WASHINGTON COUNTY PROFILES IN COURAGE

  

In 1956, then-senator John F. Kennedy published a landmark book on the American political class that would win the Pulitzer Prize, Profiles In Courage. The book profiled eight Americans who placed courage and integrity above winning votes or retaining popularity to remain in office. The forward to the book tells us “These are not just stories of the past but hope and confidence for the future.”

In these times of political polarization, not just for the nation but also in Washington County, I have identified several local individuals who deserve to be profiled for their courage. One is a Washington County civil servant, who along with her office staff, were not elected to anything. Nonetheless, her work demonstrates courage and integrity every day. I have also profiled three local elected officials. 

Melanie Ostrander, Director, Washington Elections Office. Ostrander and her staff should have the most uneventful job of any county office. Supervising elections, processing mail-in ballots, training poll workers, securing voting equipment, keeping the public informed, and tabulating voting results have traditionally been conducted out of sight. Unfortunately, in recent years, the Washington Elections Office has come under attack and is often at the center of an ongoing political maelstrom.

Two factors are responsible for this unprecedented situation. First, in October 2019 Governor Wolf signed Act 77 into law. What were thought to be bipartisan election improvements on mail-in ballots and other matters have turned into a steady stream of bitter lawsuits to interpret the new election law. The Elections Office is often called upon to explain the actions taken by the three commissioners on the Election Board. It takes courage and integrity to keep the election process safe and secure in an environment of ever changing political and legal decisions made by others.

Second, for the last four years, local, state, and national Trump supporters have made her job a living hell. Numerous matters concerning local elections including voting machines, certification of vote counts, to mail-in ballots have come under fierce attack.

A well-organized group of election deniers show up at commissioners’ meetings and at Ostrander’s office to demean her important work. The encounters inexplicably included two “exorcisms” performed by the radicals. Rather than resign or back down in the face of hostility, she professionally implements the newest procedures and prepares for the next election.

Eugene Vittone, District Attorney. Eugene Vittone served as district attorney from 2012 until his untimely death in 2021. He was a proud Republican who was first elected at a time when Democrats still controlled local government. However, once in office, his sole objective was to serve all citizens.

In my experience, Vittone always did what he thought was best – no matter the political consequences. One evening he called me to discuss a project important to him. When he casually mentioned he had terminal cancer, it was not to gain sympathy. He wanted to make sure his work was completed before he passed.

A statement from the Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association captures the courage and integrity of Mr. Vittone.

“Gene will be remembered for the tremendous contributions he made for the betterment of his community and profession. Humble and unassuming, Gene worked tirelessly to make Washington County and Pennsylvania safer. He was forward thinking in developing policy initiatives related to elder abuse and to mitigate the horrors of the opioid epidemic. Gene was a pioneer in utilizing prescription drug drop off boxes and Narcan to save lives that are now part of his legacy.”

Larry Maggi, Commissioner. Maggi is currently serving his sixth term as a Democrat commissioner. He has consistently been a watchdog of the public purse. Maggi is known for his integrity and courage in standing up for what he believes.

Rather than enjoy his retirement, Maggi was concerned about the harm that an inexperienced and unprincipled Republican majority could cause. Last November, he again ran for office. Over the last nine months, he has exposed and fought against numerous decisions by the Republican commissioners that are non-transparent, wasteful, undemocratic, and against the tenants of good government.

Maggi’s annual Christmas party is a rare example of encouraging bipartisan goodwill.  He invites elected leaders and county workers from both political parties to meet and reflect on their mutual mandate to work for and improve Washington County.

Diana Irey Vaughan.  For 28 years, Diana Irey Vaughan served as an elected Republican representative to the Washington County Board of Commissioners. When she was elected chairperson in 2019, Diana wanted to implement her long-held conservative and Christian values with honor and professionalism. She knew she could work with Democrats to keep Washington County’s economy flourishing and to improve local government.

Unfortunately, the Washington County Republican Party was taken over by the radical election deniers of Donald Trump. Diana’s positions were attacked, and her role as party leader was challenged. Irey Vaughn refused to agree with, manage, or manipulate the more threatening and outrageous elements of the Republican base to garner their support.

Ultimately, Irey Vaughn decided that her lifelong values to help those in need would be better served far from partisan political infighting. She did not seek reelection and, in 2003, became Director of the Washington City Mission where her experience will be invaluable.

Residents are fortunate that the above public servants have performed their duties for Washington County with courage and integrity. Each of them gives us hope for the future.

