henry hyde

Henry Hyde
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Henry J. Hyde



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Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Illinois's 6th district
In office
1975–2007
Preceded by Harold R. Collier
Succeeded by Peter Roskam

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Born April 18, 1924(1924-04-18)
Chicago, Illinois
Died November 29, 2007 (aged 83)
Chicago, Illinois
Political party Republican
Spouse Jeanne Simpson Hyde (deceased; 4 children)
Religion Roman Catholicism
Henry John Hyde (April 18, 1924 – November 29, 2007), an American politician, was a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from 1975 to 2007, representing the 6th District of Illinois. He chaired the the Judiciary Committee from 1995 to 2001, the House International Relations Committee from 2001 to 2007.

Contents
1 Early life
2 Political career
2.1 Extramarital affair
3 Retirement
3.1 Presidential Medal of Freedom
4 Death
5 See also
6 References
7 External links



[edit] Early life
Hyde was born in Chicago, attended Duke University, graduated from Georgetown University and obtained his law degree from Loyola University. Hyde played basketball for the Georgetown Hoyas where he helped take the team of the 1943 Final Four. He served in the Navy during World War II where he served in combat in the Philippines. He served in the Naval Reserve from 1946 to 1968, where he retired at the rank of Commander, after serving as officer in charge of the U.S. Naval Intelligence Reserve Unit in Chicago. He was married to Jeanne Simpson Hyde from 1947 until her death in 1992; he had four children and four grandchildren.


[edit] Political career
Hyde grew up as a Democrat in an Irish Catholic family, but by 1952 had switched party affiliation and supported Dwight Eisenhower. He went on to become a state legislator and majority leader for the Illinois House of Representatives. A member of the House Judiciary Committee since 1975, Hyde served as its chairman from 1995 until 2001, at which time he served as the lead House manager during the President Clinton impeachment trial. Hyde maintains that the House was constitutionally bound to impeach Clinton for perjury.

From 1985 until 1991, Hyde was the ranking Republican on the House Select Committee on Intelligence. He was also one of the most vocal and persistent opponents of abortion law liberalization in American politics, and was involved in some of the highest level debates concerning the response to the events of September 11, 2001.

Hyde and the Committee's senior Democrat, U.S. Rep. Tom Lantos (D-CA), authored America's worldwide response to the HIV/AIDS crisis in 2003 and landmark foreign assistance legislation creating the Millennium Challenge Corporation and expanding U.S. funding for successful microenterprise initiatives. During his long career, he was also involved in crucial debates [citation needed] over U.S.-Soviet relations, Central America policy, the War Powers Act, NATO expansion, the investigation of the Iran-Contra affair, and, sponsored the United Nations Reform Act of 2005 [1], a bill that ties payment of U.S. dues for United Nations operations to efforts mandating reform of the institution's management. An original sponsor of the Brady Bill requiring background checks for gun buyers, Hyde broke with his party in 1994 when he supported a ban on the sale of semi-automatic firearms. An original sponsor of family leave legislation, Hyde said the law promoted "capitalism with a human face."

He was in disagreement with his party on the Iraq War:

" Lashing our interests to the indiscriminate promotion of democracy is a tempting but unwarranted strategy, more a leap of faith than a sober calculation. There are other negative consequences as well. A broad and energetic promotion of democracy in other countries that will not enjoy our long-term and guiding presence may equate not to peace and stability but to revolution.[2] "

Fellow Republican House member Ron Paul introduced legislation to declare war on Iraq as outlined in the Constitution. He stated that he would not vote for his own bill, but if his fellow members of Congress wished to go to war in Iraq, they should properly declare war. In a hearing on the resolution, Hyde responded:

" There are things in the Constitution that have been overtaken by events, by time. Declaration of war is one of them. There are things no longer relevant to a modern society. Why declare war if you don't have to? We are saying to the President, use your judgment. So, to demand that we declare war is to strengthen something to death. You have got a hammerlock on this situation, and it is not called for. Inappropriate, anachronistic, it isn't done anymore.[3] "

He introduced the Hyde Amendment in 1997.


