Politics: First Things First

As a freshman Congressman 20 years ago, Minnesota Republican Walter H. Judd decided a Representative really has three jobs: 1) to work for good legislation; 2) to tend to the concerns of his constituents, and 3) to get reelected. The first is most important, he told his wife, Miriam, and if the other two should ever get in its way, he would quit. Last week in Minneapolis, Walter Judd. 63, one of the most effective and respected members of the House, announced that he was, in fact, calling it quits.

Explaining why he...