Word: babbittism
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After returning home to Arizona in 1967, Babbitt practiced law in Phoenix. A former colleague, Anne Bingaman, recalls that "in a firm of young workaholics, Bruce stood out as the one who never ate lunch and came in on Sundays." Babbitt donated many hours to pro bono cases, but was little involved in politics. Then another epiphany. While representing the Navajo tribe in a voting-rights case against the state, Babbitt realized, "My God, the attorney general has the largest law firm in Arizona, and it's devoted to the defense of racial discrimination. What it ought...
They were also Catholic, which in that place and time meant they were not only inclined but well advised to share their bounty with those less fortunate and to wield their power with discretion. A boyhood chum, Bruce Leadbetter, says one reason Bruce Babbitt is uncomfortable addressing crowds is that "his family always emphasized leading quietly, influencing people, not jumping up on a box and talking down to them...
...Babbitt studied geology at Notre Dame and as a Marshall scholar in England. On a field trip to Bolivia, however, he got his first look at Third World poverty and experienced an epiphany. "I was doing fascinating research, but meanwhile we were surrounded by this incredible squalor," Babbitt says. Suddenly rocks seemed unimportant...
...Babbitt succeeded to the Governor's office through a fluke: the elected Governor stepped down, his replacement died, and the attorney general was left next in line. Babbitt then won election to two terms in his own right, proving himself a popular and shrewd executive in a deeply conservative state. He balanced his budgets, refused to throw money at problems and avoided fights he couldn't win. He pressed the legislature to improve health care for the poor, while holding taxes down and deregulating business. Says House Majority Whip Jane Hull, a conservative Republican and frequent Babbitt opponent, "I guess...
Unlike such antipoliticians as Jimmy Carter, Babbitt learned and relished the levers of power, including the veto, the initiative, patronage and press leaks. Republicans controlled the Arizona legislature, but it was not veto proof, and Babbitt would threaten to sink the pet bills of legislators if they didn't accept his program. He made good on such threats a record 114 times...