[edit] Extramarital affair
As Hyde was publicly pursuing the impeachment of Clinton, the Internet magazine Salon.com published This Hypocrite Broke Up My Family which stated that from 1965 to 1969, Hyde conducted an extramarital sexual affair with Cherie Snodgrass. At the time, Snodgrass was married to another man with whom she had had three children. The Snodgrasses divorced in 1967. The affair ended when Snodgrass' husband confronted Mrs. Hyde. The Hydes reconciled and remained married until Mrs. Hyde's death in 1992. Although Hyde was 41 years old and married when the affair occurred, he dismissed it as a "youthful indiscretion". [citation needed]


[edit] Retirement
Over the years the demographics of Hyde's DuPage County have shifted, leading his 2004 Democratic challenger Christine Cegelis to garner over 44% of the vote, the highest total of any of Hyde's opponents. Hyde had announced he would retire after his current term expired in 2006. In 2005, Hyde endorsed State Senator Peter Roskam as his successor. Roskam defeated the Democratic challenger, Iraq war veteran Tammy Duckworth 51% - 49%.

On October 3, 2006, the Washington Times suggested that Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert immediately resign his speakership for the final months of the 109th Congress due to his possible involvement in the Mark Foley scandal. The Washington Times then suggested and supported that Rep. Hyde be elected his replacement.[4]


[edit] Presidential Medal of Freedom
Henry Hyde received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor, on November 5, 2007. The press release stated: "A veteran, a lawyer, and a public servant, Henry Hyde has served his country with honor and dedication. During his 32-year career in the House of Representatives, he was a powerful defender of life, a leading advocate for a strong national defense, and an unwavering voice for liberty, democracy, and free enterprise around the world. A true gentleman of the House, he advanced his principles without rancor and earned the respect of friends and adversaries alike. The United States honors Henry Hyde for his distinguished record of service to America."[5] Hyde was hospitalized recovering from open-heart surgery and could not attend the ceremony in person.

Former Rep. Henry Hyde diesStory Highlights
Former Rep. Henry Hyde dies at the age of 83

Hyde served in the House from 1975 to 2006

Illinois Republican served as House Judiciary chairman from 1995 to 2001

President Bush awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom in November

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WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Former Congressman Henry Hyde, a Republican from Illinois, died early Thursday morning. He was 83.


Henry Hyde served in the House for more than three decades.

Hyde's death was confirmed by a spokesman in the office of House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio.

Hyde had been ill for some time and had open heart surgery in July.

In his final years in office, he was wheelchair bound and frail.

Hyde's wife, Judy, was with him last night at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, Illinois, according to Tom Mooney, his former chief of staff.

According to Mooney, Hyde said to his wife he wanted to "go home," to which Judy replied, "We are going to get you home." He passed away soon after that.

Born in 1924, Hyde served in the House from 1975 to 2006 and retired at end of the last session. Hyde served as the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee from 1995 to 2001.

He chaired the committee during the impeachment of President Clinton in 1998. The committee and the full House approved articles of impeachment stemming from the Lewinsky scandal, in which Clinton was accused of lying under oath about his sexual relationship with a White House intern, Monica Lewinsky. The Senate later voted against the charges.

In a written statement, Boehner called Hyde "a constitutional scholar, a thoughtful legislator, and a passionate orator."

"But above all, he will be remembered as a gentleman who stood as a beacon for the bedrock principles of liberty, justice, and, above all, respect for life," Boehner said.

"He was a forceful advocate for maintaining the dignity of the House and for recognizing the sacrifices and struggles Members make while in its service," Boehner said in the statement. "Indeed, when Henry spoke in Committee or on the House floor, Members on both sides of aisle listened intently -- and they learned."

On November 5, President Bush awarded Hyde the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest honor the president can bestow on an American citizen.

"He proved that a man can have firm convictions and be a favorite of