TRIBUTES
Slade was a wonderful man. For him politics really was “public service,” which meant serving the public, to which he gave his all. As a serious legislator he was first class, Grade A, top tier. He worked hard, with both sophistication and idealism, and he absolutely loved the United States of America. What a deeply constructive and productive life.
And he loved more than anything getting to help regular people facing a challenge they could not get progress with alone. And they never forgot him.
Peggy Noonan - Wall Street Journal Columnist, former speechwriter for President Ronald Reagan
Slade was the best partner I could have had in one of the most riveting efforts on which I have ever been engaged. I am grateful for his partnership and friendship.
Jamie Gorelick - 9/11 Commission Member, Former Deputy U.S. Attorney General
The State of Washington has lost a great public servant.
Slade Gorton was a friend and colleague of Nancy’s and mine for the past 65 years. He was a brilliant State Representative who led a sensationally successful redistricting effort in Washington State.
As Attorney General he opened the doors of opportunity for women and build a strong bipartisan staff who represented our state with vigor, honesty, and distinction.
After 18 effective and productive years in the United States Senate, Slade served as a leading member of the national 9/11 Commission. The report on proposed actions as a result of the attack on New York City and Washington DC on September 11, 2001 was a classic. The commission’s work was widely praised and Slade’s contribution to its report was especially recognized.
Slade Gorton led a career of extraordinary distinction and we will deeply miss his voice of reason, expressed clearly, forcefully, and honestly.
Daniel J. Evans - Former Washington Governor and U.S. Senator
Slade was a pioneer in breaking the glass ceiling in hiring and promoting women lawyers at a time when very few lawyer jobs were open to women in the private sector. All of us saw Slade as a supporter and mentor in advancing the careers of women lawyers in the Attorney General’s Office.
Slade was a nationally recognized Attorney General ensuring consumers had the state’s top lawyer by their side.
Slade was there for us when we needed help on large, complex and controversial issues like the tobacco settlement and Hanford clean-up. When the Attorneys General reached the first tobacco settlement, it required congressional action. It was Slade who convinced then Committee Chair Senator John McCain to hold a hearing and thereafter advocate for the settlement. Slade suggested to Senator McCain that the committee hear not from staff lawyers at the hearing but rather me, on behalf of the Attorneys General to answer the Senators’ legal questions.
Christine Gregoire - Former Washington Governor and Attorney General
Senator Gorton was a distinguished Washingtonian and steadfast leader to whom our state owes a tremendous debt. I was privileged to serve with Slade when I first came to the United State Senate, and even though we did not agree on every issue, we made a great team when it came to advancing the interests of people and families in Washington State. We partnered together many times over the years to strengthen federal Hanford clean-up efforts, toughen pipeline safety standards and ease congestion issues in Puget Sound, as well as to expand health care for children, address critical issues regarding people living with autism and more. I’ll always cherish our collaboration and what we were able to achieve together on behalf of Washington State—as well as the memories from our friendly, yet competitive, annual staff softball game.
Moreover, I will always remember and respect how Slade anchored his leadership in honesty and honor: whether it was doggedly standing up to his own party to help save the National Endowment for the Arts, or working in a bipartisan spirit to help the Senate uphold its integrity during the 1999 Clinton impeachment trial, or most recently being one of few Republicans to hold President Trump and his party accountable for their efforts to subvert our democracy. Throughout his career in both Washingtons, Slade defied convenient labels and stood on principle—we need more leaders in our country like Slade.
Slade reflected the best of our state and leaves behind a legacy that is mirrored in the scores of former staffers and other professional men and women who have been mentored by him, who are now spread throughout our state and nation, working to change lives and make our communities a better place—like they learned from Slade. My thoughts and sincere condolences are with Slade’s family during this difficult time, as well as all those who loved him. He was a colleague and friend who did so much for our state, and while his contributions won’t soon be forgotten, he will be incredibly missed.
Patty Murray - U.S. Senator, Washington State
My good friend and former colleague Senator Slade Gorton dedicated his entire adult life to public service. At every stage of his career, from the Washington State Capitol to his years in the Senate to endeavors including the 9/11 Commission, he marshaled his trademark smarts, seriousness, and intensity for the benefit of those he served. Slade was someone whose idea of a fun family summer was to cycle together across the country. That same focus and sheer determination delivered for Washington time after time, on everything from technical policy issues to keeping Major League Baseball in Seattle.
Mitch McConnell - U.S. Senate Majority Leader
Slade Gorton was our toughest opponent. He made us better, smarter and more savvy. Slade doesn’t hate Indians. He just has strong opinions based on his review of what he considers the facts. He has an incredible intellect. He can debate anything—constitutional law or scripture. He cared about the salmon and the environment and said the tribes should play a role. But when it came to sovereignty issues we collided time and again.
