It was almost inevitable that, when news spread last week of Randy "Duke" Cunningham's death at age 83, people chose to remember him not as a disgraced politician but as a war hero.
Cunningham was the first U.S. Navy air ace in Vietnam — a fearless fighter pilot who shot down five enemy planes. He even braved heavy fire to rescue his wingman, an act described in his second Silver Star citation as showing "complete disregard for his personal safety."
But that was not all for which Cunningham would be recalled. He became one of the most corrupt members of Congress in history, blatantly selling his votes and influence for money (as well as a rent-free yacht and a Rolls Royce) while on the powerful House Appropriations Committee.
Forced to resign from Congress in 2005, the Golden State lawmaker served eight and a half years of what was then the longest prison sentence for any member of Congress convicted of a crime, and was fined $1.8 million and an additional $1.85 million to repay bribes he was convicted of taking.
Former Rep. Cliff Stearns, R-Fla., a close friend of Cunningham's in Congress, chose to remember the good about him.
"I always admired his courage and patriotism," he told Newsmax. "As a fellow congressman, I also had the opportunity to visit with him in the Republican cloakroom, where he talked about his naval encounters, dangers and ultimate successes. He represented the best of our American military heroes."
However, more remembered him in the manner of Jon Fleischman, editor of the much-read Flash Report on California politics.
"Military service, no matter how exemplary, does not mean that these heroes are not capable of doing bad things," he said. "I was one of many who rallied to the Duke in his campaigns and was so excited to support someone of his achievements. And like many of us who were there for him, we were so disappointed in his fall from grace. He took money in exchange for his votes, and it was a blow to all of us who backed him. I was never able to forgive him."
In 1990, Cunningham, then a frequent CNN commentator on defense issues, made a seemingly quixotic run for Congress in a historically Democratic San Diego-area district. Facing Democrat Rep. Jim Bates, Cunningham spoke at VFW meetings, Kiwanis, and Rotary Clubs, and just about any place that would have him.
"And we have these kids who go door-to-door all weekends just for a pizza with me later," he told me, "Those kids and their enthusiasm are going to win it for me."
They did — with a little help from Bates himself. Several former staffers told the press that Bates sexually harassed them. This led to him denouncing them as disgruntled ex-employees and thus the story was amplified. In a contest that took until the next day to declare, Cunningham unseated Bates by less than 1%.
The former aviator was by far the best-known freshman Republicans elected to the House in 1990. Many believed the story — encouraged by Cunningham and his supporters — that the character of Pete "Maverick" Mitchell, played by Tom Cruise in "Top Gun," was based on him. (Mitchell was actually based on a combination of air aces and the inspiration of Cunningham for the character is questionable.)
In part because the Californian was one of only two aces in Vietnam, incoming House Speaker Newt Gingrich insisted Cunningham go on the powerful House Appropriations Committee after Republicans captured the House in 1994.
Rep. Bob Livingston, R-La., set to chair the committee, had no problems with Cunningham on Appropriations but also felt that since the Californian was only in his third term, a more senior Republican should get on its Defense Subcommittee. But Duke was a star and someone who could raise money for the party, Gingrich felt, so he went on Appropriations and its Defense Subcommittee.
It is here, most Duke-watchers agree, the onetime war hero began to go downhill. He sold his house in Del Mar to defense lobbyist Mitchell Wade for a whopping $1,675,000, whereupon Wade eventually sold it for $975,000.
Then the congressman bought a $2.5 million home in tony Rancho Santa Fe. Cunningham also began driving a Rolls Royce and living rent-free in Washington on a yacht he christened "The Duke-Stir" — and which was owned by Wade.
The San Diego Union-Tribune broke the story of the sale of Cunningham's home and soon it uncovered much more. The congressman had a list — later known as the notorious "bribe menu" — in which he listed in one column the millions for different government contracts, and in another, the bribe money he demanded to secure them.
As a major case was mounting against Cunningham in 2005, he announced he was retiring from office and he later resigned outright. Following a plea bargain that resulted in his record-high prison sentence and penalties, a tearful Cunningham told reporters outside the courthouse, "I cannot undo what I have done, but I can atone."
George Condon, Washington bureau chief for the San Diego Union-Tribune and Copley News Service, recalled to Newsmax how "the U.S. Marshals told us that moments after saying he would spend the rest of his life atoning, he was telling them he was railroaded by the plea bargain."
Cunningham served out his sentence and then settled in obscurity in Arkansas. As his courtroom saga concluded, his wife divorced him and he became estranged from his two daughters. Many former friends abandoned him. One notable exception was former Rep. Duncan Hunter, a fellow Republican from San Diego and also a Vietnam veteran, who stood with Cunningham at his sentencing and visited him a week before his death.
"Duke Cunningham's life was heroic and tragic," observed California's Republican National Committeeman Shawn Steel. "He was a great Vietnam Ace fighter jet warrior, and a self-sacrificing patriot. But politics was a bad profession for him. Sadly, we've seen it happen too many times."
John Gizzi is chief political columnist and White House correspondent for Newsmax. For more of his reports, Go Here Now.
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