Lee Atwater Funeral; 1st Hour

Oh. Oh.

But you know for my mind to go on and not

or not whether we die we die. You know there are six hundred sixteen. Reading from the book of Isaiah.

From. The spirit of the Lord God is upon me because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings and to the beat. He had sent me to bind up the broken hearted to proclaim liberty to the captives and the opening of the prison to them that are bound. To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord. The day of vengeance of our dog to comfort all that mourn. To a point on to them that mourn in Zion. To give unto them beauty for ashes the oil of joy for mourning the garment of praise for the spirit of happiness that they might be called Trees of righteousness the planning of the Lord that he might be glorified. The word of the Lord.

Those who would like to join with me in the 23rd Psalm the disbandment page 476 in the prayer book. The Lord is my shepherd. I still need to lie down in green light water storage. He has a right to. His new oil for the buyer. There I was with my royal life. They are like me now heard

in the presence of mind my goodness and mercy for all my life and I swear. The other lessons from the Old Testament and New Testament will be included in your brief remark as we have all of her from the 23rd Psalm. We must all walk through the valley of the shadow. A hundred years from a common destiny of every person in this world is that we will be physically. Think about that all of us have what three are. In place of rendezvous with depth. We can deny or repress in awareness of our physical death.

Somehow the awareness keeps intruding into our lives through our defenses and with the relentless tenacity we could construct to our liking. Images of spiritual reality. We can add these images to other personal symbols of invincibility such as money education relationships and power. And these images provide a delusional perception wise individuals. Face their mortality intentionally and rendered to a cooperation with God. God didn't provide insights and personal. As men of great transformation began at that moment. Whatever our calendar is

while God does not remove from us the pain of suffering and physical death. God is with us to sustain us. Some people have the honest grasp of reality to choose the third option. Everything that Lee Atwater. Testifies he did with and single minded people. I'm as convinced as I stand here today that water was cooperating fully in transformation which did not lead to everything he could have done given the decline of his health. And in the media. Forgive my transgression. I am truly sorry and experienced the assurance given to the ancient Hebrew as recorded by the prophet Isaiah in the twenty ninth chapter. He

writes for sure know the plans that I have for you says the LORD plans for your welfare and not for your heart to give you a future with. Then when you call upon me and come and pray to me I will hear you. When you search you will surely find it. If you search with all your heart I will find the Lord. Water fought so desperately to hold on to life and loving relationships with all of those who knew him well. Also with intensity he expended his waning days and strength to claim the promise and carry out the commandment found in the first letter. If we walk in the light Christ is in the light we have fellowship one with the other. And the blood of Christ

cleanses us from all evil. If we do ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins and just and will forgive us our sins. And cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Therefore because Lee confessed his sense publicly and answer forgiveness. He could face his kind and suffering with an unshakable assurance he knew to the depths of his being. The words of Saint Paul in Rome and I can sufferings of this present time not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. No in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither wind. Nor death.

Nor angels nor things present nor things to come nor powers nor height. NOR. Helps. Nor in all of creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Let us pray. Oh God we give you great books like the witness of Lee Atwater. Thanks for the demonstrated wisdom. He confessed. That it is not political power not financial resources not public acclaim which can sustain us. Nothing surprises except the life teachings and resurrection of Jesus Christ my present and visible through His Holy Spirit Holy Spirit be present with his wife's family his three daughters his parents

and all those who loved him so deeply that readjustment to his place and our loving words and act to be used by you. As groves to take your place. Six hundred seventy three. Yes.

