Arch A. Moore, Jr. says, ‘I Did My Best’

By JOSELYN KING
The Intelligencer, Wheeling, WV

WHEELING — When asked about his legacy and what his place in state history might be, former West Virginia Gov. Arch Moore replied, ‘‘I did my best.”

He was a wounded World War II veteran who came home, became a lawyer, a Congressman and governor of West Virginia. Later he would serve jail time.

‘‘Those public positions that West Virginians gave to me — as a whole, the people were beneficiaries of that service,’’ he said. “In addition, I did incur the respect of fellow office-holders, both inside and outside the state. I have been privileged to share friendships with these office-holders even though we have been of different political persuasions.

‘‘I wouldn’t have changed the direction of my life for public service, even if today some might pause for a second thought. I looked forward to every day.’’

‘‘Arch: The Life of Governor Arch A. Moore Jr.,’’ details the life of the Glen Dale native and is now available in book stores.

‘‘I’ve never been ... I’m not going to use the word ‘sorry,’’’ Moore said. ‘‘But there’s never been a day I didn’t enjoy public service.

‘‘I never ever walked out of the governor’s office without holding my head high because I was representing West Virginians and Republicans.” On Thursday, Moore autographed copies of the book at Words and Music in Wheeling and spoke at a private breakfast at nearby Stratford Springs to benefit the West Virginia Republican Party.

‘‘I’ve always had a difficult time trying to figure out why someone didn’t like me,’’ Moore said. ‘‘I’ve never insulted anyone.

‘‘I may have out-talked them.”

Moore said he was approached many times over the years by people wanting to write his biography but said he ‘‘did not feel comfortable’’ with any of the requests.

He agreed, however, to allow Charleston attorney Brad Crouser to write his life story. Crouser served as tax commissioner under Moore during his third term as governor.

‘‘If anyone were going to write it, I wanted Brad,’’ Moore said. ‘‘The book does touch on my life and that of my family, and it is pretty darn accurate.

‘‘But there are certain areas he insisted on writing a certain way.’’

Crouser said he has been asked why he wanted to write about Moore.

‘‘It occurred to me that while most of us know of him, there is a younger generation who doesn’t,’’ he said.

These younger state residents may not know Moore was the governor who started the state’s kindergarten system, or that he worked to expand West Virginia’s highways, Crouser added.

‘‘They may think of him as the father of Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va) or remember that he had a few legal problems a few years back,’’ he said.

It was in 1990 that Moore was sentenced to five years, 10 months in prison after being found guilty on charges of corruption. He served three years of the sentence, lost his state pension and was disbarred.

The whole picture of public service has changed since he was in politics, Moore said.

‘‘When I first ran for Congress (in 1954), my campaign cost $12,000,’’ he said. ‘‘As a candidate, if you suggested spending that today, you would be shown the door. It would be impossible to run for office using that amount of money.

‘‘The cost of winning a campaign has exceeded all plateaus. Campaigns rise or fall on who is more supported financially.’’

The most unfortunate part of this practice is that it is occurring as Congress becomes more and more politically divided, according to Moore.

‘‘There is so much hatred there,’’ he said. ‘‘It is brutal and affects participation in debate. It tears the legislative process apart.’’

Moore explained that when he served in the U.S. House between 1956 and 1966, it wasn’t unusual for a Democratic member to cross aisles to speak to a Republican member. It wasn’t unusual for relationships to result, he added.

‘‘Now if a member were to do this, they would be interrogated immediately by their own party,’’ he said. ‘‘Members aren’t permitted to develop and learn from the opposition.’’