Ron Allen - Tribal Chairman of Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe; former President, National Congress of American Indians
We are greatly saddened to learn of the passing of a stalwart member of the Ruckelshaus Center Advisory Board in Senator Slade Gorton. Senator Gorton has been a member of the Board since the Center’s founding, and none of us can recall him missing a single meeting over the Center’s 16-year history, until this year.
At each of those meetings, he mostly listened attentively, never needing to dominate the conversation or hear the sound of his own voice. But there always came a moment where he spoke up and interjected a wisdom that was earned over decades of experience, but also derived from an innate ability to see through to the heart of the matter.
The Ruckelshaus Center loved co-hosting a Statespersonship Series with the Slade Gorton International Policy Center. One of the characteristics of a true statesperson is patience. Senator Gorton certainly had that characteristic. One example—he and Michael shared a passion for baseball, and therefore have commiserated through the Seattle Mariners’ 20-year playoff drought. But Senator Gorton was also a Chicago Cubs fan, having grown up in that part of the country. He told Michael in 2016, “I think this is the year. It’s been 108 years since the Cubs won the World Series, and there are 108 stitches on a baseball.” And he was right! After 108 years (almost 90 of which he experienced himself), his Cubs won the Series. Now, that’s true patience!
So maybe in the crazy year that is 2020, his other team, the Mariners, will win it all for Senator Gorton. Wouldn’t that be something? Whatever happens, all of us at the Center will dearly miss our valued colleague, who we are pleased to announce will be added to our Emeritus Board.
The William D. Ruckelshaus Center - Bob Drewel, Advisory Board Chair; Phyllis Campbell, Vice Chair; Michael Kern, Director
I’m sorry to hear about Slade’s passing. He remains in my mind an incredible public servant. Bright, hardworking, and a maven of the rules of practice in the Senate. There are so many who owe so much to him for our own successes in life. We need more like him in important positions of government.
Richard Tallman - U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Judge
Slade Gorton was a man of integrity with a razor-sharp intellect. He touched many of our lives with surprising warmth. While he wrestled for decades with a multitude of challenging political and legal issues in the halls of Congress and, 14 times, in the U.S. Supreme Court, we likely will remember him, and be most grateful, for keeping baseball here in the Pacific NW. And well we should, because in a life defined by success, saving the Mariners 30 years ago was Slade’s proudest achievement.
Michael D. McKay - Partner, K&L Gates LLP, former U.S. Attorney for Western Washington
It’s with a heavy heart that I say goodbye to my friend and mentor, Senator Slade Gorton. He was larger in life in everything he did for people and our region. He will be remembered as one of the great Senators of the 20th century, someone who was a role model for faithful service driven by duty, honor, and country. His legacy is a reminder of the great things that are possible when leaders build trust and strong relationships across the aisle.
I could always count on Senator Gorton for words of kindness, wisdom, and encouragement. He was brilliant, always cheerful, genuine, and had a way of building others up to do and be their best. I know many people in our state felt the same. I will especially miss his visits and the nuggets of wisdom and advice that he always had for me.
America stands on the shoulders of giants of character and leadership who have come before us. History will remember Senator Gorton as one of those giants. He inspired many to serve and contribute to the Promise of America for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for all. May he rest in peace.
Cathy McMorris-Rodgers - U.S. Representative - Washington’s 5th District
Count me among the innumerable individuals who were permanently shaped by Slade Gorton’s counsel and his character. I remember first meeting Slade when I was considering serving in Congress and he was generous enough with his time to sit down with me – at 82 years old he’d just finished his morning jog. During that conversation, I asked him for advice on making difficult decisions in public service. He immediately pulled out a book and read me a profound lesson from Lincoln about making the best decision based on the information you have.
Since that day, Slade was in my corner. If he thought I’d made the wrong move, he’d let me know it – but his opinion, his advice and his counsel always came from a place of thoughtful consideration unlike anyone else I’ve ever met. Even when I didn’t agree with him, I usually learned something insightful.
Slade came from a generation that saved the free world from oppression; he embodied the spirit of that generation, one of dedication and service to your country over all else. He didn’t just come and go in public service during a season of his life -- Slade showed us what it looked like to never retire from serving your fellow countrymen.
Jaime Herrera Beutler - U.S. Representative - Washington’s 3rd District
Slade Gorton will be sorely missed. A great legislator, a dear friend, and a fine lawyer who served his state and country with integrity, honesty, and high honor— a fine person in all respects.
