JEFFERSON CITY, Mo., Oct. 20 -- Missouri paid tribute Friday to Gov. Mel Carnahan, killed in a plane crash earlier this week en route to a campaign appearance.
At a memorial service at the state Capitol, Carnahan was described as a man who loved children, who worked tirelessly for the people he represented and a dreamer who was able to live his dreams.
With President Clinton, Vice President Al Gore and dozens of congressmen and governors from other states in attendance, Carnahan was compared to former President Harry S Truman, a native of Independence, Mo., by former Missouri Sen. Thomas Eagleton.
"There was much of Harry Truman in Mel Carnahan -- frank candid, straightforward," Eagleton said. "There was no phony spinHe never confused himself with the officenever allowed prestige to separate him from the people he served."
Clinton agreed with the comparison, calling Carnahan a man who "spoke the plain truth" in the Truman mold.
"I loved the guy," Clinton said. "And anybody who thinks he was dull, never looked him straight in the eye. Because he had steel and passion and fire and I think he rather enjoyed being underestimated by people who disagreed with him."
Carnahan, his son, Roger, and campaign aide Chris Sifford died Monday night on a flight from Cahokia, Ill., to New Madrid, Mo. Roger Carnahan was piloting the plane on instruments and shortly before the crash radioed he was having trouble with maintaining the plane's attitude.
Clinton recalled the horrific floods of 1993 when Carnahan physically took part in the sandbagging effort. He said Carnahan showed courage in increasing taxes for education and fighting against a concealed weapons law.
Clinton recalled a 1992 rally during the gubernatorial primary in southwest Missouri when Carnahan declared his backing for Clinton, "even though he had absolutely nothing to gain.
"For eight years he has been my friend and my partner," Clinton said.
"I am grateful that I knew Mel Carnahan. I am grateful we had the chance to work together. He left us too early but he had a great ride."
Clinton closed with: "We'll miss you, Mel. We'll try to take up the slack but we'll never have another one like you."
Carnahan will be buried Saturday in a private service at Carson Hill Cemetery in Ellsinore, Mo.
Eagleton said the events of the past week have left Missouri "stunned."
"We have lost a man whose qualities are increasingly rare in public life," Eagleton told the crowd. "In 'King Lear,' Shakespeare used the word 'scurvy' to describe politicians. Shakespeare did not know Mel Carnahan.
"Mel knew politics and democracy are inextricably linked. Mel knew democracy atrophies without vigorous stimulation. He knew politics is the art of self-government. Like his father before him, Mel devoted much of his life to that art. He knew if good people do not study politics, government will be abandoned to those of lesser motives.
"Mel Carnahan learned his lessons well."
Carnahan's daughter, Robin, compared her father to Don Quixote - but a Don Quixote who lived his dreams.
She recounted her memory of winter mornings when her father would build a fire in the fireplace before leaving for work. She said without fail, he would admonish the family not to let the fire go out as he walked out the door.
"Dad, we promise. We won't let the fire go out," she pledged, her voice shaking with emotion.
Gov. Roger Wilson, who succeeded Carnahan this week, lost his composure while praising Carnahan's wife, Jean, as the perfect partner for his predecessor.
Wilson said he counted himself lucky to have known Carnahan.
"I want to express this state's sorrow over the loss of our governor, over the loss of his son, Randy, and over his friend, Chris Sifford," Wilson said. "I've tried to analyze what it is that causes so much pain. It's not just with those who were close to the governor.Part of it is this: We all fiercely love our country."
Wilson added, "He cared about every one of us, even if he didn't know us personally and we didn't know him personally."
Mourners were welcomed by the Rev. Emanuel Cleaver, the former mayor of Kansas City.
"We have not come here today to bury our leader but to remember him," Cleaver said. "We have not come here today to canonize our governor but to rededicate ourselves to state building."
Members of the National Guard escorted Carnhan's body from where it was lying in state at the governor's mansion to the state Capitol. An eight-person casket team, and a traditional black funeral cassion led by four horses and a fifth riderless horse with boots reversed in the stirrups following the cassion made up the traditional military procession. Carnahan was a former lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force