 

 

 

 

A WEEK IN THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY

 

When our friends floated the idea of an end of summer getaway to the Shenandoah Valley, we immediately agreed. On a beautiful week following Labor Day, it was time to get reacquainted with this rustic, historical part of Virginia.

The other couple had access to a condominium in the Massanutten Resort, conveniently placed on a mountain top in the middle of the valley. Nearby is an entrance to the Shenandoah National Park that includes the Skyline Drive, one of the most scenic drives in America. Opened in 1935, the park encompasses nearly 200,000 acres along the Blue Ridge Mountains. Skyline Drive offers a peaceful, slow-paced experience, as commercial trucks are not allowed in the park.

Massanutten was going through its annual transformation from summer to fall, shutting down the numerous outdoor pools as our week progressed. In several months, the resort becomes a popular ski resort with multiple runs throughout the mountain. There are two golf courses, several indoor recreation centers, tennis/pickle ball courts, hiking trails, and a water park available for guests. In late October, viewing the mountain fall foliage becomes a popular activity.

Interstate 81 cuts through the center of the Shenandoah Valley which makes it readily accessible to visitors from Washington via Interstates 79/ 68. The valley is 140 miles long and dotted with numerous small cities and towns, each with a rich history to offer tourists. There are plenty of activities for the serious or casual hiker, those interested in Civil War history, foodies, and those who like spending hours in regional antique malls.

The Shenandoah Valley contains a number of geologically significant limestone caves. The most famous are the Luray Caverns, designated a National Natural Landmark in 1974.

The Appalachian Trail winds through the region, including a long stretch within Shenandoah National Park. Maps available online highlight hiking trails that range from a short stroll in the woods to long excursions. Canoes and kayaks offer a refreshing way to experience the beauty of the valley on the James, Maury, Middle and Shenandoah Rivers. Black bears are common, and there seemed to be as many white-tailed deer as tourists.

At the time of the American Revolution, the Shenandoah Valley was still considered the American frontier. According to Wikipedia, “The Great Wagon Road”, later known as the Valley Pike, became the major thoroughfare for immigrants moving by wagons from Pennsylvania and northern Virginia into the backcountry of the southern states.”

The Shenandoah Valley was a major theater of the Civil War (1861–1865), with hundreds of skirmishes and engagements, including twenty battles. The valley's strategic location and economic importance made it a target for both Union and Confederate armies. For the Confederacy, the area was the backdoor for raids into Maryland, Washington D.C., and Pennsylvania. Because of its strategic location, it was also the route for northern campaigns to attack the Confederate capital in Richmond. In the northern section of the valley, “the region’s settlers were deeply divided over their loyalties which led to bitter partisan fighting.”

In 1996, Congress designated eight counties in the valley as a National Battlefield Site. The Shenandoah Valley Battlefields National Historic District preserves and interprets the region’s eleven more significant Civil War battlefields and related historic sites.

The Virginia Museum of the Civil War is located in the small town of New Market. It is connected to the New Market battlefield which commemorates hostilities that took place on May 15, 1864. The Museum also honors students as young as 15 years old from the Virginia Military Institute (VMI) who fought in the battle. An Emmy-winning short film, Field of Lost Shoes is shown every hour to explain the battle and the role of the cadets. The 300-acre battlefield with walking trails features an historic farmstead with original structures and scenic overlooks of the Shenandoah River.

The Museum of the Shenandoah Valley is located in Winchester. The main attraction is the Glen Burnie House that founder James Wood settled in 1735.  In the 1950s, the 214-acre property was renovated and transformed into a beautiful estate surrounded by six acres of formal gardens. The home is furnished with a large collection of decorative arts. The complex became a public museum in 1997.

The town of Staunton offers the visitor historic sites, many dining options and unique shops. Staunton is the birthplace of our 28^th president, Woodrow Wilson. His childhood home is the current location of Wilson’s Presidential Library and Museum. Staunton is also the home of Virginia’s Scenic Railway. It offers two excursions through the Shenandoah Valley and Blue Ridge Mountains.

This commentary has only touched upon the many attractions in the Shenandoah Valley. One of our favorite pastimes was exploring the many back- country roads and finding a lavender farm, antique establishment, or barbecue joint around the corner. Reading a book and taking a nap in the cool mountain air was a highpoint for me.

 

 

300-acre battlefield park with walking trails

 

 

 

300-acre battlefield park with walking trails

Historic farmstead with original structures several buildings to explore

Two scenic overlooks of the Shenandoah River

0300-acre battlefield park with walking trails

Historic farmstead with original structures several buildings to explore

Two scenic overlooks of the Shenandoah River

-acre battlefield park with walking trails

Historic farmstead with original structures several buildings to explore

Two scenic overlooks of the Shenandoah River

 

 

 

 

 A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE BETH ISRAEL CONGREGATION

In June, one of the most historic houses of worship in Washington County, Beth Israel Synagogue, passed into history. The aging congregation with fewer members did not require a large facility. AMVETS (American Veterans) purchased the property to move its national headquarters to the synagogue building.