George R. Nethercutt, Jr. - Former U.S. Representative - Washington’s 5th District
I am so sorry that his time in this life has come to a close. However, I know he will first check in on Sally, then ask God what the heck he can do help keep Heaven running efficiently.
I am proud, honored and humbled to call Senator Slade my good friend and I don’t mean in the political sense!
During my 14 years in Congress Slade was always there to discuss the difficult decisions regarding politics and policy. He was an expert in both. He and I met frequently to discuss issues he was interested in and still working on such as the Mountains to Sound Greenway, trade – one of his favorites and mine – and taxes, not one of my favs. 😊
I think those who knew him would agree he was very measured in his issuance of compliments, so when he told me how proud he was of me in the way I grasped the issues so quickly and the way I made decisions on important legislation. I took that praise straight to the bank.
I first met Slade when he was serving as the attorney general. I was a young patrol cop with the Sheriff’s Office. I was fortunate enough to survive two very life threatening calls in my young career. I was also able to save the lives of two people during those calls.
Slade knew of these two incidents and took action. He met with me personally and formally presented me with the Attorney General’s award for Courageous Action Above and Beyond the Call of Duty. Years later he and I would joke about the photo taken that day in 1975, “Slade had hair and I had brown hair.”
Since that day in 1975, Slade and I kept in touch informally, but years later he would enter my life as a close friend, confidant, and mentor. When I was elected to Sheriff and I was asked to run for a variety of elected offices, Slade was my first call for counsel. He helped me make the decision to run for Congress in 2004 along with another icon, Jennifer Dunn. How could I go wrong with these two as my backup and partners? What a tremendous honor to have them both on my team.
Dave Reichert - Former U.S. Representative - Washington’s 8th District and former King County Sheriff
Washington has lost a giant – a man who exemplified the very best in politics, and who inspired those of us who followed him into the public arena.
Slade brought his keen intellect to every issue he dealt with, from the redistricting battles of the ‘60s to the effort that saved the Mariners in the ‘90s. He took on leadership roles when others shied away, and he found ways to strike compromises that could win broad support.
Slade recognized that it’s not enough to be right on the issues. You also need to find a way to win, and the best way to do that is to convince the other team that it is in their interest to agree. He brought a practical vision to everything he approached, something that is sadly missing from many of our political debates today.
Mark Schoesler - Washington State Senate Republican Leader
Slade Gorton, a Dartmouth educated and an Ivy-League Lawyer from Seattle, had little in common with timber families like mine on the Olympic Peninsula or the farming communities of Eastern Washington, yet he was our greatest champion. Slade worked for us -- giving rural families and small communities a voice at the table when we had none. He is loved, respected and appreciated to this day. There will be no greater champion for rural communities than Slade Gorton. Timber Country will forever be Gorton Country. He was our voice, our friend and to me a treasured boss whom I loved deeply and will miss greatly.
Kellie Daniels - Former Gorton staffer and lifelong Olympic Peninsula resident
The GLP shaped my career trajectory. Without a doubt, the most impactful experience for me was the mentorship I received from Slade, which shaped who I am as a person and as a young professional. As I embark on a career in international trade, I have Slade to thank for his wisdom, time, and mentorship. As an immigrant, I am so proud to become a naturalized citizen of the country Slade loved so much. I only wish he could be here when that happens.
Bruno Fiorentini - Gorton Leadership Graduate; market development assistant at an international trade consulting firm, Seattle
I once asked you if there was a legislative effort that you were most proud of. You replied that it was the Chinese Student Protection Act and shared the story of its introduction, which was crafted in response to the events on June 4, 1989. At the time (and regrettably), I was not aware of my family’s connection to this bill.
Recently, I was speaking on the phone with my dad and he mentioned that the Chinese Student Protection Act was what allowed him to safely stay in the U.S. He had only immigrated to the U.S. a short time before the Tiananmen Square Massacre took place, and the law you introduced as legislation was what kept him here. He eventually received his PhD from the University of Washington and is now a professor in Tacoma. He also met my mom, and had two kids; me and my brother. These opportunities were afforded to him because he was able to stay. This realization has been a striking reminder to me of how small our world truly is, and how interconnected our lives are - knowing or unknowing. On behalf of my family, I wanted to properly thank you.
Our conversations during the fellowship are actually what led me to decide that I wanted to pursue a career in public service, and that one day, I wanted to become a lawyer. I will be keeping your advice in mind as I begin the process of preparing to apply to law schools this fall.
