Last night I caught a rerun on CSPAN of Wednesday's ceremony honoring Senator Brooke with the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian honor awarded by Congress. Senator Brooke was nominated two years ago by Senator Kennedy in recognition of his years of public service and the historic significance of his elections. Speakers included President Obama, Senator Kerry, Congressman Patrick Kennedy, Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton, Speaker Pelosi, and the floor leaders of both parties in both chambers. Brooke was a Rockefeller Republican with many of the progressive views that label implies. He was the first black person to be elected AG of any state, serving 1963-1967, and the first popularly elected (as opposed to legislatively elected) black US Senator from any state, serving 1967-1979. He also celebrated his 90th birthday last Monday.