Sally toddy and the Atwater family and all the friends of the Atwater family and especially Lee Atwater. It's my pleasure to come and speak to you this afternoon out of a heart that is full. For a life that was so full the life of Lee Atwater. I remember. It was quite a while ago it seemed but it really wasn't that long ago when I first ran across Lee Atwater. He was a teenage Republican. And I was in my political heyday. And you know Sally untidy he was still kicking out. That foot. And all that nervous energy he was in a hurry in. A big hurry. And then I knew him as a college young Republican and he got in more of a hurry. And then in turn in some of the foreman's office

and one day someone Thurman sent a bunch of the interned over as he is wont to do to be briefed on the White House and to see the Oval Office. And I will forget that young fellow. His foot was still moving and I thought maybe he was looking at moving because he kept looking at my chair. Not only that when I took him into the Oval Office. He took an even stronger gaze of the president's chair and then by the age of thirty eight he had sat in my chair which wasn't that much. But he had played a key role in the election of President Ronald Reagan and then he had played the key role in the election of President George Bush. And then he had become the chairman of the Republican Party in this country at age 38. But then a great miracle occurred.

In the hardest. But most glorious time of his life aged 39 and 40 and I would kill to be a witness to that here but which I will never be grateful. You see we've come here today to celebrate the life of this amazing young man who accomplished so much in such a short period of time. Yes we've come here also to say farewell to leave for a little while until we meet him again on the other side of the bar. You see Alfred Lloyd Tennyson had something to say about crossing the bar. And I believe Levy would agree with this fully today as I read this little. At that point. Sunset and evening star.

And one clear call for me. And may there be no moaning of the ball when I put out to sea but such a time it is moving seems asleep to full sound in foam when that which drew from out of the boundless deep turns home again twilight in the evening Vale and after that the dark and may there be no sadness of farewell when I fall gold from out our borne of time and place the flood made damn me fall. I hope to see my pot thanks to face when I. Have crossed the bar. Yes our friend Lee has crossed the bar and today he is standing in the glorious presence of his heavenly pilot. You see Lee came to really love. The Holy Bible.

In those years of 39 years of age and 40 years of age and in particular he got a special love for that great shining on the mountain by Jesus the Christ. And I would believe that probably the passage of scripture that would probably mean the most to Lee Atwater today is Matthew chapter 7 in the Sermon on the Mount beginning at verse 7 because this so fit what I saw happening. Surely Jesus is speaking and he says Ask and it will be given to you. And he was asking. Seek and you will find. Lee was seeking not and the door will be open to you. Lee was knocking for everyone who asks receives. He who seeks finds and to him who knocks the door will be

open. The door was opened. Which of you if his son asks for bread will give him a stone. Or if he asks for a fish will give him a snake. If you then though you are evil know how to give good gifts to your children. How much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him. And here's the punchline that he loves so much. So in everything do to others what you would have them to do to you for this sums up all the law and the prophets Yash Lee Atwater believed in that golden rule and in his way he preached that golden rule. You see Lee Atwater did have a ministry. He did have a ministry for all those people who came to see to touch him and to talk with him. Those who minister to him he ministered to them all the people who wrote to him

and communicated with him. And then he communicated out through the media. He stood up boldly and proclaim what Sam play. I have found Jesus Christ. That was the headline. In the Chicago Tribune and then following that all the stories of repentance you see Lee Atwater's ministry was a ministry of repentance a ministry of the golden room. And a ministry of loving his enemies to dance so that they no longer were enemies but were his friends. What a great heritage he left for us. You see he was in a position that most of us except for a few over here are not in today.

He could make a statement. And it would go all around the world particularly in his illness as the head of the Republican Party what a platform and he used that platform. You see he believed in some more scriptures. There's one right in the front of Matthew. The first country where John the Baptist comes walking into the pages of The New Testament rather radical guy he is first utterance was this Repent for the kingdom of God is at hand. And then right up front in Mark chapter one right after John the Baptist baptized Jesus. What did Jesus say. His first government after baptism repent and believe in the gospel the good news. Yes and then Jesus had something else to say right up front in John

chapter 3. He said to Nick a Demus a leading lawyer and ruler he said Look nicotine's it isn't enough to be born out of mama's womb. You must be born again from above by the Spirit of God. There must be a change in your life spiritually. And John the Baptist had said before he would baptize anyone that had to be repentant. What does repentance means repentance is far more than apology. Some of the stories have been written that Lee Atwater apologized all over the place. Lee Atwater repeated all over the place. He said I'm changing my life is changing. I was going in this direction and now I'm going in this direction my whole value system is changed. I'm apologizing but I am being

