Tales From Climbing Mountains with God

Here is a part of that story.

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Hal knew he was giving me a first-class Legislative Director to hire.

Christie is a master at digging out the heart of a Bill. She uses several research sources to fact-check her review. After reading and researching, she prepares a summary listing all the high and low points in the proposed legislation and how it will affect the people in our district.

She and I will have a discussion before the vote. The bulk of these conversations is in my office. Usually, there is a comfortable time slot before the bells ring for a vote.

On the occasions when The Speaker quickly brought to the Floor a significant and controversial Bill attempting to get it passed before everyone could read it, our discussions were held walking in the tunnel under Independence Avenue to the Capitol Building.

Christie is the type of person every Congressman needs. I asked her to write a few paragraphs for this book concerning something she remembered happening that was a tough challenge. Please, find Christie’s contribution below.

“Two of the most contentious votes of Jim’s 12 years in Congress, I will never forget.

Iowa is the heartland of the nation and the breadbasket as well. The mid-1980s put Iowa square into the middle of the biggest farm crisis in memory. Outrageous interest rates and plunging land values brought down many a family farm, often held by the same family for over 100 years when the land was originally homesteaded. Suddenly, the banks were on the line and forced to reign back on lending, meaning many farm families were losing their homes and livelihood. For months, we had farmers calling the office, alternately in tears or cursing. It was hard on our staff to stay calm and try to comfort them since there was little Congress could do. It did lead Jim to introduce a unique piece of legislation — creating a secondary market for farm loans, which became known as Farmer Mac, much like Sallie May for student loans. It was eventually rolled into an omnibus bill under someone else’s name, but it did take some of the heat off farm lending, even though his name was not on the title. The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), another of Jim’s original ideas, was also created to pay farmers to let fields remain fallow and be tiled and terraced.

JL: The second crisis in Iowa arose in the 1990s along with the floodwaters of the Mississippi and the Missouri Rivers, flooding a vast majority of the state. I felt fortunate that then-President Clinton chose to do a flyover of Iowa and invited me, along with the rest of the Iowa delegation, to accompany him aboard Air Force One — a time to put partisanship aside. But that is another story.

Going back to the first of those contentious votes in the mid to late 1980s was President Reagan’s strategy to force the Soviets to the bargaining table by outspending the USSR and outbuilding them in military weapons. Congress was asked to approve funding for the MX missile. People in Iowa, stung by losing their farms, became outraged that the President appeared to place a higher priority on the MX missile than saving the family farm. Our office became flooded with hate mail, non-stop phone calls, and protesters.

Jim had not yet made public, or to his staff, which way he would vote, leaving everyone on edge. Finally, the morning the vote was scheduled for floor consideration, Jim walked into his office and gathered his staff together. I will never forget his words. He said, “Guys, I know this has been rough on all of us, but I’m the only one who has to get up in the morning and look myself in the mirror to shave, so I have to vote my conscience. My conscience tells me to vote ‘YES.’” I felt a great sense of relief. That vote changed the World. President Reagan won the vote, and months later, USSR leader Gorbachev agreed to come to the bargaining table with Reagan in Helsinki. It was the beginning of the end of the Cold War. And not long after, Reagan shouted the words in Berlin, “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall” The people in Berlin began to take up sledgehammers and whatever tools they could find, and sure enough, that wall began to crumble. I was so proud of Jim, who stood by his conscience instead of succumbing to political pressure.

Years later, Gorbachev would publish a book affirming that Reagan’s defense buildup was the reason the Soviets decided to begin negotiating.

NEXT: abortion vote, nuns in jeans, and Birkenstock’s crowding the office; we were trying to get Jim a safe way out the back door of the office. But, to our shock, Jim walked right out into the crowd of them and said, “Sisters, you are the reason my young son doesn’t want to go to church anymore. He says, ‘They never talk about Jesus anymore.’” Then he just walked out the door to head for the House floor.

I was so proud to work for such a principled and genuine statesman.”

Thank you, Christie, for your memories, kind words, and excellent information you prepared for me over the years. You are a great friend.

The MX Missile was a tough vote for many of us.

How could I vote for an expensive missile program when there was no government relief in sight for the people in Iowa? However, after a trip down to the White House and a visit with President Reagan, I concluded we couldn’t save the farmers if we didn’t first save their country for them.

It was going to hurt, but it had to be done.

I want to add to what Christie said about the terrible negative pressure on honest, hard-working people in Iowa. Many are family and close friends. The pressure on them was unbearable.

During these extremely difficult times, more than once, Ron Waller and Jim Boggess, working out of the Shenandoah office, spent entire nights sitting and talking with farmers who were considering suicide.

No one died, thanks to these two great men.

The crew in Shenandoah often acted as mediators between farmers and lenders, attempting to work out a solution that would enable both to stay in business. Iowa people have always been supportive of each other. It’s in their DNA.

Some arrangements and agreements worked out between lenders, farmers, farm suppliers, and others are unique in their depth and originality. The overriding goal in everyone’s mind is to keep everyone in business, even if it means giving up something that would never be on the bargaining table under normal circumstances.

It was a terrible time, filled with heartache, depression, and sadness. I have always been extremely thankful that our crew made a real difference for many people by extending a sincere, honest, thoughtful helping hand. Sometimes, giving a troubled person someone to talk with and listening with a heartfelt ear helped them get through another agonizing day.

I’m very proud of my staff and their ability to give a helping hand to so many in distress. It is a tough time to live through; however, the grit, generosity, and willingness to attempt something that had never been done before showed the heart of Iowa farm people. People who genuinely support each other, work hard, love hard, play hard, and pray often describe Iowa’s wonderful farm people who devote their lives to feeding a hungry world.

I’m darn proud to be an old Iowa country farm boy, if I may brag a little.

However, it is time to learn what new mountain must be climbed. It looks like there is much hard work tomorrow.

***

This is just one of the many personal stories in my book "Climbing Mountains with God." You can purchase "Climbing Mountains With God" on Amazon.com and get it shipped directly to you.

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Stay tuned. There will be another short story from my book coming next week.