 Marilyn Posner, Beth Israel congregation member and past president, provided me with much of the background for this commentary. I knew I was in good hands because Mrs. Posner had been a reporter and assistant news editor for the Observer-Reporter and won several national and state writing/editing awards. In 1991, she painstakingly researched and wrote the 100-year history of Beth Israel.

Between 1881 and 1924, over two million Jews fled persecution and economic hardship from Eastern Europe to the United States. Washington County offered an inviting environment to raise a family and to worship. At one time, synagogues existed in all of the small river towns throughout the Monongahela Valley. With each passing year, additional Jewish retail establishments opened their doors on Main Street in the City of Washington and throughout the county.  

Washington’s Jewish community first held regular religious services at the home of Nathan Samuels on West Chestnut Street. The Samuels’ home soon became inadequate for the growing Jewish population. Two other locations were rented for a larger gathering place.

In 1891, Washington welcomed its first formal spiritual leader, Rabbi Jacob Goldfarb of Lithuania. He would serve the congregation for its first 50 years until 1941. Under his guidance, $4,500 was raised to build the first permanent Washington synagogue at North Franklin and West Spruce.

Beth Israel—the House of Israel—was the name chosen by the founding leadership. This congregation would become a source of prayer, education, faith, and consolation for the generations of Washington Jews who followed. In 1901, thirty-two men signed the original charter that was approved by the Washington County Court of Common Pleas to incorporate the congregation.

As the Washington Jewish community continued to grow, additions to the original structure could not keep pace with the demands of the larger congregation. After the Depression and World War II, the leadership took up the idea of building a new, expanded synagogue for congregational use.

Finally, in 1952, the 50th Anniversary of Beth Israel, a building campaign was initiated that resulted in the construction of the existing structure on North Avenue. On September 4, 1955, a farewell service was held at the old synagogue. At the conclusion, the congregation removed the sacred Torahs and marched to the new Beth Israel. The building’s cornerstone was a solid piece of marble quarried from the Judean hills of Israel.

On a weekend in December 1955, the public was invited to an open house to admire the new building. An astonishing 4,000 guests toured the facility. Beth Israel was truly a vibrant part of the Washington community. Over the years, programs on interfaith study were scheduled with Christian Ministers. Washington Community Theater and other groups used the auditorium/gymnasium for their programs. Beth Israel was living up to its potential in all respects.

I asked Mrs. Posner for her impressions on the status of Beth Israel when she first moved to Washington in 1972. She remembered that there were many young families with more than 50 children in the Sunday school. In addition to the Sabbath, the congregation held religious services during the week. Beth Israel was home to numerous Jewish charitable organizations and youth activities.

As time went on, demographic and occupational trends influenced the number of Jewish families in Washington County. According to the Virtual Jewish Library, “Children raised in smaller Pennsylvania towns began moving to cities with larger Jewish communities. Educated children did not return to the small family businesses.” In addition, shopping malls replaced many Main Street retail establishments.

Mrs. Posner recalled a more recent event with both great sorrow and pride. On Saturday, October 27, 2018, eleven Jewish worshipers were gunned down at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh. Some of the slain had relatives and friends at Beth Israel.

The following Friday night, at the regular Beth Israel Sabbath service, a memorial program was held that included speakers from Pittsburgh. The Washington Christian community and other supporters showed up en masse to mourn with the Beth Israel congregation. It was the final time that the main sanctuary was filed to capacity with rows of extra chairs to accommodate the many citizens who came to express their grief.

With the closing of the synagogue, Mrs. Posner has recently filled her days by finding good homes for the historical and religious materials accumulated by Beth Israel. The Rauh Jewish History Program & Archives, housed at the Heinz History Center in Pittsburgh, accepted many important documents and artifacts. This program preserves the documentary history of Jews and Jewish communities of Western Pennsylvania, allowing them to be accessible for future research. Various prayer books and the synagogue’s many library books were distributed to public libraries, colleges, universities, prisons, other congregations, youth groups, and individuals.

While the ownership and use of the synagogue has changed, the remaining Jewish community continues to exist by holding regular Sabbath services on Zoom with attendees from across the country praying together.

Over the years, the building that housed Beth Israel played an important role in the religious and civic development of Washington County. This important history deserves to be remembered.

