That is how one of my Republican friends described the public service of the late Congressman Dante Fascell (D., South Miami). I could not agree more. The Congressman and I shared geographic districts, because my 3 multi-member Senate district almost completely overlapped his congressional district, so I got to know him very well. Dante was a Miami guy all the way–high school, the Jaycees, the University of Miami School of Law, the State Legislature and finally one of the longest terms in the U.S. House of Representatives, culminating withthe prestigious Chairmanship of the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee. I have previously mentioned in this Blog as well as in my book, The Golden Years…The Florida Legislature, ’70′s and ’80′s his popularity in his district, but as my Republican friend confirmed, Congressman Fascell was recognized and respected throughout the countryas a truly great American.
