33 / 36
V
irginia
C
apitol
C
onnections
, W
inter
2015
33
When former U.S. Representative
Herbert E. Harris II (D-8th), was elected
in the post-Watergate tide of 1975, he
was different kind of congressman from
Virginia.
Like his colleague Joe Fisher from
Arlington, Herb Harris defeated an
incumbent Republican in a wave election.
He had also risen to political prominence,
not the General Assembly, but through his
leadership in area civic associations and
the PTA, working with fellow citizens to
build the schools and infrastructure needed to accommodate the
area’s explosive growth.
Herb entered local government as Mt. Vernon district supervisor
in Fairfax County in 1968, part of a civic reform campaign that was
fueled, in part, by the indictment of several members of the prior
county Board of Supervisors on corruption charges.
Northern Virginia politics was new and different in Herb’s early
campaigns, and was a source of great mystery to downstate reporters,
voters and candidates. Herb’s Mt. Vernon neighbor, Charley
McDowell, described it to readers of the Times-Dispatch as a land of
“come-heres”, where politics was run not by traditional office holders
and political bosses but by ladies (and men) in tennis shoes.
Herb and his supporters were impatient and in a hurry. (They
still are.) In Herb’s political world, you didn’t wait to get “the
nod” or be anointed or invited to enter politics. You seized the
opportunity and drew people to you who shared a vision for the kind
of community you could become. As Herb’s grandson reminded us
in a moving eulogy recently, Herb believed you shared your story
with others and worked for them and with them until they made it
their story, too.
In Congress from 1975-1981, Herb Harris increased funding for
Metro, expanded the Manassas National Battlefield Park, worked
for the immigration of Soviet Jews, stopped efforts to impose a
DC “commuter” tax on Virginians, fought for Federal workers and
created the Quantico National Veterans Cemetery (where he was
buried on January 5).
But more importantly, he made his community and his friends
believe that, working together, they could make things better. In
his personal office in the Longworth Building, Herb always kept
a small Miro print of Don Quixote, reminding him—and us—that
decency and honor can change the world.
His Jesuit education and strong Catholic faith informed
everything Herb Harris did in politics, and in life. After service as
a Navy officer in World War II, Herb came to Washington to study
law at Georgetown. There his post-war classmates included John
Dingell (who retired Congress in January as its longest serving
member), Father Bob Drinan (who served with Herb on the House
Judiciary Committee), and his friend and fellowMt.Vernon resident,
former State Senator Joseph V. Gartlan.
After law school, Herb and his wife Nancy made their home in an
apartment in Prince George’s County, Maryland. One Sunday, they
saw an ad for new homes in theWashington Port, and ventured across
the Wilson Bridge to
check out a new neigh-
borhood in southern
Fairfax County.
I’ve often thought
that if the Harrises had
bought their first house
on the other side of the
river, Herb would have
been U.S. senator from
Maryland. But Virginia
would be poorer for
the experience.
Charlie Nance is a
Richmond lawyer
and a former elected
member of the
Richmond Public
School Board. He
was a legislative
assistant to
Congressman Harris
from 1975-1979,
leaving periodically
to work on political
campaigns.
What was most impressive about Bill’s leadership skills was
how he so effortlessly bridged the partisan divide. A conservative
in disposition and values, Bill worked equally well with Democrats
and Republicans, even at times when partisan spirits were rampant.
It could be said that Bill was one of those rare people who knew how
to “cross the aisle.” But the truth was that Bill didn’t see the aisle. He
only saw the kids and the future that they could have.
As impressive as Bill Bosher’s accomplishments as a teacher and a
leader were, there was yet another quality that set him aside and made
him one of the extraordinary individuals that we had ever met. Bill had
the unique ability to touch the lives of everyone with whom he came
into contact in a memorable way. We remember the support and hugs he
gave us at a difficult time; how he diffused an intense conflict with his
self-deprecating humor; and how he provided the encouragement that
someone needed to achieve a goal that they were unsure they could reach.
He was truly a magnificent man. We were all graced to have been
lifted up by him.
Our prayers and thoughts are with his wife JoAnne, his family,
and his seven wonderful granddaughters.
Robert D. Holsworth, Ph. D. Chairman,
GRASP Board of Directors Managing Principal, DecideSmart.
Former
Member of
Congress
Herb Harris
By Charlie Nance
NANCE
V
2
0
1
5
Available at http://www.dbava.com/publications/
V