changed and I am submitting to change. That's what repentance means as against apology. What a difference what a difference. That is one of the most critical teachings in all the Bible and it runs all the way through the Bible from Genesis 3 9 fault where the Lord God Almighty called out to Adam and Eve when they were hiding in the bushes covered up in the first coverage of the Watergate and all of us. The dark side in all of us. The Lord God Almighty said where are you. He knew where they were. He was calling on them to break problems and to be changed from listing to the serpent to listing to him their maker and create law and Law Order and God Almighty. Wow what a message. You see Charles Colson and Jimmy Carter two politicians also had told the world that you

must be born again just like Jesus had told me that was the story the testimony of their life and their change. Lee Atwater's message for America and for the world was this repentance for the seeds being born again and entering into the kingdom. Just like John the Baptist said I will not baptize you. You will not become a child of God until you have repeated of your sins and your sin nature and start all over again with a changed life. What a message what a message coming from Lee Atwater to the world. Yes. What's the last thing in the world people want to do. I can tell you from all my experience and all the things I've been in and where I've been lately. The last thing people want to do is to change. The last thing people want to do is to repent. Lee Atwater could not have had a more vital ministry even in

the hospital even in the bad even in the wheelchair. What he trumpeted the message of repentance to the world. So powerful. Yes those news articles went out not only from Lee Bandy over here but they went on in Life magazine if you read Life magazine what did you read. Repentance repentance repentance all the way through right down the line to his own erstwhile and former enemies. Amazing. And what's going to happen to the Life article Reader's Digest called the other day to see if my name mentioned on there was correct. Now that's going to millions of readers the readers digest the message of repentance from Lee Atwater hope a message from a preacher.

It's about as far as to the back of the sanctuary forgive me but from Lee Atwater wow where it has gone. Yes. I had the great privilege and Lee Atwater accorded me that great privilege of coming to meet with him after not having really been around him much in recent years. It was my privilege and pleasure to do so because I was minister too by Lee Atwater. He said to me Harry I not only want to know God I want to spend the rest of my life serving God. Absolutely amazing he said. That's what I want to do with the rest of my life Harry. That is what it happened in my life when I really got to know him through repentance and being born again. I could do no other but lay down my law books. But my political files away it strong Thurman

institute a Clemson University. I mean it was heavy on my heart and it was heavy on Lee's heart that he wanted to spend the rest of his life serving God implementing the Golden Rule and the Greatest Commandment ever given to love unconditionally this way and then this way your neighbor as much as yourself. And Jesus even said. And right in that sign on the Mount. Even your enemies. What a ministry. What a message from a man at 39 and 40 years of age named Lee Atwater. Well the focus of attention in this country was on him and that saga and that drama and that trauma that was taking place with Sally and. These young beautiful ladies and toddy and hobby and man the whole Atwater family and all the friends who mourned with him.

I remember the morning after the 1988 presidential election. I had heard from Lee Atwater in a long time. You see I wasn't caught up in man's politics and a lot was caught up in Jesus's politics which is the implementation of the greatest commission ever given to serve unconditionally and the Greatest Commandment ever given to love unconditionally this way and this way we said how very I have just achieved. My number one goal in life. I have just been a part of running a winning presidential campaign he said but I've got another goal I said What is that Lee. He said My other goal is to become chairman of the Republican National Committee. Wow. You see when I went to scene at age 39 after he was chairman and an ailing chairman he came up with that third goal and the third goal was to serve God with the rest of his life.

And when it sometimes we would say to me but Harry I'm not going to get to share everything I said but leave off already serving. You have trumpeted the message of repentance Born-Again you have trumpeted the message of the golden rule in place of the brothers True Do Unto Others As You Would Have Them Do Unto you instead of doing to others before they do unto you which is the general rule out there in the world today. And I said and you are just loving your enemies today. And you're losing your enemies and they are now becoming your friends. Absolutely amazing. Absolutely. Couldn't be anything my friend Lee Atwater was a great strategist with a lot he's got one up on him. That was the spirit of the Lord working through a man who had cried out for help.