Leah Li - Gorton Leadership Graduate; staff to U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer
Slade Gorton said the most important political lesson he learned in life was: ‘That the character and courage of the individual within our system counted for far more than anything else.’ Many who walk the halls of Congress toil over their ‘legacy’ and how they will be remembered by history; Slade’s legacy is the countless constituents, staffers, mentees, and students who continue his example by leading with integrity. I will be forever grateful for his guidance and friendship through the Gorton Leadership Program. It is my hope that his example will continue to shape public discourse in our state – and across the nation. With the women and men he mentored now at the helm, I know it will.
Sean O’Brien - Gorton Leadership Graduate; Deputy Chief of Staff to Congressman Dan Newhouse
It would be easy to describe Slade as a moderate politically. And that’s accurate in a way but really he was very conservative on many issues and liberal on some issues. That’s distinct from the elected official who is always finding the geographic midpoint on every issue. Slade was open minded and constantly questioning, not ideologically stuck or stuck from a partisan standpoint – both of those are totally accurate. But it’s more complicated than the label “a moderate” or “A conservative”.
And he carried all of these qualities: open minded, a listener, a life-long learner, a person who not only tolerated divergent and dissenting views from his own but welcomed them. And disagreements on issues did not turn into personal animosities for Slade. He would argue vociferously against your idea one minute and the next issue you were on the same page and in both cases he’d be delighted to have dinner with you. But…at the same time he was an aggressive fighter for the positions he believed were right. People did not like being on the other side of an argument or a floor fight or a political campaign from Slade because he was a tough opponent. The combination of all of those things in one person is exceptional. It’s easy to find easy going people in public life who get along with everybody and have no trouble with dissenting opinions. And it’s easy to find the opposite: people who just fight all the time and once they fight against you they consider you their enemy forever.
J. Vander Stoep - Former Gorton Chief of Staff and State Representative
My deepest condolences on Slade's passing. A great man - as Shakespeare wrote, "He was a man, take him for all in all, I shall not look upon his like again."
Randy Pepple
Slade Gorton devoted a lifetime to public service. We disagreed on and debated many topics. But he argued from principle and was willing to listen. He genuinely wanted to chart common ground to bridge the divide.
Jenny Durkan - Mayor of Seattle
Slade Gorton served our state with honor and integrity. Whether it was expanding health care for children, supporting @NEAarts or keeping baseball in Seattle, he worked across the aisle for the betterment of Washington. Our thoughts are with his family.
Ana Marie Cauce - President of the University of Washington
I am saddened to hear Senator Slade Gorton passed away. Today Washington lost a great leader, brilliant legal mind, and political giant. He supported and inspired people to reach their greatest potential. He taught me so much about politics, public service, and leadership. I was blessed to know him and will miss him. Godspeed on your way home to Sally, Senator.
Kim Wyman - Secretary of State of Washington
Slade is the epitome of one person making a difference and in making this a better world for everyone else. In all his public leadership roles during his phenomenal career, he has always pursued doing good for others, provided opportunity for others to achieve on their own, and worked toward the highest ideals of integrity, liberty, and freedom in life.
I first met Slade when I was a young college student and he spoke at a Republican leadership conference. Over the next nearly fifty years, he had a remarkable impact on my life and was such a generous mentor, friend, and adviser to me. I chaired his campaigns in Spokane County, served on his state advisory boards, and learned so much from him. Just a few months ago, we found ourselves on the same flight from from Washington D.C. back to Washington State. As I looked across the aisle at those sitting on either side of him as they were napping and watching movies, there was Slade in his 90's reading the New York Times, the Washington Post, and the Economist magazine cover to cover nonstop all the way back to Seattle. It was so typical of the brilliant and hard-working leader he has always been.
In those nearly fifty years of great friendship and mentoring, I have learned so much from his example. Slade Gorton has had a dramatically wonderful impact on literally hundreds of staffers and volunteers. I know I am a better citizen of this great Country as a result of Slade's public service and as a result of his caring and encouraging me.
In 1991, President George H.W. Bush appointed me the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington. Washington's Senior Senator Slade Gorton was responsible for that privilege and opportunity I had to serve as it was Slade who recommended my name to the President and who shepherded my nomination through the Senate. At the public swearing-in ceremony in Spokane, Slade presented me to the Court. In his address, he challenged me to always foster integrity and respect for our justice system. Now I am serving as the U.S. Attorney again, and those lessons from Slade from back then are just as important today.
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Even when we saw one another on that recent plane trip, Slade wanted to know all I was doing to support our justice system. He again wanted to be sure to encourage me to be the very best I could be in this important role.