THE SUPREME COURT EXPANDS PRESIDENTIAL POWER

On July 1, 2024, the Supreme Court released its bombshellopinion in Trump v. United States. No one expected the six-justice Republican majority to reconstruct the office of the presidency by expanding presidential immunity. The opinion is a major victory for enhanced presidential power at the expense of presidential accountability.

Under this landmark ruling, a president receives no immunity for unofficial acts. There is absolute immunity for official conduct when exercising a core constitutional presidential power, like firing a subordinate or issuing a pardon. The devil is in the details with all other presidential actions. For the first time, there is a “presumptive immunity” enabling a president to escape prosecution. To overcome this presumption, a prosecutor must prove that filing charges would pose “no dangers of intrusion on the authority and functions of the Executive Branch.” 

Within this broad framework, the Supreme Court declined to make specific findings on immunity regarding any of former president Trump’s behavior, which has led to criminal indictments. Instead, the lower courts must now hold evidentiaryhearings on each of the criminal counts filed against Trump. The trial judge will then decide whether the prosecutor has proven an act to be unofficial conduct or has overcome the presumption ofpresidential immunity for official acts.

The Supreme Court added an impediment for prosecutors in thatthey cannot introduce “any evidence of conduct that would be an official act.” This evidence ruling will even affect Trump’s felony conviction in the New York State hush money case. Someevidence introduced at the NYC trial involved conduct by Trump while he was in office.

Whatever the lower court’s rulings on presidential immunity, the decisions will no doubt again end up before the Supreme Court. Prosecuting a former president will now be a tedious slog with years of appealable pretrial motions to determine what conduct is immune before an actual trial can begin.

To understand presidential immunity it may help to first view the subject through a wider, international lens. Oona Hathaway, professor of International Law at Yale Law School, recently wrote an excellent essay for Foreign Affairs magazine titled, For the Rest of the World, The U.S President Has Always been Above the Law. Ms. Hathaway explains “For decades, American presidents have waged illegal wars, plotted to assassinate foreign leaders, unlawfully detained and tortured people, toppled democratic governments, and supported repressive regimes without legal accountability.” 

Ms. Hathaway argues that Americans have lived in a bubble when it comes to domestic presidential actions. The Supreme Court in Trump v. United States has burst this bubble. She concludes, “There is the potential to make a president’s actions within the United States just as unchecked as they are outside it.” 

Now that a presumptive presidential immunity applies to all domestic actions, what effect will this have on Americandemocracy? To present the progressive view there is an analysis by Sean Wilentz, Professor of American History at Princeton. Writing for The New York Review of Books, he views Trump v. United States as “The Dred Scott of our Times.” Wilentzconcludes that the decision, “Radically changed the very structure of American democracy, paving the way for MAGA authoritarianism just as the 1857 Supreme Court in Dred Scott v.Sandford tried to pave the way for enshrining slave power control over American law and government.”

Wilentz fears that the new immunity protection “repudiates the foundational principle of the rule of law.” He is concerned that a Trump election victory would “unleash a scorched-earth assault on the existing constitutional and institutional order.” Wilentzreminds the reader “The Supreme Court is supposed to be independent of politics but has once again willfully placed itself at the center of a presidential election on which the future of American democracy turns.”

To present the conservative view, I turned to Jack Goldsmith, the Learned Hand Professor at Harvard Law School. Writing in Lawfare, Goldsmith does not believe the Supreme Court was eager to rule on presidential immunity or that the decision was intended to place a King in the oval office. 

Goldstein’s analysis starts with Article II of the Constitution. He finds that, “The great paradox of the American presidency is that the same constitutional provisions that render the president beholden to law also endow the presidency with extraordinary power and discretion to interpret and enforce the law, and thus give an unscrupulous president tools to abuse the law.”

The Supreme Court decision “enhances presidential power far beyond what was previously settled.” Goldstein points out thatin reaching this result; the court was more worried aboutsuccessive presidents who would be free to prosecute their predecessors if they did not have immunity, than they were of an out-of-control corrupt president. He ends his essay with the thought, “It has been a fantasy for many years now to think that the courts and prosecutors can purge the nation of a law-defiant populist demagogue. Only politics (elections, impeachment) can do that.”

The legal system may ultimately determine that no presumption of immunity protects Trump from his serious crimes. As one hopeful example, Trump has stated in numerous legal documents that he was acting in his personal capacity as a candidate, not as president, following the 2020 election.

America’s best protection against unchecked presidential criminality rests on the character of those we choose to place in the White House. Vote to protect democracy on November 5.

