Accident may crash Janklow's career

| Monday, August 25, 2003

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But some political experts predict he is tough enough to survive latest incident.

SIOUX FALLS (AP) — Throughout his political career, U.S. Rep. Bill Janklow has shown himself to be a survivor.

But the latest challenge facing Janklow, R-S.D., is unlike any other he has faced.

A fatal car accident at an intersection not far from his hometown of Flandreau now threatens to end his 21-year political career.

Charges have not been filed yet in the crash, which killed Randy E. Scott of Hardwick, Minn. But reports that Janklow ran a stop sign and was driving 15 to 20 mph over the speed limit at the time make a criminal charge likely. Janklow's son has said the former governor even expects it. Possibilities include careless or reckless driving or a more serious charge of second-degree manslaughter.

Larry Sabato, director of the University of Virginia Center for Politics, said there will be personal consequences for Janklow regardless of what happens in the courts.

"He will be dogged forever," Sabato said. "Even a lucky politician runs out of lives. People are much less tolerant of criminal behavior today than they were before."

Michael Barone, who keeps tabs on every member of Congress for his Almanac of American Politics, agrees.

"Obviously, this casts a cloud over his career and raises the questions about running for re-election," Barone said. "It seems to me his career is probably over."

Retired University of South Dakota professor Alan Clem said Janklow's feelings of devastation and loss after the accident may influence his decision on what to do next.

"Unfortunately, this is the sort of thing that happens to a lot of people," he said. "Janklow is a tough guy and a fighter, but his image, his persona, is sapped by this. Some people will still support him, but others won't."

And no matter what South Dakotans think about their former governor, the mood toward Janklow in Washington may change dramatically, Clem said.

"It may be tough going back there," he said.

His effectiveness in Congress could be diminished, Clem said.

"There are people who will feel sorry for him, but I suppose there are people who will keep an arm's length," Clem said.

Sabato said it is unlikely Janklow would face an Ethics Committee probe.

"There is personal sympathy for him," Sabato said. "The Ethics Committee tries to prosecute the gray areas, and this is not a gray area."

As for Janklow's long relationship with President Bush, James Morrell, a White House spokesman, said last week that the president would have no comment.

However, others say Janklow may be able to weather this latest challenge.

Janklow has the reputation of a survivor, said Betty Smith, political science professor at the University of South Dakota, and that should not be forgotten. And, she adds, voters may empathize with the emotions he is feeling in the crash's aftermath.

"You cannot predict what happens in a mental state when you are under duress and have taken someone's life," Smith said. "Everybody thinks about that."

Janklow's familiarity to voters and his tolerance for crisis must be weighed before anyone rules him out of politics, she said.

"He tends to tough things out when other politicians would wilt," Smith said.

In the meantime, some of Janklow's former political colleagues have expressed sympathy to his plight.

"It makes no difference if you are a congressman or whatever. It has to be the toughest thing," said former Sen. Larry Pressler of the accident.

If Janklow is found guilty on some charge associated with the accident, Pressler thinks he should be able to do public service, perhaps educating young people about fast driving.

"There are people who made a mistake and have done that, visiting with young people and doing a lot of good, turning people around," Pressler said.

Political differences aside, former Sen. George McGovern, a Democrat, thinks Janklow will hang in and fight.

"I think they (constituents) will see this as a personal tragedy and he will get sympathy. They will realize we are all human beings and make mistakes," McGovern said. "Outside of Mr. Scott's family and friends, nobody is grieving over this more than he (Janklow) is."

McGovern said he, too, was known to drive fast on occasion during his political career.

"We have all had things happen to us in cars that could have cost our own lives or somebody else's lives, and by the grace of the God, we walked away from it."