Mathias of Maryland

Senator Charles "Mac" Mathias was a lifelong Republican who easily won every election in a 26-year congressional career in otherwise heavily Democratic Maryland. Mathias was a courageous risk-taker who led efforts to advance civil rights, voting rights, environmental initiatives to clean up the Chesapeake Bay, and establish the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. On foreign policy, he was an early critic of the Vietnam War and a consistent advocate of bipartisan action on nuclear arms control, Middle East peace and sanctions against apartheid South Africa. His story, captured here by senior staff members and leading members of Congress, is an inspiring example of what a principled and courageous political leader can do when he follows his conscience and is willing to take on not just the opposition, but his own party. His thoughtful leadership and bipartisan spirit led (then) Senate Majority Leader Mike Mansfield to call him "the conscience of the Senate." His remarkable career is a stark reminder of the days when the Republican Party stood for the rule of law, respect for the Constitution and a balanced foreign policy.

“Senator Mathias exemplified the kind of reasoned debate, civility and thoughtfulness that give meaning to the idea of the Senate as the world's greatest deliberative body. He acted on principle throughout his public life. In the early 1960s he was one of three Republican Congressmen who introduced the bill that helped shape and influence the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Throughout his Senate career he pursued the strengthening of that law and its companion Voting Rights and Fair Housing statutes. He sought to guide our Nation's foreign policies in ways that served our long-term interests, under Republican and Democratic Presidents alike. He was the first U.S. Senator to be honoured as President of the North Atlantic Assembly, the legislative body of NATO. He remained a champion of constitutional values and protections throughout his career. He was a vital voice of reason, political courage and sanity in the Senate.” - Sen. George Mitchell (D-ME) served as a United States Senator from 1980 to 1995, and as Senate Majority Leader from 1989 to 1995

Frederic B. Hill was a foreign correspondent and editorial writer for The Baltimore Sun for twenty years and foreign affairs director for Senator Mathias in 1985 and 1986. He is the author of five books on Maine shipbuilding, the newspaper business and American politics. He lives in Arrowsic, Maine.Monica Healy worked for Senator Charles McCurdy Mathias of Maryland, and later as staff director of the Senate Democratic Policy Committee for Majority Leader George Mitchell (D-ME) and Senator Tom Daschle (S.D.). She also worked for Governor Schaefer of Maryland, served in the Clinton administration, and advocated for Teach for America and other non-profits on Capitol Hill.