James Traficant Jr., 1941-2014: Legacy defined by prison term

The admonition that one should not speak ill of the dead has become the subtext of former Congressman James A. Traficant Jr.’s obituary. It’s a recognition by his supporters and defenders that despite their attempts to whitewash his political record, the seven-plus years he spent in the federal penitentiary won’t easily be erased.

Thus, we mark Saturday’s passing of Traficant, one of the most colorful politicians in the history of the Mahoning Valley, with this observation: His unfulfilled potential and his wasted talent were the result of his being sidetracked by too much nonsense and, yes, a preoccupation with using his position as a member of Congress for personal gain.

Although The Vindicator did not endorse him when he ran for sheriff of Mahoning County or for Congress — he was elected to nine terms in the House of Representatives — we acknowledged his unbelievable political talent and his innate ability to read the mood of the common man and forge a legislative agenda that brought him national recognition.

The fact that the voters of this predominantly Democratic region are willing to ignore his many faults — personal and professional — because he was “one of us” speaks volumes. It is no accident that Traficant reveled in his blue-collar upbringing, going so far as to make “I’m the son of a truck driver” his political calling card.

Our longstanding disagreement with him had to do with both his style as sheriff and congressman and the substance of his public service. It was always about him, and while his supporters argued that he was successful because he was authentic, we are reminded that he was well educated and knew how to manipulate the electorate in the Valley.

We were spot-on in our criticism of his tenure as sheriff, as evidenced by the millions of dollars in civil lawsuits filed against Mahoning County as a result of his staff’s free-wheeling law- enforcement style. We need not get into his highly publicized federal criminal trial stemming from his taking money from organized-crime figures during his campaign for sheriff. The Vindicator’s coverage Sunday of Traficant’s death and his legacy provides a great deal of insight into the man.

As for his tenure in Congress, we will again refrain from a discussion about his violation of the public trust and fall from grace. His seven-plus years in the federal penitentiary has been well publicized by The Vindicator.

We will also not dwell on his infamous one-minute speeches from the well of the House. To his supporters, they were the stuff of which legends are made. But to outside observers, especially veteran journalists in Washington, the speeches were nothing more than comedic relief. They also confirmed the belief of many on Capitol Hill that the congressman from the Mahoning Valley was not to be taken seriously.

AHEAD OF HIS TIME

Be that as it may, we will concede that he was right on many issues that were given short shrift during his tenure but are now topics of serious discussion in Congress.

Take, for instance, Traficant’s warning that China’s manipulation of its currency was not only undermining the global economy but was costing American jobs.

Today, that issue is front and center, with Traficant’s successor, U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Howland, D-13th, among those leading the charge to force Beijing to change its monetary policies.

Then there was Traficant’s signature legislative initiative, “Buy American.” Although he was not successful in instituting an across-the-board change in the federal government’s purchasing policies, he was able to get the Pentagon, among other departments, to make an effort to buy American-made products.

Sunday’s coverage of the late congressman included a Top 10 list of his accomplishments. We are sure his supporters can come up with many more. In their eyes, everything that Traficant touched turned to gold.

However, critics of the late congressman’s tenure have argued over the years that while he did accomplish some things that remain important to the Valley, his 17 years in the House were not as impressive when compared with other members at the time.

As a Democrat from a solidly Democratic district, Traficant could have been the ultimate team player, but he embraced his reputation as a maverick — to the detriment of his constituents.

By contrast, Congressman Ryan, who had worked as an intern in Traficant’s congressional office, has become the ultimate Democratic Party insider on Capitol Hill. As a result, he has secured important committee assignments and has also been able to direct millions of dollars from Washington for projects in the district.

Ryan is well on his way to becoming the kind of congressman we thought that Traficant, with all his political attributes and his solid political base, would be when he first went to Washington.

If only “Jimbo,” as he was called by his friends, had concentrated on the business of governing and not been blinded by the accolades and hero worship from individuals who sought to ingratiate themselves with him.

Had Traficant kept his nose clean, he would still be in Congress and would be one of the most senior members of the U.S. House.

His death brings to an end a painful chapter in the Valley’s political history.