Michael Barone describes the domininance this generation had on politics for the bulk of the late 20th Century. It had a greater inpact on any other group of veterans since the Civil War.
Not much notice was paid when the last Spanish-American War veteran in Congress, Barratt O'Hara, died in 1969.
Nor was much attention directed at the retirement from Congress in the 1970s of the last two World War I veterans -- Sen. Mike Mansfield of Montana (who lied about his age to enlist) and Sen. John Sparkman of Alabama (who served in the Students Army Training Corps).
In contrast, World War II veterans made a big splash in politics starting shortly after the war ended. Dozens of young veterans were elected to Congress in 1946, including future Presidents John Kennedy and Richard Nixon.
The Washington Post speculates on what his retirement might mean for the the institution and veteran's policies:
But with the death Monday of Frank R. Lautenberg (D-N.J.), not a single one of the 115 World War II veterans who served in the Senate remain, the latest evidence of the rapid decline in members of Congress with military service.
The passing of Lautenberg and the dearth of veterans in Congress is a concern for veterans advocates, who have seen a number of senior senators with clout and sympathy toward their positions pass from the scene in recent years.
“It’s a sad day,” said Louis Celli, national legislative director for the American Legion. “These were some of the most ferocious advocates for veterans that we had. We as veterans counted on the senior leadership, the World War II veterans, to represent us. We respected them, they respected us, and without them, there’s going to be a void.”
Lautenberg “was a real champion for veterans,” said Bob Wallace, executive director of Veterans of Foreign Wars. “He was very proud of the fact that he served in World War II and got educated on the GI Bill. He wanted to do the same for younger veterans, no matter what generation they served.”
Both stories highlight an interesting factoid:
For a time, the Senate was home to three men — Inouye, Bob Dole of Kansas and Phil Hart of Michigan — who had recuperated at the same Army hospital from serious wounds incurred in World War II combat.
The Washington Post story points out that while WW2 veterans flooded Congress (115 would eventually serve) soon after the end of the war, very few veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan have ben elected. They don't point out - but its worth noting - that no Vietnam Veterans have been elected to the presidency. The three who ran - Gore, Kerry, and McCain - were defeated.
