Henry J. Hyde

Henry J. Hyde, the former Republican congressman from Illinois whose name became synonymous with efforts to limit federal funding of abortion, died Nov. 29 at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. He was 83. Mr. Hyde retired from politics in 2006 after 32 years in Congress and eight years in the Illinois Legislature. He received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, from President Bush Nov. 5 but was unable to attend the White House ceremony because he was recovering from quadruple heart bypass surgery in July. At the ceremony, Bush described Mr. Hyde as a “commanding presence” and “a man of consequence,” who impressed colleagues with his “extraordinary intellect, his deep convictions and eloquent voice.” His son Bob accepted the medal, saying it “affirms the importance and value of his stance on many things, like right to life.” Mr. Hyde was named a Knight of St. Gregory by Pope Benedict XVI in 2006 in recognition of his longtime fight for life. “Henry Hyde was probably the greatest hero of the pro-life movement that ever served in Congress,” said Edward Mechmann, assistant director of the archdiocesan Family Life/Respect Life Office. “He was completely consistent and courageous in standing up for life,” Mechmann said. “It’s a sad day for us, and a tremendous loss to the pro-life movement.” In 1976, as a freshman congressman, Mr. Hyde introduced and successfully persuaded his colleagues to pass the Hyde amendment to an appropriations bill for the Department of Health and Human Services. The amendment restricted the federal government from funding abortions. “Because of the Hyde amendment countless young children and adults walk on this earth today and have an opportunity to prosper because they were spared destruction when they were most at risk,” said Rep. Chris Smith, RN. J., in a statement. Mr. Hyde also supported the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act and was present in 2003 when Bush signed it into law. A member of St. Charles Borromeo parish in Bensenville, Ill., Mr. Hyde met three times with Pope John Paul II and once with Pope Benedict. In addition to his pro-life work, his more than three decades in the House included a stint as chairman of the House International Relations Committee. At that time the U.S. committed to investing more than $15 billion to address the worldwide pandemic of HIV/AIDS. As a member of the Judiciary Committee, he garnered support for President Bill Clinton’s assault weapons ban in 1994. He also made history in 1998 when he introduced legislation to investigate the case for the impeachment of Clinton. He led the impeachment hearings as chairman of the Judiciary Committee. Born in Chicago, Mr. Hyde earned a bachelor’s degree at Georgetown University in Washington and his law degree at Loyola University Law School in Chicago. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives in 1967. He was first elected to the U.S. House in November 1974 and was re-elected 15 times. Mr. Hyde was married to the former Jeanne Simpson from 1947 until her death in 1992 but admitted in 1998 that he had a four-year affair with a married woman in the late 1960s. He is survived by two sons and a daughter. Another son predeceased him. Funeral arrangements had not been completed Nov. 29.