A New Perspective

Having grown up in Texas, I wasn’t very familiar with Henry Bellmon before I interviewed him last spring. I knew he’d been Oklahoma’s governor and a U.S. senator, but I didn’t know anything about his character, his politics, his beliefs.

But the more I learned from reading his autobiography in which he explains his political decisions and describes the life experiences that influenced those decisions, the more I respected him. Then, talking to people close to him, including two of his three daughters and a handful of former employees, my admiration for him grew exponentially.

My first impression in reading about Bellmon seemed to be of a tough farm boy able to go barefoot in the snow and later fight in hand-to-hand combat with other Marines at Iwo Jima. From that experience, he vowed if he survived and could reach a position to influence change, he would exhaust every diplomatic means possible before sending others to face the horrors he had experienced. That’s the kind of soldier I respect – one not afraid to fight if necessary, but a believer in seeking peace first to save soldiers’ lives.

As a politician, Bellmon voted his conscience and stood up for what was just – equal rights for African-Americans, women, farmers — even if it angered his constituents or friends. He was unwavering and thick-skinned. He let the critics roar, but he was strong enough to let their criticisms slide off his back. Above all, he wanted his votes to be fair and to improve the common good for everyone.

But I got a deeper understanding of him when his daughters told me about the letters he wrote them when they were young. After a long day in the governor’s office, he would slip notes under their doors if they had already gone to bed. The notes praised them for good grades and good character. Some contained thoughtful explanations. Ann laughed and told me about one he wrote to her older sister, Pat, a young teen at the time, about why she wasn’t allowed to wear lipstick. The sisters told me about the entertaining jingles he made up about their mother and sang to them during car rides. My image of this strong man evolved to include tenderness, humor and loads of love for his family. Likewise, every former employee or volunteer who spoke about Mr. Bellmon said he made them feel more like part of his family than his staff. He invited them to the family farm for cookouts and retreats. All praised his inspirational leadership and say they still value the life lessons they learned from his honesty and integrity.

Mr. Bellmon held some of the most influential political positions in the world. He mingled with U.S. presidents and foreign dignitaries. Yet, I think he considered himself an ordinary man who did the best he could for his family and his country.

And in doing that, I think he became an extraordinary man.