The Price For Honesty

John B. Judis writes a moving, intense account of the remarkable evolution of Chuck Hagel. Whether one agrees with Hagel or not, he does appear to me to be committed to a wrenching, if sometimes incoherent, process of conscience and judgment. What drives him is not just patriotism, it seems to me, but a long-delayed desire to make sense of his own life and his country's past. He has gotten his fair share of obloquy. But we need more politicians like Hagel.