I am forever thankful for knowing this man who had such a brilliant mind, endless energy, an incredible desire and ability to serve our Country, and a huge heart and love for others and what they are capable of achieving themselves. Thank you, Slade. Thank you for being all these things and thank you for being such a terrific friend to so many of us. Thank you for loving this state, this Country, and all the people of this great land.
William D. Hyslop - United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington
Almost 80 years ago, I was a proud Page in the State House of Representatives at a time when Pages served the full session, and my Dad had been appointed to fill out the term of Perry Woodall who had been called into military service early in WW II. This isn't important except it gave me a full-time kid's-eye view of the world of politics in action in the not-so-good old days. Yes, we hung a black cloth over the clock on the 59th day of the session because everything didn't get done in the constitutional limit of 60 days. What is important is that I got an early education in human political nature and the difference between elected representatives who I could categorize as masters, followers, and hangers-on.
Fast forward to the 1960's and a newly- redistricted legislature, and there was an open seat in a reworked House district and it had my name on it, and Governor Dan Evans urging me to run. That is when I first met Slade Gorton, 55 years ago. Now, most folks wouldn't think of Slade as a warm and cuddly guy, but the first night of our first legislative session, after a grueling day of too-much information, our fearless leader Slade Gorton said that "you new kids have been working hard and I am going to take you to the flicks." So, away we went for an evening with Slade at a Jack Lemmon movie, something about a cookie crumbling, which might have been appropriate.
Ever since then, Slade has been my Leader and an absolute master of the craft of political science. By that, I go back to my original conclusions as a youthful observer that a few people are really smart, and you should find one you like, and follow, learning as you go. Later, while I was legislating, Slade was a masterful Attorney General, then we both went to the US Congress in 1981 and I was so proud of him as my Senator, the only one I knew who could absorb the Wall Street Journal while walking a straight line in the U.S. Capitol to his next hearing.
Slade's advice was always good, and reflected both his intelligence, experience, and hard work. He was personable, and never lost his respect for others, even as he was called on to do the most challenging jobs of his generation at both the state and national level. He loved the State of Washington and made us proud. We have lost one of my heroes and a personal friend.
Sid Morrison - Former U.S. Representative - Washington’s 4th District
I had the honor of knowing Slade Gorton as one of his students in the Gorton Global Leaders Program (GLP). There is no doubt in my mind that the lessons I learned from Slade – either directly from him, through reading about his life as a political giant, or from those who admired him – will continue to challenge and shape my own conception of leadership throughout my life. Slade was a man of high principle who had the integrity and boldness to break from his party, even on high-stakes issues, to do what he felt was necessary to vitalize the moral fabric of a people and preserve the democratic coherence of our nation. One of the first stories I ever heard about Slade was about his political courage during his tenure as Washington's attorney general as he became one of the first Republicans to call for then President Nixon to resign. Surely, a state attorney general facing pressure from his party to stay silent could not expect his actions alone to compel the sitting US president to step down; it seemed like Slade had everything to lose and nothing to gain. That calculus may have been true in a purely consequentialist, short-term view, but Slade was not a short-term thinker and certainly not someone to neglect the notion of plain right and wrong. As biographer John Hughes puts it, Slade "could have kept his views to himself, [but] Slade Gorton is not built that way." Even after that single story, I knew I had many important lessons to learn from Slade.
I was right about that. I recall a roundtable discussion during a GLP session during our regular "Ask Me Anything" time with Slade. An apparent dilemma had been stewing in my head about the tension between delivering exactly what a politician's constituents want, on one hand, and pursuing instead what one personally believes is right on a moral or even practical level when making policy. I began, "So, considering that an elected politician's job is to effectively pursue what his or her constituents want --". Slade immediately interrupted me. "Your job is not to just give them what they want. Your job is to lead and make sound decisions for their good." Now, obviously, Slade held himself to the highest standards of accountability and honesty to his constituents; his half century in politics makes this clear. What Slade was emphasizing is that there is a role for leaders apart from merely being the most skilled persuader in the legislature and getting the right bills passed. Slade sought to instill within us, and exemplified in himself, the sacred responsibility of a leader to awaken moral sensibilities in others, galvanize a community to think beyond the immediate, and legitimize the dying art of genuine compromise.
In short, Slade was a brilliant statesman who embodied what it means to lead, serving as a moral and intellectual light to his colleagues and constituents alike. Slade inspired me, and scores of others, to think more critically, treasure bipartisan coalition-building, and continually work through what distinguishes true leadership from simply effective persuasion. Slade's life should serve as a challenge to us all to exercise courage and live a life we can deserve to be proud of.
Alexander Peterson - Gorton Leadership Graduate
To leave your tribute to Slade, please send your memory to gortonlegacy@gmail.com