At only age 60, William Strauss has died. Most people will recognize him as the founder of the political satirists, "The Capitol Steps," a jaunty set of singing Republicans (and some Democrats) who have celebrated the shenanigans of Washington, D.C. for over a generation now. So score one for Bill: he showed that Republicans have a sharp sense of humor.
Score two: he pioneered on the second stage of the draft issue. I know this field because I was in it a few years earlier (the transition to a volunteer military). But what he did was to help heal the hurt from Vietnam era draft dodging.
I met him first in 1981 when he was the legislative assistant to Sen. Charles Percy of Illinois; he had to vet my appointment to the U.S. Census Bureau. It was clear that there not only were no political problems, but he just wanted to wave my nomination through. That was surely all right with me.
Even then he was preparing to launch the Steps.
Later he would take up several other causes, in all of which he innovated and distinguished himself in a way one wishes was more common in Washington. For example, he was a major figure in thinking through the nature of generational change and wrote several books on the topic. Recently he found a way to reward enterprising high school students.
It was almost as if, unlike most of us, he knew his time was short and he wanted to accomplish as much as possible for the world before he left it. In 1999 he learned that he had cancer, but managed to hold on for nearly eight years.
He leaves a fine family and a many friends and admirers. Please see this good article from The Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/18/AR2007121802158.html?hpid=moreheadlines