Longing for Civility in American Politics

by Ambassador Thomas Graham and David Bernell

The dignity of President Jimmy Carter, who died on December 29, 2024, has brought out what Abraham Lincoln would call “the better angels of our nature.” An instance of this occurred when three of Carter’s fellow Americans spoke about him at a memorial service in his honor at the Capitol building. It got us thinking about our current political leadership, the American government, Lincoln’s exhortations that, “we are not enemies, but friends,” even the Constitution and the founding of the republic.

The American Revolution began in 1775, the purpose of which was to achieve the independence of the American colonies from Great Britain. After the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776 and the conclusion of the Revolutionary War in 1783, there occurred what has been called a second American revolution. This was led by George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, and James Madison. The object of this effort was a Constitutional Convention in 1787 to jettison the existing constitution, called the Articles of Confederation, and instead make one united nation of the thirteen squabbling independent states.

The Constitution that emerged from that convention spelled out the institutions and functions of the new government. But something that is included in most modern Constitutions was left out of ours. It made no mention of political parties. Considering the era in which it was written, this made sense, as organized political parties were not a common feature of politics in any country at the time.

Political parties, in fact, were detested by the founders, at least at first. Some of their thinking on this topic included comments by John Adams, who said in 1790, “There is nothing I dread so much as a division of the Republic into two great Parties, each arranged under its Leader and concocting measures against each other.” Alexander Hamilton argued that, “Nothing could be more ill-judged than that intolerant spirit which has at all times characterized political parties.” James Madison, in thinking about the creation of a new constitution in 1787, said that, “Among the numerous advantages possessed by a well-constructed Union, none deserves to be more adequately developed than its tendency to break and control the violence of faction.” And Thomas Jefferson famously declared in 1790 that, “If I could not go to heaven but with a party, I would not go there at all.”

In spite of these early sentiments, three of the country’s founders also facilitated the creation of political parties. Hamilton was the driving force behind what emerged as the Federalist party in the 1790’s, while Jefferson and Madison established in the same period the Democratic-Republican party, which became known eventually as the Democratic party. This was perhaps not a surprise, even at the time, as Madison himself had said, “No free country has ever been without Parties, which are a natural offspring of freedom.”

Competition among American political parties has long been heated and contentious, and this has been expected. It’s part of politics. At the same time, however, there has usually been a level of civility and at times camaraderie among American national political leaders, with at least some element of mutual respect for fellow public servants who have found themselves on opposite ends of the political spectrum while in Washington DC conducting the nation’s political affairs. As Speaker of the House Tip O’Neill once said. “After six-o-clock, we can be friends, but before six, it’s politics.” One former member of Congress, Tim Roemer of Indiana, recalled the wisdom of Speaker O’Neill when offering advice to new members entering the House in 2013. “We must make friends with people in the other party…Having meals together, getting to know one another ’s families, and even sharing a libation, as [O’Neill] did with his buddy GOP Representative Silvio Conte, built trust and affinity. This directly led to getting legislation done.”

It is with this ideal and goal in mind that we have been impressed by the words and behavior of officers of both of our political parties on January 7, 2025 at the Capitol Rotunda ceremony to honor President Carter. Each of the three highest officers of Congress made a short speech: the Senate Majority Leader, John Thune, a Republican; the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mike Johnson, also a Republican; and the President of the Senate and Vice President of the United States, Kamala Harris, a Democrat. We quote from these speeches (which can be viewed here) at some length, as they exemplify the best of respectful and civil American political discourse, which can still offer mutual respect and understanding in spite of strong political differences.

Senate Majority Leader Thune said the following:

“Today we gather to begin a final farewell to Jimmy Carter, Navy veteran, peanut farmer, Governor of Georgia, President of the United States, Sunday school teacher, Nobel prize winner, advocate for peace and human rights, and first and foremost, a servant of his Creator and his fellow man.

