One of the most hated and most loved figures of the Reagan administration. Ironically, he was hated much more by the conservatives than by the liberals because, even though he personally held to very conservative values, he refused to let them guide his decisions where public health was concerned. BTW, I knew he had lost a son in a mountain-climbing accident because there is a chalet (called "the Koop chalet") in a small ski-station in the French Alps where I have skied a few times that was financed by Dr. Koop in memory of his son. In the main hall, it has a huge picture of his son standing on a mountain top. A very unusual mix of extremely conservative ethical values -- absolutely anathema to liberals -- and quite liberal public policies -- absolutely anathema to conservatives -- because he refused to try to use his office to impose his personal values on everyone. I just wish all conservative Christians would take that same approach.
Koop was indeed someone special. He passionately made his anti-abortion case, but he was not afraid to face facts and as Async mentioned he was more interested in improving public health than using his position to advance his personal agenda. A man worthy of respect, whom I think came to be widely respected.
Agreed. I also wish that non-Christian liberals would take that approach. Perhaps there would be less vitriol and more discussion on issues leading to a way to help all.
Johnny Carson IIRC once remarked that with the beard and uniform Koop looked liked the "Captain of an Amish battleship". It seems that Koop was that kind of man which is increasingly rare in public service today. A good man trying to do the right things for the right reasons. RIP.
So his appointment was challenged by the left because of his religious beliefs. How sad and pathetic. Also how ironic when you consider that if they had gotten their way, we might have had a surgeon general that cow towed to the special interests and fudged data to meet ideology. May he rest in peace.
Pretty much my thoughts. On top of it he was a good politician and understood what politics were all about. I don't mean the scum sucking congressman / mayor type. I mean the classic type that knew how to approach people, get a message across, and then shape public opinion for, IMO, the better. He also elevated the office to a new level that no one has been able to duplicate. Finally he had one hell of a kick ass beard. That thing was awesome. While Donald Trump's toupe looks like a joke, Koop's beard would kick Chuch Norris' ass. Contrast him with Jocyeln Elders who tried to use the office to the same effect. She got booted and vilified due to the lack of those political and communication skills So though she was right on the issue that got her canned, she just presented it poorly. She used the scum sucking side of politics when making her statements. Was Koop good because Reagan was smart enough to know that he should stay out of Koop's way or was he in agreement enough with Koop? I think that Elders on the other hand was too busy toeing the party line. Look at our current Surgeon General. Did you even know that we have one? The current SG is Regina Benjamin. She should have a much more elevated role in public health discussions. Instead you have Michelle Obama and other administration officials who are speaking out on health matters. That isn't necessarily a slam on the Obama administration. It's a slam on all of the politicians, The Shrub included, who don't make use of what I feel is a great asset.
Reminds me of the way Nixon would make foreign policy decisions without his Secretary of State. What's the point of having these positions if you're not going to use that person's expertise to your advantage?
Koop was like Reagan in some respects. A fundamentally good man with firm convictions and the ability to work with people.
I wish everyone would take that approach, especially in politics. Hold fast to what you believe, if you truly believe it, but be willing to accommodate the other guy's point of view. No one wins if we just yell past one another.
The problem is that just about everyone, on every side of the political divide, is either interested only in what they can get for themselves (or their constituents, because if their constituents get the biggest piece of the pie, they will vote for him again--which brings us back to self-interest), or in trying to make the whole country over according to their own values. It takes a very special man to say: "I have my ideals, but I have to represent the ideals of all Americans, not just those who agree with me." I can't think of very many who have done that. But C. Everett Koop was one of the few. Nevertheless, look at what it got him: The very conservatives, with whom he lined up the most clearly as far as his personal values, were calling on Reagan every day to fire him because he had "betrayed" their agenda of trying to force those values on everyone. A shame, really.
Which is why we're in the position we are today. Look at our Congress; Neither side wants to budge an inch, and it's not about principle, it's about "winning". They want to look like they're effective, without actually being effective, because being effective means putting your money where your mouth is, and we can link that one up to modern fundamentalist Christianity, too. There's more profit had in shoring up bank accounts with words against their neighbor than there is in actually following the commandments Jesus laid out for them and loving their neighbor. They want to look pious and holy without actually having to move a hand in making that faith work for everyone.
