class of 1974 - one of the most influential congressional classes in recent

[freepcrusher]

memory?

I'm beginning to think that the class of 1974 was very influential on how the modern democratic party is. It seems that for the twenty years between then and 1994, the house ran things in a new way after Phillip Burton orchestrated a dethronement of three committee chairmen. The class also seemed to have a lot of talented pols like Tom Downey or Phillip Sharp who held GOP leaning seats but managed to hold on despite that. In my 82 almanac, I found that at least half of the class of 74 was still in office by then. The democrats during that time period often found clever ways to shield themselves from attacks from the right. Barone often calls this "the house that phillip burton built"

Here are some big names I can think of from the class:

U.S. House:
Chris Dodd
Max Baucus
Chuck Grassley
Tom Harkin
George Miller
Henry Waxman
John LaFalce
Stephen Neal
Bill Hefner
Henry Hyde
Larry Pressler
Butler Derrick
Jim Oberstar

U.S. Senate
Patrick Leahy
John Glenn
Dale Bumpers
Gary Hart

Governor:
Ella Grasso
Hugh Carey
David Boren

State Legislature:
Sherrod Brown
Chuck Schumer

[Mr.Phips]

The amazing thing about this class is that many of these Democrats came from incredibly Republican districts and managed to survive two Republican years(1978 and 1980).  Tom Downey, Jim Edgar, Bob Carr, Don Matta, Norman DeAmours, Phil Sharp, and Floyd Fithian all came from districts that were at least R+5.  Too bad the Dem class of 2006 was not half as smart. 

[freepcrusher]

The amazing thing about this class is that many of these Democrats came from incredibly Republican districts and managed to survive two Republican years(1978 and 1980).  Tom Downey, Jim Edgar, Bob Carr, Don Matta, Norman DeAmours, Phil Sharp, and Floyd Fithian all came from districts that were at least R+5.  Too bad the Dem class of 2006 was not half as smart. 

Carr actually lost in 80 but regained his seat in 82. I don't know who you mean by Matta. Do you mean Ron Mottl from suburban Cleveland?

[hopper]

I didn't even know Grassley, Harkin, or Larry Pressler were ever US House Members. Grassley and Harkin are an odd two-their political careers in Washington D.C. one just follows the other from the House to the Senate. I didn't know Miller, or Waxman were even serving in the US House back then. Sherrod Brown is that old. He doesn't look it.

[Mr.Phips]

The amazing thing about this class is that many of these Democrats came from incredibly Republican districts and managed to survive two Republican years(1978 and 1980).  Tom Downey, Jim Edgar, Bob Carr, Don Matta, Norman DeAmours, Phil Sharp, and Floyd Fithian all came from districts that were at least R+5.  Too bad the Dem class of 2006 was not half as smart. 

Carr actually lost in 80 but regained his seat in 82. I don't know who you mean by Matta. Do you mean Ron Mottl from suburban Cleveland?

Yes, Ron Mottl.  His district went for Ford in 1976 by 13 points. 

[Vazdul (Formerly Chairman of the Communist Party of Ontario)]

Sherrod Brown is that old. He doesn't look it.

He's only 59. He was 22 when he was first elected to the state legislature in 1974. Apparently one of his colleagues mistook him for a page.

[hopper]

Sherrod Brown is that old. He doesn't look it.

He's only 59. He was 22 when he was first elected to the state legislature in 1974. Apparently one of his colleagues mistook him for a page.

He look's early 50's to me.