“[Carter once recalled a missionary saying] ‘I try to have two loves in my heart. One love is for God, and the other love I have in my heart is for the person who happens to be in front of me at any particular time.’ It was a statement President Carter said that he never forgot. I think it’s fair to say that it’s also a statement he lived by…

“President Carter’s term ended in 1981, and for the remainder of his life, the longest post-presidency of any American president ever, he focused on making the lives of his fellow men better…Carter’s style was to get down in the weeds and the dirt, and he did that literally on numerous Habitat for Humanity builds. Well into his 90’s, he could be found with his hardhat and tools on construction sites, doing the practical work required to get families into homes…

“Today I join all Americans in mourning Jimmy Carter and remembering his example.”

Mike Johnson, Speaker of the House of Representatives, then said this:

“We meet in this sacred hall of self-government to honor an extraordinary man, a man who modeled the virtues of service and citizenship as well as any other American. Surrounding us are the statues of those who gave their time, their energy, and their lives for the good of America. Before us lays a man who now joins their midst as a patriot, a veteran, a humanitarian, and the 39^th President of the United States…

“President Carter’s life, his selfless service, his fight against cancer and his lasting contribution to his fellow man are all truly remarkable. Whether he was in the White House or in his post presidential years as was discussed, President Carter was willing to roll up his sleeves and get the job done.

“We all know about his work with Habitat for Humanity. The origin story goes that it was 1984 when he first became aware of the work, he was in New York for a friend’s anniversary. Millard Fuller, the founder of the fledgling charity at the time, called President Carter and asked if he wanted to visit a site during his trip. President Carter agreed and he found his way down to the lower East Side standing on the roof of a dilapidated building, he looked out on the wealth of Wall Street to the south and to the power of Midtown Manhattan to the north. And then he looked down and he saw an image he’d never forget, an elderly woman cooking breakfast over an open fire in the rubble of the building, there in the richest city in the world. The Habitat for Humanity worker that was there with him turned to President Carter and said if there’s anything you can do, we would take it…It was the very next day that President Carter called Habitat for Humanity and told them he was going to send some carpenters, and that he himself would be one of them. And this began his famous tradition of donating one week every year to build and restore homes for his fellow Americans…

“We all know that his care for humanity didn't stop at building homes. In the face of illness, President Carter brought life-saving medicine. In the face of conflict, he brokered peace. In the face of discrimination, he reminded us that we are all made in the image of God. And if you were to ask him why he did it all, he would likely point to his faith. I’m reminded of his admonition to live our lives as though Christ were coming this afternoon, and of his amazing personal reflection, ‘If I have one life and one chance, to make it count for something.’ We all agree that he certainly did. So today in these hallowed halls of our republic, we honor President Carter, his family, and his enduring legacy that he leaves, not only upon this nation, but upon the world.”

The third speaker in the Rotunda ceremony was Vice President Kamala Harris, the 2024 Democratic Candidate for President, representing the executive branch and pursuant to the Constitution, also serving as the President of the Senate.

“Being with you today, I am reminded of the enduring words of a favorite hymn, ‘May the works I have done speak for me.’ Today, we gather to celebrate the life of a man from Plains, Georgia, who grew up without electricity or running water and served as the President of the United States of America and lived every day of his life in service to the people.

“Jimmy Carter established a new model for what it means to be a former president and leaves an extraordinary post-presidential legacy from founding the Carter Center, which has helped advance global human rights and alleviate human suffering, to his public health work in Latin America and Africa, to his tireless advocacy for peace, and democracy around the globe.

“Jimmy Carter was a president who was ahead of his time. He was the first President of the United States to have a comprehensive energy policy including…clean energy. He more than doubled the size of America’s national parks. He appointed more Black Americans to the federal bench than all of his predecessors combined and appointed five times as many women…

“And his legacy lives on in the Middle East…In the decades before Jimmy Carter became president, Israel and Egypt had been at war numerous times. Few thought peace could be achieved between them. Yet Jimmy Carter, though his persistence and perseverance, through his unshakeable believe in the power of American diplomacy, he secured the Camp David Accords, one of the most significant and durable peace tributes since World War II.

“Jimmy Carter was that all-too-rare example of a gifted man who also walks with humility, modesty and grace…In the end, Jimmy Carter’s work and those works speak for him louder than any tribute we can offer. May his life be a lesson for the ages and a beacon for the future.”

