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After 17 years, time for musing and memories

Rep. Jim Ramstad, first elected to Congress in 1990, says he "never intended to be a lifer." The GOP moderate has represented Minnesota's Third District, which covers the Twin Cities' western suburbs.

By Kevin Diaz, Star Tribune

Last update: September 22, 2007 - 10:36 PM

WASHINGTON -- Republican Rep. Jim Ramstad, who last week announced his retirement from Congress at the end of his term, recently shared his thoughts on his career and retirement with the Star Tribune.

The reaction

"It's been overwhelming. So many people from over the years, calling, e-mailing, writing. I'm so grateful."

Second thoughts?

"I don't look back."

How has Congress changed?

"It's much more partisan and much more polarized. Congress reflects the electorate. The body politic, as we've seen in the last few elections, is very closely divided. "

Any changes for the better?

"I think ethics reforms have made governing more transparent."

Most memorable moment

"Standing on the steps of the Capitol on Sept. 11 [2001] with my House and Senate colleagues, singing 'God Bless America.' That's something I'll never forget."

Early years

"I remember my first week like it was yesterday. My very first vote as a member of Congress was on the Persian Gulf War. ... I was being briefed [daily] either at the White House or the Pentagon, by Colin Powell [then chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff] and Dick Cheney [then secretary of defense]. I was just overwhelmed. But we were brought up to speed on the intel, so when the vote came, we were prepared."

Regret (qualified) support for the Iraq war?

"Based on the intelligence at the time, that was the right decision. But of course hindsight is always 20/20. Knowing what we know now, that there weren't weapons of mass destruction, it never would have come up for a vote."

'Career politician' at age 61?

"I never intended to be a lifer. I wanted to leave while I was still young enough to do other things."

Burned out on politics?

"What I said was I was burned out about getting on a plane every Monday and not coming home until Friday. The commuting is the worst part. I still have the passion for the politics and the policy. It's about missing my family, my friends and my wife."

Adjustment to GOP minority status

"It wasn't about who's in the majority, because I was able to work well with both sides."

For example?

"The mental health and chemical dependency parity bill. It's been called my signature issue. But for the Democrats, we still wouldn't have the bill coming up for a vote."

The price of bipartisanship

"Early on, when I worked on the Crime Control Act of 1994 [its most famous provision banned certain assault rifles], it was intimated to me that I'd probably never be in a leadership position in our conference."

Was that a blow?

"I didn't come here to be in a party leadership position. I came to represent the people of Minnesota in my district."

Loneliness of a moderate?

"Let me just say that what Harry Truman said is not true. You don't have to get a dog in Washington to have a friend. I have a lot of friends, on both sides of the aisle."

Any votes you'd like to take back?

"No."

Lobbying in your future?

"That's one thing I will never do." Kevin Diaz • 202-408-2753

Kevin Diaz • kdiaz@startribune.com

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