November 29, 2007
Posted: 10:40 AM ET

Hyde died early Thursday morning.

WASHINGTON (CNN) — Former Congressman Henry Hyde, a Republican from Illinois, died early Thursday morning. He was 83.

Hyde's death was confirmed by a spokesman in the office of Republican leader John Boehner.

He had been ill for some time and had open heart surgery in July. In his final years in office, he was wheelchair bound and frail.

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Filed under: Henry Hyde


Ronnie.Irving,Texas   November 29th, 2007 10:10 am ET

Oh how sad! Another old dinosaur from DC has passed on.I hope the flames don't burn your feet!

pat huntington ny   November 29th, 2007 10:11 am ET

I disagreed with this man's positions on almost all social issues. I was disgusted by the cavalier manner in which he prosecuted the Clinton impeachment hearings. I found him to be arrogant. I can't think of a good thing to say about this man who also spearheaded a homophobic anti gay agenda. I hope he's finally learning that his intollerance has cost this country a great deal. Too bad he's probably busy trying to find a cool place among all the flames he now had to dodge.

Anonymous   November 29th, 2007 10:30 am ET

Bill Clinton stumbles on stump for wife.

Lisa Cameron, Marlborough, MA   November 29th, 2007 10:31 am ET

I do not think that it is relevant that Kerr has any affiliation to Senator Hillary Clintons campaign. His question directly affects thousands of americans serving in our armed forces every day. The really hard question here that was not asked is "why are so many women serving in our military being raped by our own soldiers and nothing is being done about it. There has not been one story done on this disturbing situation, and it seems like more of a cover up than anything else.

Scott, Dallas TX   November 29th, 2007 10:34 am ET

YEAHHH!!! Another facist republican we don't have to deal with anymore. Hope he enjoys the warm weather in hell.

Chuck   November 29th, 2007 10:39 am ET

After more than 3 dozen partisan witchhunt investiagations of President Clinton by the Republican House of Representatives that found nothing at all, I won't forget Hyde presiding over the impeachment hearings wearing robes with football stripes at the shoulders. Seini Dai!

Lannie   November 29th, 2007 10:41 am ET

REST IN PEACE,HENRY!
You were a true believer and never distanced your self, from what you
believed in. Although your fellow libs
on the other side of isle, tried to discount you, with lies.
I think all on both sides, believe you
were a true gentlemen!

Tolu, Minneapolis, MN   November 29th, 2007 10:44 am ET

R.I.P., Mr. Hyde

Christian, Fort Mill, SC   November 29th, 2007 10:47 am ET

Truly a great loss.
The man was a statesman if I ever saw one. I had the privelege to meet him in 2000 at a GOP Lincoln-Reagan Day dinner in Lincolnton, NC.
He will be missed.

anon New York, NY   November 29th, 2007 11:00 am ET

I'm a staunch Democrat, but cheering the death of someone is utterly tasteless.

Alice, Seattle, WA   November 29th, 2007 11:10 am ET

News of another death of retirement of a Republican should solicite all the nutjobs to come out with tasteless comments. How "progressive" of them.

cathy, boston,ma   November 29th, 2007 11:15 am ET

Salute to Mr. Hyde. May God bless you.

Brendan H., San Antonio, TX   November 29th, 2007 11:23 am ET

In his efforts to show what a "big man" he was, chairing the Clinton hearings, he cost the taxpayers over $50 million with his antics with continued investigations and threats and other chest-thumping non-sense.

Be proud DuPage County, you put a real louse in the house!

Surrealist, Fort Myers, FL   November 29th, 2007 11:26 am ET

A great man. His legacy of collaboration and compromise has sadly been forgotton by all recent congresses who seem to only know the "party-line" and choose to leave "individual conscience at the door". He had great hair!! Farewell hero and patriot!

Paul, Tampa, FL   November 29th, 2007 11:30 am ET

Chuck, that was the Chief Justice of the United States, William Rehnquist, who was wearing stripes at the Senate trial. Congressman Hyde was the hypocrit who had his own extra marital affair revealed during the Clinton trial.

Brent R. Mt. Sterling, KY   November 29th, 2007 11:41 am ET

Poor Scott in Dallas. I don't think an American who is happy about the death of a fellow American is likely to spend eternity in comfort.
I will remember Rep. Hyde as one of the great conservative voices of our time, a champion of the unborn, and a man who served with dignity and honor. It is a great loss for the state of Illinois and our country.

