Jack Kemp, former Congressman, Housing Secretary, Vice-Presidential Nominee, and Pro Football Quarterback, died last night (May 2, 2009) at the age of 73.

Versatile enough to be both the American Football League MVP and the leading spokesman for what became the Reagan Tax Cuts, Kemp attracted attention from all kinds of Americans.  He maintained a consistent conservatism based on low taxes and using capitalism as a way of enriching Americans of all backgrounds.  He made some knee-jerk Republicans nervous.

I only met him once, in his Congressional Office on Capitol Hill.  I came with my boss at the time, Hon. John H. Buchanan, Jr. (R-Ala) as part of signing onto Kemp’s tax-cut bill.  Kemp impressed me as one of the nicest Members of Congress I ever met. 

And of course his office was the only one I can recall that featured a football…

He will be missed.