Hastings Keith, former U.S. representative, dies at 89

7-term congressman known as strong regional advocate ,

NEW BEDFORD -- Hastings "Hasty" Keith, the 14-year congressman from Southeastern Massachusetts and Cape Cod who went on to fight what he saw as a tidal wave of excessive federal pensions, died Tuesday in Brockton. He was 89.

Mr. Keith, a Republican first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1958, led the drive that established the Cape Cod National Seashore in 1961. During his time in office, former constituents recalled he established himself as an involved and committed representative for people in the old 12th District, from Bridgewater and New Bedford to the Islands.

"He had his own mind and marched to his own drumbeat," said former U.S. Ambassador to Ireland Margaret M. Heckler, a fellow Republican who once represented the 10th Congressional District, next door to Rep. Keith's.

"This is a man who, once he decided his position on an issue, dug his feet in very deeply. That stubbornness was by and large a great benefit to people. Whenever he dug in he was unalterable in his position."

Ambassador Heckler recalled that the 1972 redistricting, which put Rep. Keith's home town of West Bridgewater into her district, was one reason he passed up a re-election bid in 1972. The other reason, she said, was the failing health of Rep. Keith's wife, Louise.

"I think his career was very much assisted by wife Louise. She was key to his political career," she said.

"He was very concerned about the lack of balance in public debate," she added. "He was doing his part. All his motivation came from a deeply held sense of public integrity and commitment."

Arthur Larrivee of Dartmouth recalled a hard-working and accessible congressman. "He was really what you'd call a down-to-earth type of guy who never forgot the public he represented. He worked diligently for the Greater New Bedford area and never turned his back on us."

Another prominent local Republican, Janet Doe of Dartmouth, said of Rep. Keith "He was a wonderful man who really cared about his constituents. That's something they don't all do. He was sort of a super guy."

"I wish he were around today," said Jacqueline Brightman of Acushnet, also a Republican. "He had been active for pulling for New Bedford. I think he would have done everything in his power -- I'd have to say better than Barney Frank -- to get the trains down here and keep the Coast Guard in here. The Coast Guard was really his baby. And he'd be pulling to get cruise ships in here."

Jackie Beckmann of Dartmouth, who worked with Rep. Keith on a 2003 book about federal pensions, said "He was very, very concerned about the country even after he retired. He was mostly concerned about -- which he wrote a book about -- the retirement benefits in Congress and how it's growing and should be cut."

Rep. Keith spent most of the past three decades lobbing for reform of the multi-layered federal pension system, which was paying him more than he ever earned in Congress. In the effort he formed, along with John Macy, the nonprofit group Public Employee Pensions Systems, and maintained an office in Washington, D.C., to spread the word through personal contacts and op-ed commentaries in major newspapers.

"I'm saddened to learn of Hastings' death, and my thoughts and prayers go out to his family," said Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, who worked with Rep. Keith on Cape Cod Seashore expansion in the 1960s. "In a sense, I inherited Hastings from Jack. We served together in Congress for 10 years when I first arrived in the Senate, and I learned a great deal from him.

"He did an outstanding job for the people of our state, and he'll always be remembered for his extraordinary leadership in establishing the Cape Cod National Seashore," the senator said.

Hastings Keith's obituary is on Page A8.

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This story appeared on Page A5 of The Standard-Times on July 22, 2005.