Texas Rep. Charles Wilson (D-Lufkin) has died. Wilson was famous for two things: 1.) A reputation for unbridled drinking, carousing and hijinks (probably including a little cocaine, though Wilson never came out and admitted it) that lead to him being nicknamed “Good Time Charlie”, and 2.) Being the biggest Democratic advocate of aid to the mujaheddin fighting Soviet forces in Afghanistan. (This was back in the days when the phrase “conservative Democrat” wasn’t an oxymoron.) Wilson’s support was crucial in helping to defeat Soviet forces in Afghanistan, the blow-back from which in turn helped topple the Soviet Union. On such unlikely crucibles are evil empires broken.
Back when I was writing for The Texas Review in college, I met Wilson at room in the Texas state capitol, where some compatriots and I turned over a check to Wilson to support the mujaheddin efforts. (I’ve long since forgotten how much we gave him; it was probably some piddling sum like $200.) Wilson struck me as a bluff, sharp-minded good ole boy with the sort of tan that could have come from a Wagner Power Painter.
I haven’t read Charlie Wilson’s War (or seen the movie, for that matter), but Charlie Wilson was one of the few Democratic congressmen of the 1980s that actually had a hand in defeating communism.
Requiescat in pace.