WASHINGTON — There are many reasons to wish that the United States had a system of national service which offered all young Americans the bonding experience that many men and some women of previous generations found through membership in the armed forces.
Living, eating and working together with Americans of different races, educations, religions and backgrounds, as millions did between 1940 and 1970, had benefits that lasted a lifetime and helped every aspect of our national life — including politics.
It contributed to the sense of community that supported local schools, built local hospitals and endowed local athletic, recreational and artistic facilities. It sustained the national spirit through the decades of the Cold War and helped the nation recover from assassinations, riots and other travails of the 1960s.
It was the glue of what we have come to call The Greatest Generation.
With another Veterans Day in mind, I turned to some words that Rep. Ray LaHood, an Illinois Republican, delivered at a ceremony in the Capitol four months ago.
LaHood was introducing his predecessor and former boss, retired Rep. Bob Michel, the former House minority leader, who was one of four past members honored that day.
He spoke of Michel as a teacher whose example could well be emulated by the current generation of lawmakers. And one of the things he said he had learned from Michel was the difference between war and politics.
"Bob knew warfare first hand — not war in a Steven Spielberg movie or war fought in the pages of books, but real war." Michel was a combat infantryman in World War II. While still in his early 20s, he fought his way across France, Belgium and Germany. He was wounded by machine gun fire and received two Bronze Star medals for gallantry.
LaHood said that the wartime experience "is the reason he (Michel) never used macho phrases like ‘warfare’ and ‘take no prisoners’ when discussing politics with his staff. To Bob, the harsh, personal rhetoric of ideological warfare had no place in his office, no place in the House and no place in American politics. He knew that the rhetoric we use often shapes the political actions we take."
Those were pointed words from LaHood, who is true to his training from Michel and is often dismayed by the partisan warfare that now characterizes the daily life of the House of Representatives. This past year has seen venom displayed more openly between Democrats and Republicans than I can ever remember.
Any number of explanations can be offered. The Republicans became bitterly resentful of the tactics used by Democrats — especially toward the end of their 40-year span of control of the House. When Republicans finally took power in 1995, it was payback time, and they were at least as arbitrary as their opponents had been.
The narrowness of the Republican margin in the years since then has encouraged Democratic aggressiveness and has produced ever more stringent Republican controls on the legislative process. That in turn has fueled Democratic frustration.
All these factors have contributed to making the House the snake pit it has too often become. But I suspect there is one other factor — the disappearance of the generation of legislators who knew from personal experience the difference between war and politics.
Today, there are only 121 veterans of the armed services in the House — barely more than one-quarter of the membership. A generation ago, in 1975, 318 of the 435 Representatives had worn the country’s uniform and a good many of them had seen combat in World War II or Korea. Comradeship came more easily to them and so did the kind of mutual respect that makes possible compromise and, ultimately, agreement.
None of the top leaders of either party today has been in the service. Most of those who aspire to be their successors also lack that experience.
It is not just politicians and legislators who would benefit from undergoing the discipline and experiencing the rewards of giving a period of their lives to tasks assigned by their country — either military or civilian. That is the surest way we know to restore the sense of shared commitment so lacking today.
We need more veterans — and we desperately need more people who know the difference between warfare and politics.
David Broder’s e-mail address is davidbroder@washpost.com.
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