I'm a liberal lobbbyist who respected Henry Hyde's integrity and craft even as I often disagreed with him. Hyde played a critical role in the 25 year extension of the Voting Rights Act in 1981 and 1982, initially fought hard by the Reagan Administration. His critical leadership allowed a bill with real protections to people of color to go forward. That breakthrough gave us nearly 25 years of voter rights protection for African-Americans and Latin peoples. The legislation was renewed without controversy in 2006. Henry Hyde made a difference, a lasting legacy.
Less wll known is his role in creating an ombudsman policy in the work on the Imiigration and Nationalization service, making that agency more accountable in its dealings with immigrants and their issues. This contribution flowed directly from his constutuency experience and provided another example of his working effectively with liberals to protect people.
Shields captured Hyde well--a person of strong conviction, conservative, who cared about people and wanted to find a way of being of practical help to them.
David Cohen