chronic cardiac problems. Although he's been exercising of late, losing some weight and cutting back on certain foods, he still had complications. Doctors said that Cheney had an excellent chance of finishing out the term in good health, though there was a 40 percent chance of further arterial narrowing.
This brings to light obvious questions of Cheney's ability to maintain his current rigorous schedule (he has offices on Capital Hill and in the Office of the Vice President, he effectively heads all matters on foreign affairs, and has the tie-breaking 101st vote in the Senate) with his health problems. But an even more important question is: "Would Cheney be fit to be president if, God forbid, George W. Bush should be deemed incapable?" I do not doubt his capabilities as an executive, for he appears to be doing a lot of executive work behind the scenes in the White House. But as far as his health goes, it should really be scrutinized whether he can handle such a stressful job. If the vice president is not capable of being president on a moment's notice, he should not be vice president at all. Can the nation, the free world, afford to have a man a heartbeat away from the presidency even though he struggles to have a heartbeat himself? In such an important position, we must ensure that the man or woman serving there can demonstrate that he or she is of sound health.
If Cheney were forced to resign from his post due to health problems, the political dynamics would be nothing but extraordinary. Who would have the tie-breaking vote as President Bush searches for a successor? Under the 25th Amendment, Section 2, the president must nominate a vice president, who then must be confirmed by both the House and the Senate. Congress would most likely honor any choice Bush would make. But under the current circumstances, the Senate would be voting essentially on its 101st member, the man with the tie-breaking vote! This, unless of course, Strom Thurmond or Jesse Helms retired or passed away, in which case, the Democrats would control the Senate.
Adam Blickstein is a freshman who has not yet declared a major. He is the communications director for the Tufts Democrats.
