Clinton, Democrats pay tribute to former party chairman

DES MOINES – Former president Bill Clinton and a slate of high-profile Democrats remembered Iowa Democratic Party luminary Ed Campbell at his funeral in Des Moines Monday.

Campbell served as chairman of the Iowa Democratic Party from 1977 to 1982 and is the husband of Bonnie Campbell, Iowa's former attorney general.

He died Thursday at the age of 75 after a prolonged illness.

Campbell's funeral at a Catholic Church on the south side of Des Moines drew the state's top Democrats, as well as the former president

Bill Clinton on Monday paid Ed Campbell perhaps one of the greatest compliments for someone in politics, labeling him a political genius who saw something noble in what he did.

“What joy it gave him to promote Bonnie's career and others because he believed that we would make decisions that would affect people's lives, that would empower them and protect them and serve them,” Clinton said.

Clinton's tribute was not without humor. He joked to the church's monsignor, who had used Abraham Lincoln to illustrate a lesson in faith, that Campbell would forgive him for mentioning Lincoln.

“He knows in his heart of hearts that if Lincoln were alive today, he'd be a Democrat,” Clinton said to an eruption of laughter and applause.

Friends and colleagues described Campbell as someone who had a gruff exterior but was soft on the inside.

“I know Ed Campbell had a gentle, good, kind side but he was brilliant at hiding it,” Clinton said, evoking laughter.

Earlier in his political career, Campbell served as an assistant to former Iowa governor Harold Hughes and went on to join Hughes' staff when Hughes was elected to the U.S. Senate.

Campbell also managed John Culver's successful campaign for the U.S. Senate and managed his Iowa offices.

Ned Chiodo, who memorialized Campbell, remembered a kindhearted man with a special fondness for single moms, children and the disadvantaged.

Chiodo described the group in attendance as the political history of Iowa during Campbell's lifetime, all of whom had stories about Campbell.

“I want to assure you, Edward had a story about every one of you,” Chiodo told the crowd, drawing chuckles. “And I took copious notes.”

Iowa First Lady Mari Culver said the quality that made Campbell unique was his loyalty.

“For Edward, loyalty to persons and principles were unshakable, and pity the person who failed to understand that about Edward,” Culver said.