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An Upside of Dynasty

The United States has been well served by dynasties in both parties throughout its history and continues to be. Note the Romneys, the Dodds and the Kennedys. And consider the Udalls.

In 1880 David King Udall established a Mormon community in St. Johns, Ariz., where the family settled. His son Levi S. Udall propelled the family into public service by becoming Chief Justice of the Arizona Supreme Court. Levi’s two sons, Stewart and Morris, became nationally prominent.

Stewart Udall served in the U.S. House of Representatives (1955-61). In 1960 he campaigned for John F. Kennedy and seved as U.S. secretary of the interior under Presidents Kennedy and Johnson. There Stewart promoted solar energy, justice for miners and a host of environmental laws on air, water, land and endangered species.

Morris Udall, known as Mo, was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives for three decades (1961-91). In 1976 he sought the Democratic presidential nomination, but lost to Jimmy Carter. Morris Udall was an avid environmentalist. He promoted campaign reform and congressional ethics and opposed the tobacco industry, strip mining and, early on, the Vietnam War. As a longtime friend of the conservative Republican Senator Barry Goldwater, Mo Udall embodied Congressional civility.

In 2008, Stewart’s son, Tom Udall (New Mexico, Third District), and Mo’s son Mark Udall (Colorado, Second District) will run for the U.S. Senate. Whether they win or lose, where is the peril to our democracy in such a case? Rather, doesn’t such public service, confirmed by election after election, show an upside of dynasty?

Aid for Kids

Among the proposals floated in President George W. Bush’s recent State of the Union address was an initiative called This article appears in February 18 2008.