Is Mike Pence a Hero?

 I put this question to my Facebook friends following the latest January 6th Select Committee hearing, and as you might expect, it resulted in quite a discussion.

For many, Mike Pence has been a national joke. He is known for calling his wife “Mother” and his refusal to be in the company of another woman unless Mother is there. But we also remember him for his seemingly robotic adherence to the wishes of President Donald Trump during their mutual term in office.

Until January 6th, 2021, that is, when he pushed back on Trump’s incessant and demeaning pressure that he not certify the 2020 electoral votes, a ceremonial but necessary function to seal the victory of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris as the new President and Vice President. Trump claimed the election was stolen from him, and the extremists who broke into the Capitol on 1/6 screamed their intention to kill Pence for his plan to proceed with the ceremony.

Pence was in hiding in the Capitol for more than four and a half hours. The murderous mob never found him, but at one point was only about 40 feet away. Even Pence’s own Secret Service chief insisted that the Vice President get into a waiting car to be driven to safety, but Pence, not knowing where that car might take him, refused. After authorities regained control of the Capitol, Pence proceeded with the ceremony, completing the electoral vote certification with a joint session of Congress in the wee hours of January 7th.

What is a hero? There are those whose decades of unyielding bravery in battle or against other forms of opposition earn them that title. But then there are people who have led otherwise unremarkable lives, yet do a single brave thing exactly when it is  needed.

Critics have pointed out that while Pence eventually stepped up to do his duty, it was only after he had consulted with others, like former Vice President and fellow Indianan Dan Quayle, to find out if there were any legal way to do what Trump wanted. Quayle, and Pence’s own legal advisors, insisted there wasn’t, so Pence went on to do the right thing, directly defying Trump. It is my feeling that in history books, if there are still such things in the future, Pence will go down as having saved the republic, for that moment, at least.

Pence may now  seek to run for President himself. I don’t plan to vote for him. But I’m not laughing at him anymore.