“God rejects the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” ~ James
4:6
During 1977’s Christmas holiday,
Sen. Hubert Humphrey returned home to his home northwest of Minneapolis. He’d just completed a brief trip to the
nation's capital to personally deliver farewells to the men and women with whom
he’d served for almost 30 years as U.S. Senator, then Vice President under
Lyndon Johnson.
His remarkable political had come to an end. Emaciated by cancer, Humphrey was dying; the
press already forming a death watch nearby over Minnesota's most famous
political son.
His legendary energy now receding like an ebb current, Humphrey
began calling old friends and colleagues around the world to offer season's
greetings. Everyone knew these were his final
goodbyes.
On Christmas Eve, he reached his old adversary, Richard
Nixon - the man who in 1968 had given Humphrey his most bitter defeat. He learned that the Nixon’s were both ill,
depressed and alone for the holidays in California.
With only days to live, he told the former president of the
events that would follow his death: his lying-in-state in the nation’s Capital and
his funeral and burial in Minnesota.
Humphrey invited Nixon to attend the ceremony that would
conclude his lying-in-state. He wanted
him to be received at that ceremony with the full honor due to a former
President.
Nixon, had resigned from the presidency in disgrace only
three years before. The scars of Watergate
were still fresh. Liberals, moderates
and conservatives alike viewed Nixon as deserving the humiliation that made him
unwelcome in Washington.
Sensing Nixon's exile and deep depression, Humphrey
fashioned a credible excuse enabling his old rival to return to Washington. He advised those in charge of Presidential
ceremonies that Nixon was there at his personal request and should be treated
respectfully and with dignity.
Hubert Humphrey died on Friday, Jan. 13, 1978 at his home on
Lake Waverly. President Carter immediately
dispatched Air Force One to return Humphrey's body to the Capital.
On Sunday morning, with President Carter, former President
Ford, Vice President Mondale and many of the nation's political leaders in
attendance, a concluding ceremony was held in the Capitol Rotunda. To the surprise of most and the gasps of
many, former President Nixon was escorted, as promised, to the place of honor
near the flag-draped casket. Nixon could
feel the ostracism ladled at him.
President Carter, known for his humility and integrity, noticed
Nixon standing alone. He walked
toward Nixon, extended his hand, and smiling, said, “Welcome home,
Mr. President! Welcome home!”
Hubert Humphrey's gift that winter to Richard Nixon had been
delivered with compassion and love. Nixon
had done nothing to deserve it. It was an
act of pure grace on Humphrey’s part.
God’s blessings speak exactly the same way - never a reward
for good behavior but of pure, unadulterated grace.
Dear God, who gives grace to the meek: grant
us the virtue of true humility, that we may never by our pride provoke Your
anger, but rather by our gentleness receive the riches of Your grace. Amen
