Roy Blunt Issues Statement on the Death of Henry Hyde

On Thursday, House Republican Whip Roy Blunt issued a statement concerning the death of former Republican Congressman Henry Hyde of Illinois. Hyde was 83 and his health had been deteriorating for over a year.

"In a chamber of 435, Chairman Hyde stood out as a man of unusual intelligence and unending ability; he was a dominant presence in every room he entered. And over the course of his 32 years here, no one in this House matched his clarity of wisdom, his sharpness of mind, or his gentleness of spirit...Despite chairing two important committees during his time here, his work often transcended the bounds of traditional policy -- most directly in his tireless efforts to protect human life at all stages of existence...This Congress has lot a giant today. But the legacy Henry leaves behind will ensure his work here will not end, but rather inspire others to press to the fore in defense of the sanctity of human life, the primacy of the human spirit, and the integrity of this entire institution," Blunt stated.

Hyde was also known for spearheading the impeachment proceedings against former President Bill Clinton for lying under oath-although it was a task that was put upon him and which he took up reluctantly-and for getting bipartisan support together in Congress to fund the global fight against AIDS.

The Irish Catholic Hyde grew up in Chicago as a Democrat, but he went over to the Republicans in 1952. Throughout his long political career he championed a strong national defense and backed the role of the U.S. in inspiring democracy around the globe. The tall, athletically built man also became famous in political circles for his unpretentious but at once regal bearing and his ready sense of humor.

When Hyde was prosecuting Clinton, it came to light that he himself had had a four-year extramarital affair decades earlier when he was in his 40s. Hyde famously referred to the affair as "a youthful indiscretion".

"This fine man believed in the power of freedom, and he was a tireless champion of the weak and forgotten. He used his talents to build a more hopeful America and promote a culture of life," said President Bush in a statement to the press.

Hyde's most famed achievement was his formulating of the Mexico City policy. The policy stipulates that nongovernmental organizations may receive U.S. funds only if they agree not to perform or further abortion as a family-planning method in foreign countries.

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