 

A TALE OF TWO CONVENTIONS

 

When I decided to write a commentary on the two recent national political conventions (RNC & DNC), my first thoughts turned to 1968 and Norman Mailer. In the summer of 1968, Mailer, the winner of two Pulitzer Prizes and author of numerous best sellers, attended and reported on both conventions. The Republicans were in Miami and, like this year, the Democrats were in Chicago.

Initially on assignment for Harper’s magazine, Mailer’s observations were published as a popular book, Miami and the Siege of Chicago. I have read this short account several times, and it always brings back the sense of fear and dread that permeated American politics in 1968. The Vietnam War was raging.  Both Martin Luther King, Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy had just been assassinated. The RNC turned into a coronation for Richard Nixon.  The DNC in Chicago was a maelstrom of political rage and police brutality.

According to Wikipedia, the 1968 DNC was among the most confrontational in American history. The early political battles within the convention hall concerned the seating of delegates from five southern states and the party’s platform on Vietnam.

Three candidates battled for the nomination after the pre-convention issues were resolved. Hubert Humphrey was endorsed by then president Lyndon Johnson and won on the first ballot. In second place was Eugene McCarthy, the peace candidate who called for a disengagement from Vietnam. George McGovern picked up delegates who had supported Robert Kennedy prior to his assassination. Following the DNC, the Democratic Party was, like the country, deeply divided and in complete disarray.

The 1968 DNC is most remembered for what took place outside the convention hall on the streets of Chicago. The Mayor of Chicago, Richard Daley, refused to accommodate demonstrators from well over 100 anti-war groups. These demonstrators clashed with 11,900 Chicago police, 7500 Army troops, 7500 Illinois National Guardsmen, and 1000 Secret Service agents over 5 days. There were 589 arrests with much of the violence captured on television.

One major convention issue significantly changed the rules governing delegate selection. Prior to 1968, white male party bosses in each state chose the delegates and ignored Democrat voters. Following this convention, young reformers demanded a move toward primaries where registered Democrats determined the presidential delegates.

This year the delegates who were pledged to President Joe Biden quickly moved to support Vice President Kamala Harris after Biden withdrew from the race. Harris had not won a single primary or caucus. Ironically, there was little debate and no disagreement from the party faithful who viewed Donald Trump as the greater threat.

Unlike Norman Mailer, I did not have the advantage of attending the recent conventions. My observations below are based on watching the events on cable news and from reading filed reports from those who attended.

In contrast to 1968, political conventions are now packaged for television with little uncertainty or drama. Floor fights over candidates or policy positions are nonexistent. Each political party puts on a show of unity, hoping to energize their base and gain the attention of independent voters.  The conventions are scheduled during television “dead zones,” before or after the Olympics, and before the beginning of football season.

This year’s RNC appeared to focus on grabbing the attention of young white males. It was packed full of entertainers and speakers who presented a masculine, aggressive image. Dana White, the head of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), Hulk Hogan, and Kid Rock introduced Trump as he took the stage on the last night of the RNC.

Trump supporters were pumped up and prepared to march to victory. All signs were favorable following the failed assassination attempt, dismissal of federal charges on the Florida classified documents case, and Joe Biden’s steep drop in the polls.

Few African Americans attended the convention, but several were given the podium to preach how Trump would save Black America. When J.D. Vance was nominated as Vice President, he brought a brutal message of his personal evangelical survival to the table.

The theme of victimhood permeated the RNC. Republican Governor Kristi Noem of South Dakota shouted at the assembly, “They’ve attacked his reputation, impeached him, tried to bankrupt him, and unjustly prosecuted him.”

Last week’s DNC affair painted a contradictory picture of an inclusive America where everyone should have a chance to achieve his or her best.  Michelle Obama’s speech was a masterful presentation of not only the political contrasts but also the moral contrasts that face voters in November.

Observers who have attended numerous conventions reported that the DNC energy level was the highest they can remember. Clearly, Kamala Harris has brought new Democratic Party enthusiasm to an election with dismal prospects before she was nominated.

How does the state of the country today compare with 1968? While this year’s political conventions were more sedate, the nation’s divisions are deeper and more profound.

In 1968, our disagreements focused on foreign policy surrounding Vietnam. As student protesters got older and subsequent administrations left Vietnam, the tensions and disharmony melted away. Conversely, in recent years, America’s divisions have devolved into deeply rooted tribal politics and fundamental questions about the future of democracy.

When President Lyndon Johnson called 1968 “The Nightmare Year,” our form of government was not under threat domestically.  America’s 2024 nightmare has a greater chance of turning into a reality before the country can recover its footing and begin to heal.