WASHINGTON — Recently my favorite former Democrat elected official passed away – my not-so-secret friend, Senator Joe Lieberman. We were colleagues from the Connecticut delegation in Congress in the 1990s, but our friendship superseded that period.

Just last May, I reached out by phone to Joe. As I grew accustomed to saying, I greeted my friend as “Mr. Vice President.” As I expected, I got back a chuckle of a laugh. He acknowledged my recognition with a quick “you and I both wish.”

I told him that I had proudly voted for him, despite the other guy on the ticket (Al Gore). That too brought a chuckle of a laugh.

I did so because I knew that America would have been far better served had he become vice president. It was not to be. Florida, by a 500+ vote margin, denied him that honor and distinction. But one election does not tell the complete story about a man. His contributions to America only grew.

However, in jest, I occasionally poked Joe about losing a race for a congressional seat that a Democrat had lost only once in about half a century – Lieberman was that one Democrat who lost at least partially due to the Ronald Reagan landslide in 1980.

Obviously, God had much better and bigger plans for my friend.

Though our paths crossed in Connecticut politics frequently, we never criticized each other or had harsh words to say about each other.

To the contrary, I heard and stole many of his one-liners and jokes he used at numerous “rubber chicken dinner” events we mutually attended (but never on the Sabbath). My favorite that I still occasionally tell on college campuses or when addressing a political crowd is this classic:

There were two men at a large graveyard in an undisclosed city in Connecticut. They were taking down names from the tombstones in the wee hours of the night. After each had filled a notebook pad with names, one man said to his partner (let’s call him Bob) as daylight was breaking, “It is time to go Bob.” The lead man (let’s call him John) got impatient with Bob, and once again said, “Bob, we got to go. Daybreak is coming!” And insistent John walked over to Bob and pulled his coat collar as Bob continued to write yet another name on his notebook pad.

Bob looked up at John as he continued to write the name from the tombstone. While looking up at John he said, “Not so fast, let me finish. After all, this guy has the same right to vote as the rest of them.”

It would always be met with loud laughter and applause. It was common knowledge that at least in this city dead people could vote. Note: Without regularly updating voter rolls and without proper identification being given at the polls, anyone (as long as they are the same gender) could take the place of the dead person.

The reason for my call last year to Joe was to seek his advice and help on yet another political project. I had written columns about the need to adopt a constitutional amendment on age-limits for federal government workers, including the president, all federal elected officials, government staff and even Supreme Court justices. The magic age for mandatory retirement is 80.

Joe was busy seeking momentum for his No Label Party initiative. But after our phone conversation, he said he would give my idea some thought and get back to me.

During my tenure in Congress, Lieberman and I worked on several pieces of legislation that would become law. I was often his “go-to Republican” in the House, and he was my “go-to Democrat” in the Senate, as bills would need to pass both chambers in order to become law.

Connecticut’s first and only national park – Weir Farm – and components of the 1994 Crime Bill are examples. We did not make any of our efforts together public. We were just doing our jobs. He was my friend.

In fact, on my first day as a congressman several hundred people were at my post-swearing-in-ceremony party. The room became silent when we had a surprise guest who strolled in with his lovely wife (Hadassah) for my event, which was meant to praise and honor me, a Black Republican. It was Senator Lieberman.

He actually surprised me as well. But as I said – he was a friend. He did not care about the fact that I was a Republican.

From time to time, I would ask his advice. So, what I did last May was second nature for me. And this is what Joe had to say:

Dear Gary,

I have read your column and thought about your idea for the constitutional amendment establishing an age limit for the presidency.

I think it is a good idea that is worth pursuing if you are willing to take on all the organizational and financial work that will be required. It would be great if you can find an existing organization that will take up your cause and finance it with you as leader.

As for me, I am already over-committed with a lot of good causes and professional activities. So, on this one, I am going to stand back and wish you well.

Best,

Joe

I was honored that he liked the idea. As always, he gave me sound advice. But this time my friend was not going to be able to do more. And I understood.

My prayers go out to the Lieberman family. Thank you for sharing Joe with us all. We were blessed as a nation to have been able to draw upon his talents.

Rest in peace Joe. You will remain my favorite Democrat and Connecticut statesman.