The Legacy of Orrin Hatch

The press praises former Senator Orrin Hatch for his courtesy and bipartisan deal with Democrat Ted Kennedy. He was certainly an amiable man who represented a more civil era in politics. But we will remember the longest-serving Republican senator, who died Saturday at the age of 88, for the moments he defied and unfairly abused the Beltway Convention.

The first was his staunch defense of Clarence Thomas against the allegations by Anita Hill in 1991. Ms Hill’s allegations have achieved totem status in the political left. But they came at the last minute, backed by democratic activists, and lacked any justification. In the Judiciary Committee, Senator Hatch gave the allegations a thorough scrutiny. He helped endorse Judge Thomas, who did credit to the High Court and the country.