Yes. People asked me but was Lee Atwater really for real. Was he really for real. Oh I tell you my friends he was so much for real. Until Lee Atwater would question his own motives and let me tell you when you find somebody questioning their own motives in a spiritual situation you can be assured my friend the Lord God Almighty is working in that life alive and serving and ministering through that life. I truly I said not only do you have a ministry of repentance and love in the Golden Rule. But you are now out there showing the world how to take enemies and turn them and convert them into friends. Some of the greatest examples we've had in the media here this weekend. Sam towne and long time turn up see two of the WHO ARE THE MOST

OT's individually and want to hand that's a gracious things about him in the media this weekend. Yes going to caucus. This morning's paper had such wonderful comments to make and extending his sympathy and love for the family. But not only that. I guess maybe the greatest favor was when the Democratic National Committee lowered the American flag to half staff in favor of public enemy number one in the past Lee Atwater. Yes you see the search so deeply into his own heart. Just like David and David was a great man of repentance too you know. And he cried out just like David did in Psalm 139 search me O God and know my heart. Test me and know my anxious thoughts see if there is any wicked way in me any hidden motive in me and lead me in the way

everlasting. Oh my friends that is true repentance true contrition true deliverance. Well. We want him so much. My friends for the greatest contribution he made to politics in this country. It was the election of President George Bush. And I'll tell you why. Because we have just gone through a miraculous war. I see the secretary of defense sitting there and the secretary of state sitting here. The world has never seen anything like this war. But it was a miracle. With all kind of little miracles tucked right into it it can only come by the hand of God Almighty and by Godly men. And these are godly men. They know the Lord. And they saw his will and because they saw what he is will I believe the Lord God Almighty that did so miraculously.

Yes. Lee Atwater was not there to help direct the strategy in the war but he directed the strategy that led to those being in office who directed the strategy so well. In the war. And yes President and Mrs. Bush John bless them they love Lee Atwater when he was in robust health and they loved him when he was up against the wall. Hurting and suffering. Yes I want to thank them for what they have done and all of you but especially I want to thank Sally Atwater. What a trooper. What a soldier. What a lady of faith who kept hanging in there and just kept right on keeping on standing by her man. They had water children and how they stood and even Sally even brought along little Sally

in the whole course of this illness and today Toddy Atwater and the pressures she's had on her and hobby gas and the pressures he's had on him in his illness. Yes and sustain a man with thank you all for sharing. Lee Atwater with us and for all of you friends who wrote in the courage Lee Atwater I believe I spent so much time giving you address the way Sally and telephone number the people wherever I would go. People were asking me about Lee Atwater Lee Atwater and how can I encourage him and how can I help him. So we thank you and we thank all of you the friends of Lee Atwater his old classmates in high school who we love so very daily and all of those who sang the old blues with him and everything else. You see.

The writer of the collegiality Solomon had so much wisdom and one of the great pieces of wisdom he gave us was this that God is in control of advantage. Yes and he says that there is a season and a time for everything there is a season and a time to be born and there is a season and a time to die. And Lee Atwater understood that teaching. The writer of Hebrews said yes a man is given to die only once and then comes the judgment. Lee Atwater understood that teaching is well. You see one of these days we're all going to cross that same bar that Lee has just crossed. And you know Lee wanted his friends to know what had happened to him.

I will not forget when he came down here last fall to late to that barbecue. Yes and he was all swollen from the medicine and everything else that shocked some of those when they saw Lee. But he was in that wheelchair and he wheeled into that big room singing Bad Boy Blues. And then when he got inside he stopped singing Bad Boy Blues and he started testifying. And he told his old friend what he had found in Jesus cries. And he said I want you to have the same experience that I've had. That's what he said. I was standing there and just about blew me away. Listen every time we got a love note our telephone call from Lee my wife Betty was blown away. Lee Atwater saying I LOVE YOU I LOVE YOU I LOVE YOU BABY I LOVE YOUR HAIR.

