A Nice Guy In A Nasty Fight

A man of courtliness and character, Henry Hyde must above all show that the Republicans are fair

Portrait unveilings tend to be dramatic, brass-band ceremonies held to mark the end of great political careers. So it was a bit odd that a 5-ft.-tall oil painting of Henry Hyde was unveiled two weeks ago in a ceremony off limits to the press--and just as Hyde was facing the defining test of his 40 years in politics. More than 200 people--friends, family and constituents--applauded the presentation of the image: the hulking House Judiciary Committee chairman standing between his "Turkish" leather chair and a bust of Lincoln. The likeness hangs in the committee hearing room next to a portrait of Watergate...

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