Cody Harding, Kinsley, KS   November 29th, 2007 11:58 am ET

I may not agree with his Impeachment of Clinton in the 90's, but one thing that is undeniable is that Hyde was a man who would stick to his beliefs, and follow them through like a man. He never acted unless he had researched the information and believed the information was correct. He was level-headed, calm under pressure, and a spectacular statesman.

May you rest well, Senator. You deserve it.

Brad, from the great state of Texas   November 29th, 2007 12:17 pm ET

Way to go Scott… let's see how you feel when someone cheers the death of someone you know! I'm sure the Islamists in Iran are also celebrating this news… by the way, has your visa expired, 'cause we don't want you here anymore!

Chris Montgomery, AL   November 29th, 2007 12:17 pm ET

Normally I don't respond to idiots that live in their parents basement but Scott is a typical looser that has so much hate in his life he has to attack people that are dead. Good going Scott you are prime example of a brain washed lefty. Oh and the Chief Justice Renquist was the one with the strips on his robe Chuck and Bill Clinton did lie.

Huck Norris, Face Kick, CA   November 29th, 2007 12:34 pm ET

Hey, I know! We could shoot his body to Mars!

Because if someone has an opinion that's different from mine, I say they need to be shot into space.

Richard, West Palm Beach, FL   November 29th, 2007 12:43 pm ET

Dignity, honor, gentleman?? This incredible hypocrite loudly criticized Clinton, but, unlike Clinton, Hyde seduced a MARRIED woman while he was married himself. He even had the nerve to take her out to public places. Then, when exposed years later, he disgracefully blamed it on "a youthful indescretion", dishonestly ignoring that he was in his 40's at the time. Those were FACTS, not liberal lies. Some mindless supporters even wanted the FBI to investigate who had TOLD THE TRUTH about him.

Henry Hyde would make a perfect "Poster Child for HYPOCRISY".

Steve. Sterling Virginia   November 29th, 2007 12:50 pm ET

Hyde, just like Newt Gingrich was a complete hypocrite. He led the impeachment against Clinton, knowinig fully well that he himself had an affair in his 40s. Good riddance.

Lilarose, Rogue River, Oregon   November 29th, 2007 1:07 pm ET

My brief post about Henry Hyde's extramarital affair with Cherie Snodgrass was removed from this forum. Yet another post mentions the affair. CNN, why did you remove my post?? It was respectful and is a fair explanation of the hypocracy that was prevalent during the impeachment proceedings of President Clinton.

This post might stay on the website until it is "vetted," so read fast!

Bea, Hoboken, NJ   November 29th, 2007 1:10 pm ET

Didn't like the man, but he does have a family who must be mourning his loss. My condolences to them and may he rest in peace.

Melissa, Dallas, TX   November 29th, 2007 1:11 pm ET

If that's a recent photo of him, he looked pretty good for 83.

Wayne, Greenville TX   November 29th, 2007 1:32 pm ET

My late mother always told me that if you can't say anything nice about a person, you shouldn't say anything at all. Bearing that in mind, here's what I have to say about Henry Hyde's passing:

jimmy,austin,tx   November 29th, 2007 1:33 pm ET

Scott, Dallas TX

You are an embarasement to the GREAT state of TEXAS, dont care about political affiliation, but what a liberal prick you must be. Another reason why I will not vote for a liberal, they will always show you their true colors, like scott just did.

MSSam, Hattiesburg, MS   November 29th, 2007 1:55 pm ET

It's hilarious how some of the very same people cheering the death of this man and hoping he burns in hell are the same ones who showed such great outrage when Huckabee made a wisecrack about sending Hillary to Mars.

This is the sort of brainless partisanship that's destroying America.

Travis Brobst, Sierra Vista, Arizona   November 29th, 2007 3:11 pm ET

I was sad to hear of his passing. I admire anyone who has the courage to stand up for what they believe. I worked in Washington one year and saw him once. He seemed even larger than he did on TV. To all the Alec Baldwin types, how disgusting that you feel the need to glory in the death of someone with whom you disagree.

Mike, Orlando, FL   November 29th, 2007 3:32 pm ET

Some of you are STILL hung up with the "hypocrisy" of the cast of characters in the CLinton scandal. While that's certainly true, none of these other folks lied under oath. Only Clinton was STUPID enough to get himself in that position and then to lie under oath…besides, the dumb b____d should have taken the 5th and spared us the whole ridiculous circus.

Condolences to the Hyde family.

