Chewin in the Chung

He was a Military Policeman, he participated in the Normandy invasion, and you could decorate a Christmas tree with his wartime decorations. He retired from the Army Reserve Corps as a Major General.

At the age of 66, he married a 22-year-old woman.

Asked once to recount his career, he said: "I tried to be honest. I tried to be patriotic. And I tried to be dedicated.

U.S. Sen. Joseph Biden, D-Delaware, once said of this man, "He is absolutely, totally, completely honest -- his main contribution is his legislative political integrity -- and that's a big deal."

He could do 100 push-ups on his 65th birthday.

He died in June of this year.

And I hated him. I hated him in that knee-jerk liberal way of despising anything or anyone who I could accurately tag as far right. He was a segregationist. He opposed federal civil rights legislation. Surely, he must have been the worst kind of bigot.

It turns out that among his many accomplishments, he fathered a mixed-race daughter at the age of 22. While never publicly acknowledging she was his daughter, he communicated with her and provided financial support for her whole life.

I should be howling with laughter, pointing my finger and shouting HYPOCRITE. Maybe I will after a couple of drinks Friday night. But now I just find myself thoughtful. Who was that man I demonized? What was his vision for America, for the world? Is there any chance of me being able to do 100 push-ups and marry a 22 year old when I’m in my 60’s?