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Nelson: Sen. Norris' principles still apply to public life today
McCOOK, Neb. — How you treat others matters, something Sen. George W. Norris learned early on.
And Sen. Norris was a living example of how to do that, said Ben Nelson, former U.S. senator, Nebraska governor and the keynote speaker at the George W. Norris Prayer Breakfast at McCook Christian Church this morning.
Nelson, with his 12 years as a Democratic U.S. senator and eight as governor, leaned on that philosophy as well. Over the years, from the governor’s mansion to the White House, three things have stood out for him as guiding principles in public service that Sen. Norris probably used as well, said Nelson.
The first is to get through adversity with the help of family, friends and faith. Losing a loved one is something you never get over, he said, but you do learn how to get through it. “You learn how to roll with the punches and get back up,” Nelson said, citing how Sen. Norris lost his first wife, leaving him with young children, but someone else came into his life that allowed him to continue his legacy.
The second is the necessity of compromise and mutual respect in moving forward. “One word, respect. Two words, with respect,” Nelson said.
Norris’ push for a non-partisan unicameral for Nebraska was unpopular, as was his determination for electrification for rural areas, Nelson said. Urban senators especially, that made up the majority of Washington, opposed him but Norris continued to fight for it, by compromise, tenacity and diplomacy. “Achieving his goals not only took courage, but skill, great skill and wisdom, to know you don’t just take and take,” Nelson said. As a result, farmers were finally able to have electricity through the of hydroelectric-power plants. “He knew the difference between power and good legislating,” Nelson said.
The third thing he’s learned is hope and working together to make things happen. Nelson told the story of an ambassador from Saudi Arabis he got to know while a U.S. senator, the ambassador the first who wasn’t a member of the royal family. The ambassador got his start in the U.S. as a student at Texas, then transferred to Georgetown, getting to know the people of the U.S. At one point as an ambassador, he and the king of Saudi Arabia visited the president of Iran at that time, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. When the king stepped out for a few minutes, the ambassador recalled awkward minutes of silence, until the Iranian president told him that the U.S. would fail because it was divided and in turmoil.
The ambassador responded that “he had a different view,” Nelson said in recounting the story. The United States was not stuck in history, like some European countries, nor was it afflicted with tribal issues, but has found a way to blend together, the ambassador said. This has given the U.S. has a strong base not evident to those who live outside the country.
If someone from another country has this hopeful view of America, then we can, too, Nelson summed up. It’s easy to tear down, harder to build up. “There is more hope if we work together, using multiplication and addition and move away from division and subtraction.”
Invocation for the prayer breakfast was provided by Clark Bates and vocalist was Alexis Quint, who sang “Proud to be an American.” The “Mistress of Ceremonies” was Maggie Repass of the Norris Institute, who annually sponsors the event.
At the end of the breakfast, Repass noted an empty chair near the front of the podium and paid tribute to Gene Morris, a long-time Norris Institute member and advocate. Morris, who recently passed away, used to sit in that chair every year for the breakfast, she said.
Members of the Norris Institute are Cloyd Clark, president, Andy Long, vice president, Mark Graff, treasurer, Maggie Repass, secretary and board members, Warren Jones, Bruce Hoffman, Leon Kuhlen, Dennis Berry, Bruce McDowell and Bryant Brooks.