There are deep divisions in American politics, and this has a significant impact on our lives because we are also closely divided, so that each election has real consequences that can turn on a very small number of votes. This makes the stakes high, as well as the passions that inspire political participation and action.

But there is also a shared love of country, with common dreams and goals to ensure the freedom, strength and prosperity of the United States. We don’t get to see our commonalities in national politics all that much these days. However, the three speakers at the service for Jimmy Carter demonstrated it. Two conservative Republican leaders and one liberal Democrat were honoring a liberal Democratic leader who has passed away. We have different ways of approaching an issue, and we may choose very different paths. But as our Constitution declares, our nation consists of “We the people of the United States of America.” Such sentiments and beliefs surfaced that day in the Capitol in honoring President Carter.

The rarity with which we get to remember, experience, and celebrate our commonalities is lamentable. This circumstance has been driven largely by an outlook that has become ascendant in much of the Republican Party, where the understanding of political opponents as enemies of the country or enemies of the people has become increasingly normalized. The Democrats are not immune to this ailment, but it’s not as deep or widespread. Its hold on the GOP is more prevalent and strong, and it continues to reach further into every corner of the party through the ascendancy of Donald Trump. Trump and his denigration of others as a matter of course drives American politics in the wrong direction. The voters in the United States elected perhaps the only person who could rise to the presidency who has little interest or ability to think, talk, and act in a way that offers respect to others or elevates political discourse.

To be sure, it is easy to criticize political speech as insincere, as “just words” that don’t mean anything if there is a disparity between one’s words and deeds. After all, there has been tendency among many Republican officials to say privately and off the record that they oppose some statement or action of Donald Trump, and then in public they offer their support to him for the very same thing. But it is important to remember that the public facing side of someone is also the “real” character and belief of a person, not just the private or off-the-record moments. Those who criticize Donald Trump in private but refuse to do so publicly are revealing their true selves, just as those who are consistent in their private and public statements. This is why the statements made at the Capitol in honor of Jimmy Carter are important. The public comments made reveal something about what the speakers hold to be important regarding their offices, their political rivals, and American politics. And this is important too. Such words, which treat others with respect and not as enemies of the people who are out to destroy the country, support the continued functioning of American political life.

It would be far better for the country if our current president sought to try and bridge differences, rather than seeking to exacerbate them. A rare occurrence of this did happen. After Carter’s passing, Trump did make a gracious statement of sympathy and respect about him. “While I strongly disagreed with him philosophically and politically, I also realized that he truly loved and respected our country, and all it stands for. He worked hard to make America a better place, and for that I give him my highest respect. He was a truly good man.”

At around the same time, just a day after the ceremony at the Capitol for Carter, when fires were raging in California, Trump posted comments on social media. Instead of talking about the tragedy and helping the people of California, Trump focused his words on blaming the fires on the Democratic Governor of California Gavin Newsome, even going so far as to call him Governor “Newscum.” Such behavior is expected of Trump, whether he is in the White House or not. So it becomes increasingly normal and acceptable for others to talk and act in a similar manner, and this is what we see in American political life.

Our hope is for Trump’s presidency to look and sound more like his comments on Jimmy Carter, and less like his comments about Gavin Newsome. However, each day brings further evidence that this will not be the case. The newest such example came on day two of Trump’s second term, when he issued an order denying birthright citizenship to the children of undocumented immigrants. This is in direct violation of the 14^th Amendment to the Constitution. The president does not have the authority to change the Constitution, and of course, numerous lawsuits have already been filed. The action is rooted in the belief held by Trump that immigrants are “poisoning the blood of our country.” This is but one instance in a long history of statements by Trump that seeks to tear down others, largely for his own benefit.

We are a long way from the words of Senator Arthur Vandenberg, a Republican of Michigan, who was Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee during the Truman Administration. Once he was asked a question about why he had taken a particular foreign policy stand supporting President Truman, a Democrat, even though he was opposed to the policy. His reply was, “politics stops at the water’s edge.” Distinguished leaders in the Congress and the White House used to talk and behave that way. Some leaders still do, as the speeches cited above attest, but we do not expect this from the White House over the next four years. Perhaps after that we can begin to repair ourselves, uphold our Constitution, and close the fissures in our country. There can be no higher objective.