Burr has a model in Ervin

by | Apr 10, 2017 | Features, Walt DeVries | 9 comments

As chair of the U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee, Richard Burr (R-N.C.), is in the position to — just as one of his predecessors, the late Sam Ervin (D-N.C.) — to achieve historical greatness in the way he runs his committee’s investigation of Donald Trump, his campaign and Russian connections.

Or, he could not. When I moved to North Carolina in 1972, our state had two little-known senators: Ervin and B. Everett Jordan. Yet, Ervin, like Burr says he is today, was in his last term. He was thrust into the national spotlight as the chairman of the “Ervin Committee” investigating the Watergate scandal of 1973-4. The work of the Senate’s Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, which resulted in the resignation of President Nixon.

Most U.S. Senators hardly receive a mention in the footnotes of American history. North Carolina Senators, over the past fifty years, have represented different styles. For example, Jordan and Republican Lauch Faircloth were known for constituent services. They were not well known or identified with visible, critical policies or historic legislative events.

In a sense — like most state and national legislators — these senators served their terms and faded back into their local communities.

Then there was the “media senator,” Democrat John Edwards, who basically used his single six-year term to run for president in 2004 and 2008 and ended up on the Democratic presidential ticket as John Kerry’s running mate in 2004.

Sen. Jesse Helms, a Republican, also was a “media” senator, but not on an upward mobility path like Edwards. Helms, rather, became a well-known bomb-thrower for ultra-conservative causes and his reputation will long be nationally recognized for his opposition (“Senator No”) to “liberalism,” whether he was in the Senate majority or minority. My guess is Helms is better known than Sam Ervin.

My point: Sen. Burr stands at the threshold of becoming the Sam Ervin of the next few years (and the rest of his life), or he could follow the example of Rep. Devin Nunes (R-CA), chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, whose leadership so far has resulted in a partisan implosion of the committee’s work.

Although Burr and ranking Democratic member Mark Warner of Virginia have made a good bipartisan, classy start, there are enormous roadblocks. The pair will:

— incur the wrath of Trump and his administration;

— face the opposition of the Senate majority leader and his GOP colleagues;

— have to deal with the lobbyists and special interest that back the Trump Administration;

— be up against the Republican National Committee and GOP state committees;

— have to live with the incessant and loud critiques and smears by Fox news, right-wing talk radio; and newspaper pundits;

— attacked by the GOP and Trump voting base, which will be mobilized against the committee’s proceedings;

— and finally, they must explain to the American people the committee’s findings could lead to complete exoneration but also could lead to impeachment.

Heavy stuff, right?

Or, Sen. Burr could look at his historic opportunity this way:

— the nation needs answers to the possible interference of a foreign power in our elections;

— the U.S. Senate can rise above politics and political self-interest when our nation is threatened;

— a demonstration of bipartisanship would reveal that the two major political parties can, indeed, once again work together;

— and, like Sam Ervin, this experience would solidify Richard Burr’s reputation as one public servant who did not fear to serve his country and his state.

9 Comments

  1. Walt de Vries, Ph.D.

    Disgusted, you may be right. Over the years, starting with my first political/governmental jobs as a Michigan Republican Delegate to the Constitutional Convention and as Executive Assistant in the Office of the Speaker and Office of Governor George Romney, I developed what I call the “face value” approach to relations with politicians and the press. That is, I take politicians and reporters (especially national political reporters) at face value until they lie or betray me. Then, no more trust, and no more conversations on or off the record.
    This is what I have done with Senator Burr. I have never met him, but unless he does not do what he promised the American people–which is to run a fair, bipartisan, open, investigative process–I take him at face value that he will do so.
    Some may think this is naïve and empirically invalid, but it has worked for me during 60 years of political consulting and government service.
    Stand by..
    Stand by.

  2. Andy Reed

    I agree with Dr. de Vries that Burr is facing a critical choice. And it is not a political choice, or even a simple behavioral choice. It is a test of character, and a choice between honest, honorable service to one’s nation and fellow citizens (i.e., patriotism) and self-serving, partisan, shrinking Neville Chamberlainism.

    Having tolerated Mr. Burr as a NC senator for the past twelve years, I’ve come to view him as an empty suit. But certainly many people who followed Senator Sam’s career saw him as a partisan, fairly racist hack — which he was to some extent. But Sam Ervin LOVED the U.S. Constitution, he LOVED the promise and the premise of the United States, and he hated corruption of the American dream. Those personal motivations brought out the best in his character.

    I can only join Dr. de Vries in hoping that, like Sam Ervin, Richard Burr has some decent, patriotic passion lurking deep inside the pockets of his otherwise empty suit.

    • Norma Munn

      In the spirit of hope and the season, I am going to join with you in this wish.

    • Walt de Vries, Ph.D.

      Andy: Well said and the same for Norma. I trust Senator Burr will read and ponder your comments.
      In the spirit of the Easter season, we celebrate resurrection and new life. Peace.

  3. Bubba

    Somehow,I fail to see how a clown who joked about water boarding in an “Intelligence” Commitee meeting, and joked in his most recent campaign about painting targets on the face of the Democratic presidential candidate, is poised to rise to a role of bipartisan greatness. Burr is, above all, a cruel and recurring joke.

  4. Merrill Mason

    what would possibly make one think that Burr would step up in the manner you suggest? I know of nothing in his prior terms that remotely suggests that he has this sort of political courage.

  5. Philip Rakita

    I knew Senator Ervin. I worked with Senator Ervin and let me tell you Richard Burr, you are no Senator Ervin.

  6. Walt de Vries, Ph.D.

    I was trying to make the point that this is a life-changing, legacy-forming, kind of decision that most elected officials never face. And, Senator Burr has a choice that only he can make and until he does, with his actions and behavior as Committee Chair, we ought to withhold judgment and encourage him to be a statesman. In politics and life, past behavior is usually a reliable predictor of future behavior, but my 60 years in political consulting tells me that sometimes predictions don’t always work out work (e.g., the 2016 Clinton loss). Stay tuned.

  7. Norma Munn

    Interesting article, and yes, Sen. Burr would appear to have this choice facing him. I won’t be making bets on his following the example of Sen. Ervin. Don’t forget his phone calls to the press weeks ago as this mess was becoming public. He made those calls at the request of Pres. Trump according to some published reports and pretty much said that the press was wrong.

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