Smith Bagley passed away on Saturday, felled by a stroke on Christmas Eve. I was honored to count him a supporter and a friend. Smith is celebrated for his remarkable generosity; his commitment to social justice and to the Democratic Party. His Arca Foundation is noted for path-breaking grants that made America better. His Georgia estate is reknown as the site of the first pre-inaugural meetings of the Carter presidency. It also was the place that hatched the concerted movement to challenge Reagan’s covert wars on Central America, the campaign to capture the peace dividend after the Cold War ended, the Campaign for America’s Future, and much more.
Smith was a big man who led a very big life. He was a constant source of ideas; he delighted in thinking outside the box. He insisted that we think big, and not be afraid to challenge shibboleths right, left and center. He had a passion for social justice, reflected in his commitment to his church, to his party, and to his philanthropy.
Periodically, through the years, Smith and I would have lunch. The conversation was never what I expected or planned. Smith always came with a cause, a new idea, or a hard question. “You’re the idea guy,” he’d say, “What do you think about this?” And off we’d go.
What was striking about Smith was his infectious generosity of spirit. He liked a good argument; he could agree to disagree. He’d invite us to his home, introduce us to his family, lift our spirits. He took on the impossible — the death penalty, campaign finance reform, relations with Cuba – when he felt the cause was just, and opened up new possibilities.
We could all learn something from Smith’s practice of politics. He would push hard to break out of the limits of the debate. He would support reform efforts and movements that challenged bipartisan follies. But he also celebrated progress, and saw the difference between the party that fought for reform and the party that fought against it; the party that cared about the many and the party that catered to the few.
He was a remarkable man. He will be missed.
