Father's Day for the Senate's ‘Legacy Caucus’

Senators Bayh
(Democrats-Indiana)
Birch Bayh (1963-1981) and his son, Evan Bayh (1999-Present)
Senator Evan Bayh's office turned down repeated requests for an interview, but he wrote the 2003 book "From Father to Son: A Private Life in the Public Eye," which provides some interesting insights into his relationship with his dad.

Bayh was in the second grade when his father was elected to the Senate. In his book, Bayh writes how traumatic it was for him to leave his school and friends when the family moved to Washington. He recalls a small dinner party at the White House that his parents brought him to, which ended with him watching television in the Lincoln Bedroom. But he notes that such events did not overly impress him at the time, as he was more concerned with school and baseball. That changed the summer he graduated high school, when he volunteered for his father's 1974 re-election campaign. In all, he worked on three of his father's campaigns; something he says brought them closer together. "To say that I idolized him would not be much of an overstatement," Bayh writes.

His father lost in 1980 to Dan Quayle.  Evan Bayh was elected governor of Indiana, and then in 1998, won back his father's seat in the Senate.

Birch Bayh made two stabs at the Democratic nomination for president in the 1970s. He suspended his first effort after his wife underwent surgery for breast cancer in October 1971 and dropped his second attempt in March 1976.

Evan Bayh took a semester off of college to volunteer for the 1976 race. "That campaign was a transforming experience. I spoke on his behalf in Iowa, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts," he recalls in his book. Thirty years later, as he reportedly tests the waters for his own possible presidential run, Bayh is making appearances in those same states. Within the past month he has traveled to both Iowa and New Hampshire.

As for the difference in their politics, Bayh acknowledges in his book, "My father is remembered as a Great Society liberal, whereas I'm seen as more moderate, even conservative in some areas." But he attributes part of that political difference to changing times.

In his book, he writes about the day his twin sons were born - Election Day 1995. Even after Bayh received the phone call from his pregnant wife that the doctor was ready to induce labor, he writes he "couldn't help stopping along the way to vote. I guess it's just in my blood."

As governor, and now as senator, Bayh has promoted fatherhood initiatives and writes that one of his greatest passions is "battling our country's epidemic of fatherlessness."

MORE FROM POLITICS

Politics Section Front

Abortion could roil Senate health care debate High court looks at life in prison for juveniles Obama marks win, but challenges mount Advice for Obama: Knock heads on health care Palin says she’s back on Twitter Israeli prime minister calls for peace talks GOP says Dems put agenda ahead of country House Roll Call: Health care 2010 elections: Democratic fears, GOP hopes NYC mayor not humbled by close election Politics Section Front   Add Politics headlines to your news reader: