They may be out of office but they’re not out of touch. Welcome to The Has Beens – The Tennessean
Members of the group have admittedly already passed their political heydays. But that doesn’t mean they’re out of touch.
The group was founded shortly before former legendary Tennessean publisher John Seigenthaler died in 2014 by former House Speaker Jimmy Naifeh, former House minority leader Jim Henry and former House Majority Leader and Nashville mayor Bill Purcell.
“We call ourselves The Has Beens,” Naifeh recently told Grand Divisions, The Tennessean’s policy and politics podcast.
The gatherings started out small, with a handful of former House lawmakers initially getting together to hear from former Gov. Winfield Dunn, followed by Seigenthaler.
“The notion was that we had served together and appreciated that service together and thought it would be valuable for us to gather those who had served during the recent history of Tennessee,” Purcell said.
Since then, speakers have included the legendary John Jay Hooker, author Keel Hunt, former U.S. Attorney Hal Hardin, as well as former and current state officials, including state constitutional officers and the attorney general. Last week, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Director David Rausch was the guest speaker.
“We have a speaker from some part of our political leadership each time we get together,” Purcell said. “Or it could be a report on things that are happening in the state or the nation right now.”
Naifeh called the gatherings, which occur every four to six weeks, nonpartisan.
Matt Kisber, who served in the legislature for 20 years before joining former Gov. Phil Bredesen’s administration, said one benefit of the recurring gatherings is that it provides the various guests an opportunity to discuss ideas and history.
“I know there’s been lots of outreach that’s occurred as a result of making an introduction at The Has Beens,” he said.
Billy Stair, who served as senior policy adviser to former Gov. Ned Ray McWherter, said the group “reminds me of a time where there was definitely a different culture than there is today.”
Looking at politics lately, the trio of former public officials said much has changed.
Stair said the bitterness of modern campaigns have left people angry and the two parties have moved toward extremes, leaving little space for those in the middle of the political spectrum.
Kisber blamed social media and “instant communications” as part of the reason that bipartisanship has fallen by the wayside.
“I am so thankful that I was in office before all that happened,” he said, noting that lawmakers often only hear from people with limited perspectives on issues. “I don’t think it’s healthy for our system of government.”
Purcell said gatherings of The Has Beens has served as a reminder of what public service used to be and should be today.
“We didn’t agree on everything then and we certainly don’t agree on everything now,” he said. “But we are all committed to the success of the state and we still are.”
Purcell said during his decade in the House, including six years as majority leader, there were just two votes that fell on the same day that fell along party lines.
In some ways, the gatherings of The Has Beens might provide a lesson to today’s current legislature, which often sees votes along party lines.
“I think that we all believe that that’s how we governed and how we served and that that’s been an important part of the success of Tennessee,” Purcell said.
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Reach Joel Ebert at jebert@tennessean.com or 615-772-1681 and on Twitter @joelebert29.
Published 12:01 AM EDT Oct 1, 2019