Most men never say that. Boy Lee Atwater really made it and you could tell it in the love notes and the love calls you got it. I'm sure most of you heard it and received it also. What he was saying to his friends at Lake Murray is I want you to be careful. I want you to examine your life and examine your life just like the Apostle Paul tells us. And second great in Chapter 13 verse 5. Listen to this one. This one kind of put a hook in me one time. Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you. Unless of course you fail the task. That's the question and that's the point that lead one of his friends to realize that there is a difference that can be only a new perspective and that's what he want to do with the rest of his life is to get God's perspective out.

And implement the politics of Jesus Christ. I pray that maybe we would all today silently and probably right where you are that we would all vow that we would be as open as lead. We would be as honest to God as lead. We would examine our lives and see where we are and where we should be. We would get into the book and look and study and evolve as Lee did. And then if necessary we would submit and we would repent and we would commit to being changed. But the greatest revolutionary experience that can come of any man or any woman in this world. Yes. Examen summit seek to implement the Golden Rule and above all implement the greatest commandment ever given the love unconditionally this way and this way and even love your enemies.

You know I can hear only right now I can hear Elise saying arii it is right Jesus politics really does make sense. And what's more it really does work. He ought to know because he's experienced that difference and he would have all of us do the same lest by our heavenly Father you who art in heaven. I just thank you Father for giving us Lee Atwater. I thank you for that tremendous tremendous an amazing career that left such an imprint on America. In politics in government. And I thank you father also

that he sought you out and you answered his plea. You came into his life and you changed his life and you made him a new creature in Christ and in making Leo a new creature in Christ you gave him a ministry. You gave him a ministry before he crossed the ball to get out the good news of repentance of being born again of examining one's life to see where we really are to implement the golden rule and to love one's enemies and convert them into the best friends you can find. Father we thank you fully and we pray now for his family and that memory and I pray your complet in peace be upon him in the name of Jesus. Amen. Sally Sara Lee Ashley Paige

and Sally Theodosia family and and friends of Lee Atwater in a eulogy is difficult but this one is especially difficult. And not because we all loved water because we will all miss him dearly. But for me Sally I can see still see Lisa sitting right there critiquing everything I'm going to say. Turning all the praise that we're going to heap upon him into a joke and saying enough of that. Get on with business. So let me get on with business. I first got to know Lee Atwater well in Tulsa Oklahoma in 1982 and though I had met him several times before.

We spent a weekend together being honored as one of the 10 outstanding men of America. And Lee and Sally and Marilyn and I had the most memorable weekend. I'll never forget. Police spent hours upon hours citing chapter and verse on how. His Republican Party was going to be the real majority party in the not too distant future. He would tell me how the party needed to open the doors to blacks and other minorities. He told me of the importance of getting the boomer vote. That was in Atwater ism for the baby boom generation. And Lee would tell me and tell Merrill and others that were willing to listen on how the Republican Party would be strengthened and would be even stronger than it was when we were together. Lee convinced me then

that he was indeed the ultimate campaign strategist and he certainly was. He was a master strategist a brilliant manager of campaigns a superb. Political operative. But let's remember he was not a political mercenary serving simply the highest bidder. No. Politics. Wasn't his career or his profession or even his business. It was Lee Atwater's calling in life. His life in service to a distinctive vision of what his country should be. The battles that Lee fought over two decades especially the critical campaigns of 1980 1984 and of course 1988. They were married squabbles between two

sets of politicians. They were referenda on the American future. And in each case their outcome made a dramatic difference for hundreds of millions of people around the world. Today the world spends in new directions. Empires fall. Humanity resurgence hope is renewed. A limitless future of decency and progress. The last seems possible. And Lee Atwater was a vital part. In the making of all that history. He had a special relationship. With President George Bush. Lee Atwater was not just the president's national party chairman but more

importantly to leave. He was a close friend of the president and Barbara Bush. He was part of the Bush family. We all have fond memories of Lee Atwater on there forget during the last presidential campaign in New Orleans. The night before then Vice President George Bush announced me as his running mate. I ran into late where else the TV gallery. I was waiting to be interviewed. But there was a lead. In political heaven bending the media like a whirling dervish. After his interview he whispered in my ear on the way out. I said some nice things about you. Sally I'm sure you did.

