In a life spanning nearly a century, Senator Mike Mansfield left enduring marks on our state, the nation, and the world. Rising from a hardscrabble childhood and the depths of Butte’s mines, Mansfield became our nation’s longest-serving Senate Majority Leader and later our longest-serving Ambassador to Japan under presidents of both political parties. Mansfield offered an example of statesmanship and ethical leadership in tumultuous times including the Vietnam War, Watergate, and passage of the Civil and Voting Rights Acts. Throughout his distinguished years of public service, he was venerated by national and world leaders for his wisdom, courage, integrity and leadership.

Mike Mansfield’s legacy of integrity and bipartisanship points us toward fidelity to our fellow citizens, fidelity to a shared set of values, and fidelity to the law and the Constitution. The faithfulness required in this moment is not simply to the actual words of the Constitution, but to its spirit as well. A spirit recognized and requited by humility, respect for others honor, decency, integrity, and self-discipline – the Mansfield Way.