When former North Carolina Governor Jim Hunt passed away a few days ago it brought back rich memories and an appreciation of how lucky I’ve been to cover American politics for more than a half century.
Three distinctly different politicians died in 2025: Hunt, former Wyoming Senator Alan Simpson and Charlie Rangel, the congressman from Harlem. All three were more interesting than the billionaires that hang out at Mar-a-Lago. I cherish my experiences with them and the importance and fun of writing about politicians.
Hunt was the Democratic governor of North Carolina for sixteen years -- two separate eight year terms with an eight year hiatus in between. He was a national leader in education, early childhood development, teaching standards and higher compensation. He also scored impressive successes in technology and economic development.
He should be on any list of America’s most significant Governors. (I also would put on that list the Tar Heel state’s Terry Sanford though he was limited to one term.)
A couple personal memories. The two giants of North Carolina politics in the early 1980s were Hunt and rightwing Republican Senator Jesse Helms. At the Wall Street Journal, my colleague Jim Perry and I wrote a long profile on Helms’ far reaching, but little reported, political empire. Here was the lead:
“The attractive woman who answers the door at 325 Constitution Ave., in the shadow of the Capitol, is wearing a red dress with a plunging neckline. She says her name is Darlene Dove.
She invites her visitors to step inside the three-story, red brick town house. The living room is furnished with a handsome antique desk, comfortable couches and an expensive stereo set, upon which sits a bottle of medium-quality Bordeaux. There are bedrooms upstairs.
This is the headquarters of the Institute of American Relations, just one of the increasingly significant and well-financed outposts of a growing political empire, run by, or in the interest of, Sen. Jesse Helms.”
Not surprisingly Helms went ballistic. A North Carolina paper ran a headline: “Helms Attacks Another Hunt.” Gov. Hunt called to say he liked the piece and “thanks for taking the heat for a day.” (Hunt, unable to overcome the 1984 Reagan landslide, lost a close Senate race to Helms)
Twenty five years later our son, with significant disabilities, began attending St. Andrews College in Laurinburg, N.C. which had a special program. There was a dedicated dormitory where a couple dozen students wheeled around the halls.
At the end of the academic year, the idiot President decided to close down the program; these students could come back only if they arranged health care services. Another parent and I found a health care agency that would provide the necessary assistance.
We personally paid all our son’s costs and there were a few kids with parents in the military which picked up their expenses. North Carolina had a program that would cover the other Tar Heel students. But the new arrangement happened so quickly it would be near impossible to navigate the state’s bureaucracy in time.
For the first and only time as a journalist I called a politician for advice, Jim Hunt, who had been out of office for five years. That’s my program, he replied, will get back to you. Several days later the state gave approval.
Alan Simpson was a conservative Wyoming Republican Senator, who rose to a Senate leadership position and was close to President George H.W. Bush. He had a delightful sense of humor. When a woman asked his church preference, he replied: “Red brick.” Of the Capitol, he noted: “Those who traveled the high road of humility in Washington, D.C. are not bothered by heavy traffic.”
This conservative made good friends on the other side. For eight years he and Ted Kennedy did a radio show together. He was pro choice on abortion and supported gay rights.
I last saw him last year at a dinner hosted by his friend Bill Bradley, a former Democratic senator. He was physically frail but cognitively sharp, full of great humor and displayed his contempt for Donald Trump and disappointment that Republicans, who knew better, weren’t standing up.
Charlie Rangel was an original. A member of the House for 46 years, the first Black chair of the House Ways & Means Committee. Like some others in his generation he ran afoul of ethics late in his career.
But until he left, with that raspy voice and charismatic personality, the liberal New Yorker charmed most Democrats and Republicans alike.
My favorite Washington dinner party moment was about a quarter century ago. Vernon Jordan hosted a dinner for United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan. I was seated between Rangel and Sen. John Warner, who had been married to famous actress Elizabeth Taylor. The Harlem Democrat and the patrician Virginia Republican were pals, both veterans of the Korean War.
At one point Rangel leaned over and said “John I’ve wanted to ask you. When you’re doing it with an actress how do you know she’s enjoying it and not acting ?” That, Warner replied, “was the problem Charlie.”