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Former Governor Hearnes praised during state funeral

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State funeral services for former Gov. Warren Hearnes have concluded at the Capitol, with Gov. Nixon praising Hearnes as a governor who provided a steady hand during the stormy times of the 1960s. Hearnes served as Missouri governor from 1965 to 1973. He was the first to serve consecutive terms as governor after the state constitution was changed to allow it.

flaghearnes.jpg Nixon stated that it was his honor to help commemorate the life and leadership of Missouri’s 46th governor. Nixon noted that Hearnes accomplished much during his time as governor, but also in her personal life, such as marrying his childhood sweetheart Betty. The two were married more than 60 years.

Nixon stated that though many years have passed since Hearnes served as governor, his legacy of compassion, action and enlightened leadership continues and endures.

The casket was closed, covered by a state flag Hearnes took with him to Charleston. He had told his wife, Betty, that he wanted that flag to drape over his coffin.

The state funeral attracted former Governors Blunt, Holden, Wilson and Ashcroft. Former Senator Jean Carnahan represented her late husband, Mel Carnahan.

Hearnes was a member of the Missouri House, where he became the Majority Floor Leader. He was elected Secretary of State prior to winning election as governor. His public service spanned almost 70 years.

After the service, the hearse carrying the former governor circled to the north side of the Capitol for military honors, including a 19-gun salute and helicopter flyover. Hearnes will be returned to Charleston, in southeast Missouri, for a visitation tomorrow evening at the First Baptist Church. His funeral will be held Friday morning at the church.

State funerals at the Capitol are rare. The first was held in April, 1918 for former Governor William Joel Stone who was governor 1893-97 and died while serving his third term in the U. S. Senate. The most recent was for Governor Mel Carnahan, held outdoors in October, 2000.

Download/listen Gov. Nixon eulogizes former Gov. Hearnes (12:30 MP3)

Highway Named in Honor of Late Governor

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A five-mile stretch of Interstate 44 often traveled by the Carnahan family has been named the Mel Carnahan Memorial Highway in honor of the late Governor. Carnahan’s widow, Jean – a former U.S. Senator – says she remembers many trips in the family station wagon loaded with four kids and a dog along that road. She says building roads were the Governor’s second priority, right behind building schools. It’s been almost six years since Governor Carnahan was killed in a plane crash while campaigning for the United States Senate.

Former U.S. Senator Fired Up! Over Her Current Political Role

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U.S. Senator Jean Carnahan has been way from Capitol Hill in Washington for more than three years, but she’s still very much involved in politics. Carnahan now writes for the Fired Up! Missouri blog, promoting a progressive agenda. Carnahan somehow knew she would remain involved in the political arena, but wasn’t sure what she would be doing. And, what she’s doing now might not be the end of it. Carnahan, who was appointed to the Senate when her husband – the late Governor Mel Carnahan – was elected posthumously in November of 2000, was defeated when she ran against Senator Talent in 2002. She authored a book about her experiences, “Don’t Let The Fire Go Out!” She says there might be another book in her future. Carnahan is the mother of Missouri Secretary of State Robin Carnahan and St. Louis area Congressman Russ Carnahan.

Related web sites:
Fired Up! Missouri

Former Senator Carnahan Receives Pacemaker

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Former Senator Jean Carnahan has gotten a pacemaker. She expects to leave a St. Louis hospital today. The family has not said what prompted the procedure. She went into the hospital during the weekend and received the pacemaker yesterday morning. A family statement says the procedure went well. Carnahan is 71. She spends most of her time living in Clayton.

Former Senator Carnahan Undecided About Run For DNC Leadership Post

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A spokesman for former U.S. Senator Jean Carnahan says she’s on the fence about running for the chairmanship of the Democratic National Committee. A political Internet publication in Washington says her name as come up afer Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack decided he did not want the job. Carnahan spokesman Roy Temple says she has not decided to run, but she has not said she will not run.

Former First Lady Visits St. Louis As Part Of Book Tour

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She’s a U.S. Senator from New York, a former First Lady and now a best-selling author. Hillary Rodham Clinton brought her book tour to St. Louis Monday, signing more than 1,000 copes of her memoir “Living History” at Left Bank Books. Clinton flew in from Atlanta for the nearly three hour book-signing in St. Louis, then boarded a plane for Minneapolis. Clinton didn’t just sign books. She did some politicking as well. Clinton met with State Treasurer Nancy Farmer, the Democrat who will challenge Senator Christopher Bond next year. She also met with former Senator Jean Carnahan and her daughter, Robin Carnahan, who is a Democratic candidate for Secreatry of State. St. Louis Congressman Lacy Clay also stopped by to see Clinton.

Missouri Democrats Shake Up Leadership

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The Missouri Democrats’ poor showing in the November elections has resulted in a shake-up at the top of the party. Executive Director Mike Kelley has announced he’s stepping down from the post he has held since June of last year. Kelley says the election results have little to do with his decision to leave. But he does acknowledge changes must be made. He plans to remain with the Missouri Democratic Party as a spokesman. November’s voting saw the Republicans improve on their majority in the State Senate and capture the House for the first time in 48 years. In addition, Republican Jim Talent won election to the U.S. Senate over incumbent Democrat Jean Carnahan.

US Senate Race Breaks Spending Records

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Both of the major candidates for the United States Senate had money left in their campaign accounts when the election was held last month, a total of about $50,000. But what they spent was the real story. Democrat incumbent Jean Carnahan and her successful Republican challenger Jim Talent spent more than $20-Million on the campaign, a record amount spent in a statewide campaign in Missouri. Talent won the race even though he spent less, about $8-Million, 650-Thousand. Carnahan spent about $12-Million, 300-Thousand. The campaign finance reports filed by the candidates do not count what independent, special interest groups spent, including what the two political parties spent on the campaign. The Center for Responsive Politics says only one Senate campaign cost more this year: the Dole-Bowles race in North Carolina.

Former Senator Carnahan Slowly Settling Into New Life

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It’s decompression time for Jean Carnahan after two active, stressful years. She’s in St. Louis, close to the children and grandchildren, now an ex-United States Senator, not sure yet what’s next in her life, but sure she’s going to be active. Jean Carnahan says she has no time for bitterness, although she says some of the things said about her in the campaign were flat wrong. But she says she’s proud of what she did in two years in Washington and proud of how she campaigned. Carnahan says she was one of many victims of a Republican tide that swept across the country. She hasn’t looked at any long-range plans. She quotes her husband saying “Never say never in politics.” Carnahan says the family has been involved in public service work for the last three generations, and it’s possible she’ll be involved again. She calls it a family genetic defect.

Talent Takes Administrative Oath As U.S. Senator

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Senator Jim Talent has taken an administrative oath that allows him to set up office, hire a staff, and manage the budget for his U.S. Senate office. The ceremonial swearing-in took place in St. Louis. It’s a procedural step that gives him the authority to do some of the paperwork necessary to make his office fully functional. Talent actually became a U.S. Senator on Saturday, replacing Senator Jean Carnahan, whom he defeated in the November 5th election.