Camera catches co-chairs

I once read a great little book, From Beginning to End: The Rituals of Our Lives, by one of my favorite essayists, Robert Fulghum. Many of you will remember him as the All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten guy. From Beginning to End was about rituals. Now, I'm not always the most organized person, but in some ways I can be very ritualistic - especially in the pre-dawn hours or when it comes to reading daily news.

One of my most rigid early morning rituals is reading The Peoria Journal-Star online. When I opened it today, I found a photo* I have to share with you. The photographer, Susan Walsh, a staff photographer for the Associated Press and president of the White House News Photographers’ Association, captured her subjects so well. Former Congressman Ray LaHood's confirmation hearings have begun for the post of Secretary of Transportation in President Barack Obama's cabinet. LaHood and Illinois Senator Dick Durbin are two of the three co-chairs of the U.S. Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission, along with Harold Holzer, a leading Lincoln scholar.

Walsh's photo seems to capture the cameraderie of the two, who though from different parties and different parts of the state, can come together for a common purpose in which they both believe. As a Lincoln buff, I'd like to imagine Walsh caught them just as Durbin leaned over to LaHood to say, "Boy, Ray, I'll bet you can't wait until these hearings are finished, so we can get ready to go to Lincoln's birthday party, the biggest bash in 200 years. We're going to have a blast!"

May the photo and thoughts of the upcoming celebrations put a smile on your face, too.

* The photo may load a bit slowly. Be sure to wait for it. The smiles on the commission co-chairs' faces are worth it.

Thanks and best wishes, Congressman LaHood

I can barely remember a time when the name Ray LaHood was not synonymous with Central Illinois politics. As a Lincoln buff, I’ll also never forget the day I heard that Congressman LaHood, Senator Dick Durbin and an author whose Lincoln book I’d reviewed, Harold Holzer, were to co-chair the newly formed Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission. It was years before the 200th anniversary of Lincoln’s birth, which is now less than two months away.

As LaHood and fellow Lincoln buffs look forward to the celebrations surrounding Lincoln’s Feb. 12 birthday, the Congressman is looking forward to a milestone in his own life – his retirement from public service in early January and, subsequently, more time with his family.

Thousands of touchpoints
LaHood has represented the people of the 18th Congressional District of Illinois in our nation’s capital for seven terms, but his public service started long before. Since the late 1970s, he’s served in a number of public roles, including as:

• District Administrative Assistant, for Congressman Tom Railsback
• Member of Illinois House of Representatives
• Chief of Staff for U.S. House Minority Leader Robert Michel

Even earlier he was serving the people, working for the Rock Island Youth Services Bureau and the Bi-State Planning Commission. Although I didn’t know it until I did my research yesterday, LaHood also served as a junior high school social studies teacher for six years. It’s no wonder he’s been involved in keeping the legacy of Lincoln alive. That teacher gene never leaves, it seems, no matter where life takes one.

Lincoln lovers would be interested to know that in today’s 18th District, LaHood serves most of the same communities Lincoln served in the 7th District from 1847-1849.

Media respect well-earned
The Peoria Journal-Star, which has chronicled LaHood’s story since his early days in politics, has honored the outgoing servant with a tribute today. You can learn more about this man with Lincoln ties and his own personal legacy in these additional pieces:

• Q&A with Ray
• Officials' thoughts on LaHood
• Ray LaHood timeline
• Going out on top

While you’re at it, you might also want to listen to Q & A on C-SPAN for Brian Lamb’s interview with Congressman LaHood.

LaHood's farewell
Congressman LaHood also wrote his own farewell, which appeared as an op-ed piece on the Journal-Star website late Sunday. I find it interesting that one of the things LaHood mentions is his mentors, Railsback and Michel. He also offers words of wisdom for the Congressman-elect Aaron Schock. Schock will serve us well, I believe, but even better with LaHood passing on his words of wisdom.

Lincoln's growth, too, was enriched through his mentors - in New Salem, in law and in politics. He also made the transition from protege to mentor when he took on Billy Herndon. But, those are stories for another day. (This section added Dec. 8.)

Do you have a LaHood memory?
If so, the Journal-Star would like to hear it. You can email them at news@pjstar.com and they’ll publish highlights before Jan. 6, his final day in office. If I see that article, I’ll publish a link in my blog for those of you outside of Central Illinois. Wouldn’t it be nice if that next article contained some memories from fellow Lincoln buffs?

Lincoln buff/constituent says thanks
Congressman LaHood, thank you for your service to our country and your dedication to keeping the legacy of Lincoln alive. May the roads ahead rise up to meet you with all the joy and fulfillment you deserve. Ann