AP: Treen revered as having class and character

• By MELINDA DESLATTE
• Associated Press writer
• Published: Nov 2, 2009

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Just defeated for a second term by Edwin Edwards in 1983, then-Gov. Dave Treen didn’t hang up his hat and leave the massive budget problems behind. Soon to be out of office, Treen sat side-by-side with Edwards in a legislative hearing, the pair pushing a proposal to plug the shortfall.

Decades later, it was Treen who pushed for a commutation of Edwards’ federal prison sentence on corruption charges.

It was Treen showing sympathy for the man who worked to undermine Treen’s term as governor, who mocked Treen as slow and who made him the butt of jokes.

The efforts to win Edwards’ early release failed, but they spoke volumes about Treen, the 81-year-old Republican former governor who died Thursday.

“That’s classic Dave Treen. Classic Dave Treen doesn’t hold grudges and just looks at the human side of every angle of every individual,” former Gov. Kathleen Blanco said.

In the hours after Treen’s death, the remembrances came back to the same words: Kind. Humble. Gracious. Honest.

A gentleman.

Stories recounted over the years by both Democrats and Republicans about the former congressman and governor regularly have returned to the same themes.

No mean words were spoken. Instead, people have talked of a man with little flash and little need for pomp, a man with a good heart, personal grace and no animosity for political foes. He was a classy guy.

“I admire this man and regret his passing, and I think I join a lot of Louisianians who are so glad that Dave lived in our state and gave so much to this state. He will be missed,” former Gov. Buddy Roemer said.

Today’s elected officials could take a lesson or two from Treen about how to survive politics with your dignity intact and without spite for those people you defeated or who defeated you.

Treen died early Thursday of complications from a respiratory illness, according to his son David C. Treen Jr. A memorial service to honor the former governor is planned at the state Capitol on Monday.

Arguments can be made about Treen’s successes or failures as governor and in politics, his accomplishments and woes. But no one argues about his character or his intentions, and that’s a rare achievement in the grudge-filled world of politics and in a state with the messy, backroom-dealing history of Louisiana.