By LINDA GITTLEMAN
Gratiot Managing Editor

Sen. Carl Levin inaugurated a special speaker series at Central Michigan University Sunday night with the help of some old friends and political opponents.

On hand for the first of CMU's Phillip A. Hart and William G. Milliken Endowed Speakers Series for Integrity in Politics were the former governor and Mrs. Milliken and the family of the late Sen. Phil Hart.

Calling the night "especially humbling," Levin told how Hart and Milliken "rank among the best public servants for their integrity and dedication to the public good."

Recalling the kind words his own brother, Sander Levin, said about Milliken and the respect he deserved, he pointed out that Sander was the man who "lost two gubernatorial elections" to him."

Levin, who spoke at the dedication of the Hart Senate Office Building in Washington, noted that a plaque on the building states that Hart was called the conscious of the Senate. He said that Hart had the courage to tell people "precisely what they did not want to hear."

Calling himself a "fiduciary" - a trust - Levin said that it is his duty to "cast the vote that's best for my constituents even though it's unpopular."

Others, he noted, believe they must represent and reflect the views of the people who elected them.

"I don't subscribe to that, but I respect it," he said.

In telling a story on listening to people's opinions, he recalled one asking if the President shouldn't be listening to the American people.

He asked a question right back. Wouldn't that violate his duty to look beyond current sentiment? Continued...

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Levin quoted British statesman Edmund Burke who claimed that he owed no obedience to the people who elected him, but rather, he owed them his judgment.

Not without some irony Levin noted that voters didn't re-elect Burke after he made that statement.

He also spoke of President John Kennedy's book, "Profiles in Courage," and recalled some courageous stands he witnessed, including Sen. Henry Bellman who voted against popular opinion to turn the Panama Canal over to the Panamanians.

He spoke, too, of the late President Gerald Ford's unpopular decision to pardon Richard Nixon.

"He acted as a healer and he's justly admired today," Levin said.

Levin detailed his own unpopular decision to vote against the Iraqi war and the seemingly inconsistent vote to fund it. He cited Abraham Lincoln, who while making a similar decision, said even though the he was against the war, the officers and soldiers must be supported.

"You can't fail following Lincoln," he said.

While noting that one has to rely on one's own judgement, he pointed out that "arrogance is the enemy of wisdom" and that there is a danger in being too certain.

No one is isolated in a vacuum, so it's always a good idea to ask, "Am I wrong?" while listening to constituents.

"Special interests usually applies to another guy," he said. "There is great strength in the number of associations we belong to."

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• See Full Story

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By LINDA GITTLEMAN
Gratiot Managing Editor

Sen. Carl Levin inaugurated a special speaker series at Central Michigan University Sunday night with the help of some old friends and political opponents.

On hand for the first of CMU's Phillip A. Hart and William G. Milliken Endowed Speakers Series for Integrity in Politics were the former governor and Mrs. Milliken and the family of the late Sen. Phil Hart.

Calling the night "especially humbling," Levin told how Hart and Milliken "rank among the best public servants for their integrity and dedication to the public good."

Recalling the kind words his own brother, Sander Levin, said about Milliken and the respect he deserved, he pointed out that Sander was the man who "lost two gubernatorial elections" to him."

Levin, who spoke at the dedication of the Hart Senate Office Building in Washington, noted that a plaque on the building states that Hart was called the conscious of the Senate. He said that Hart had the courage to tell people "precisely what they did not want to hear."

Calling himself a "fiduciary" - a trust - Levin said that it is his duty to "cast the vote that's best for my constituents even though it's unpopular."

Others, he noted, believe they must represent and reflect the views of the people who elected them.

"I don't subscribe to that, but I respect it," he said.

In telling a story on listening to people's opinions, he recalled one asking if the President shouldn't be listening to the American people.

He asked a question right back. Wouldn't that violate his duty to look beyond current sentiment?

Levin quoted British statesman Edmund Burke who claimed that he owed no obedience to the people who elected him, but rather, he owed them his judgment.

Not without some irony Levin noted that voters didn't re-elect Burke after he made that statement.

He also spoke of President John Kennedy's book, "Profiles in Courage," and recalled some courageous stands he witnessed, including Sen. Henry Bellman who voted against popular opinion to turn the Panama Canal over to the Panamanians.

He spoke, too, of the late President Gerald Ford's unpopular decision to pardon Richard Nixon.

"He acted as a healer and he's justly admired today," Levin said.

Levin detailed his own unpopular decision to vote against the Iraqi war and the seemingly inconsistent vote to fund it. He cited Abraham Lincoln, who while making a similar decision, said even though the he was against the war, the officers and soldiers must be supported.

"You can't fail following Lincoln," he said.

While noting that one has to rely on one's own judgement, he pointed out that "arrogance is the enemy of wisdom" and that there is a danger in being too certain.

No one is isolated in a vacuum, so it's always a good idea to ask, "Am I wrong?" while listening to constituents.

"Special interests usually applies to another guy," he said. "There is great strength in the number of associations we belong to."

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