Anonymous   November 29th, 2007 3:56 pm ET

Mike from FL.
Typical republican response. But But Clinton lied under oath. Yes he did, but that has nothing to do with my point of Hyde being a hypocrite. He was what he was. Dying doesn't change that. Your ilk is the same bunch who think that Libby did nothing wrong. He too lied under oath. He lied about the outing of a CIA agent. Clinton lied about a BJ. You tell me which is worse.

Rob, Show Low, AZ   November 29th, 2007 4:24 pm ET

Rest in Peace, Mr. Hyde, although I did not agree with you on many items you pushed, however you were a leader and should be remembered for that. I hope your family finds comfort in the following days.

Mike, Cleveland, OH   November 29th, 2007 6:35 pm ET

As I long time Dem, I deplore the partisan attacks on the recently deceased. Though I was never a fan of Mr. Hyde during the impeachment, I will not call him names. Like some Republicans, we as the Democratic Party should put aside our disagreements when a politician dies. How would you Dems feel if the shoe were on the other foot?

In short, Lead by Example…take the high road

Tony, Enterprise, Alabama   November 29th, 2007 6:57 pm ET

Sincere condolences to the Hyde Family.

While I disagreed with Congressman Hyde on a huge range of issues, he was from the old school. A class act and a true gentleman.

There are too few gentleman politicians left on either side of the aisle.

He will be missed.

Rob A. Eden Prairie, MN   November 29th, 2007 10:51 pm ET

"I may not agree with his Impeachment of Clinton in the 90's, but one thing that is undeniable is that Hyde was a man who would stick to his beliefs, and follow them through like a man. He never acted unless he had researched the information and believed the information was correct."

Righttt. This, about a man who was having an affair while he was impeaching Clinton for having an affair. . I have nothing good to say about Hyde.

Jim M. Gau; Hancock, MI   November 29th, 2007 11:48 pm ET

As a Michiganite formerly of Henry Hyde's area of Illinois, I can say we lost a good man. He was one who would personally make sure you got an answer to problems and questions, and was one of the most ethical folks in Congress. We needed a few more like him a long time ago to serve as an example to those who came after him. Henry, you will be sorely missed.

KenF, arlington-Grand Prairie, Texas   November 30th, 2007 12:47 pm ET

Read these disturbing comments concerning the late Honorable Henry Hyde. Its' a sad day in America when some of our fellow citizens lack commonsense, values and integrity. Those who have voiced the lie, that there was a so called, "witch hunt" concerning the inquiry into former president Clinton and his Monica affair simply ignore the t-r-u-t-h. There was and still is clear EVIDENCE that indicates Mr. Clinton LIED under oath. The irony is the Republican party FAILED to follow through and get the job done; i.e. impeach him from the office. Mr. Hyde and his colleagues, even though they "dropped the ball" are still honorable men. Which, by the way says a lot…when we consider important parts of a man, referred to as CHARACTER. Thanks Mr. Mr. Hyde for your honorable service from a vet and not an "armchair quarterback" shouting insults.

Richard, West Palm Beach, FL   November 30th, 2007 6:45 pm ET

If Henry Hyde had "commonsense, values and integrity" he would not, as a married man, had a FOUR-YEAR affair with a married woman. His verbal attacks on Clinton's affair were the height of hypocrisy since his own affair was even worse.

"Family values" Republicans did not find his affair anything to prevent Bush from awarding him our highest civilian award a few weeks ago. Having an affair did not keep him from being one of THREE Republican senators who were still in office after their hypocrisy was exposed.

As we have seen, Republicans do not consider being GUILTY of two counts of perjury, one count of obstruction of justice, and one count of making false statements to federal agents to be crimes that in total are worth even one MINUTE in prison.

Republicans spent $50 million to prosecute a man for an affair that was less disgraceful than some of their own affairs and for a crime that they don't consider worthy of prison time. The HYPOCRISY is incredible.

mark wilkes barre pa   December 1st, 2007 6:46 am ET

Anon Ney york NY,,,,, Thank you for posting that comment,, When a "worthy apponent" dies the ethical AND moral thing to do is let the rederick towards that human being die with them !!! this man and many others who die while serving our country have families and loved ones. what a twisted set of whats OK to say and whats not values some of the commenters have towards a person who just died

mark wilkes barre pa   December 1st, 2007 6:59 am ET

And for the record you haters,, I did not mean you should have an oppinion on the man I said you should not voice hate rederick when some one You dont know personally dies

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