Passed away on the morning of Good Friday. Everyone knows the significance of that day the day Christ died. But it's also the day when Christ did something he had never done before said something to a total stranger. He had never said to any of his closest friends dying on the cross. He promised a particular person that he would join him in eternal life to one of the convicts crucified with him he said. This day you will be with me in paradise. That promise overcomes all the grief of Good Friday both the first one and the last. It's an understatement to say that Lee loved his family

his friends his profession his affection his affection was vibrant. His enthusiasm. Was electric his Sure joyousness was so strong that his laughter still rings in our ears. No wonder a favorite song Lee record was. Life is like a game. Even in sickness he was at the top of his game conferring with former President Reagan only hours before he died. Over the last year I'd call him up or go Sam after a political trip and he would want to know everything that happened starting with the gossip he was wanted. He was at our home on election night last November and he made a spectacular appearance at my birthday party about

six weeks ago. It will take time to sort through our memories. It's time to replace sadness at our loss with joyful gratitude for what Lee Atwater gave to all of us. Gratitude to heaven were I'm sure Lee has already launched an absentee voter registration drive. Gratitude to Sally for sharing him with us. All those years. For making possible his remarkable life in politics and his remarkable living this past year on a scale much grander. Than politics can offer. Sadly you will always be part of our family and for me and Mary and others

we shall never forget the absolute joy that Lee Atwater brought to our lives. I trained him I did pretty good job did. I train many judges and prosecutors and legislator and all but he's only a preacher but I think he makes up all of.

It. Mr. Vice President you gun the camel is saying this members of the cabinet are all friends of Lee Atwater. We just so glad to see all of you here. This is a largest number of Cabinet members I've ever attended and then a funeral. And I have attended many funerals in or if you would understand the high respect and wish Lee was hey I want each Cabinet member to stand up if you don't mind. You stand up for a moment. It doxology on health and human welfare. Sectarian interior. CHAIRMAN OF POKEMON party sect fantasy sex education attorney general it's a good chair transportation and who said it back then.

I can't omitted mossback erection a hundred men here. He said. That is to the largest number. Of cabinet members ever seen a few. Why. Because of the high respect in which Lee Atwater was hailed. First I want to own half of all of the share my family included Stand out the percentage that water family just sat in the children to the parents and all of the members of that water family I want to say to you that. We love children. I know I've seen him show it with my children

and others. A poem or a poet I want said when a great man dies for years beyond years can he lie he leaves behind him will shine upon the past them in the light believe Israel will shine upon the paths of men for many generations to come. Lay began his career. More or less in office he came as an end time for Newberry College and I thought he was just a student. But I saw an unusual student. Vision preceptors to the constitution and a government. Interested ambitious willing to get things done. That was Lee Atwater. I knew he would be aggressive excess someday and

then just a few you have later. He. Had. A field operation 219 Sandie campaign. Alison dollars and was a Cham on Hallinan matters and office never saying like that he had to feel operations and did a fine job. That was really bad experience here gaining to late to attain fame. So we're there proud of him and what he has done for this country. He was loved then and my. Biased friends and he was respected instead by his opponents. I hesitate and call him an image because in politics you speak of it in theirs but it's really just opponents. They all had respect phone. Those who were friends and those who were opponents. He was energetic and aggressive and he rattled his opponents and someone

called him in political and. He was vigorous. He was a hard driving. He was colorful. He was persistent. Gavin Cooley said many people have education. And many people have other talents. Many people are smart in many ways but the thing that really counts is possessed us not giving up.