Andrew Zajac

The Swamp occasionally hears from viewers who want to note the passing of someone of unusual distinction.

One such message came from Milwaukee attorney Peter Coffey, who called our attention to the Washington Post obituary of James Unger, a revered and remarkably successful debate coach at Georgetown and American universities.

Unger also was a consultant on presidential debates to several media outlets.

Judging from comments made to a debate listserv, Unger was a larger than life figure who commanded respect and love decades after his students graduated. You can read some of the tributes here: Unger posts.doc

Constitutional scholar Laurence Tribe offered this tribute:

"For most of us during the crucial decade and a half starting in the mid-1970s - the decade in which many of us came of age or settled into our lifetime careers - Jimmy Unger WAS debate, debate as high art, debate as ritual, debate as relentless analysis, debate as bloodless battle. He lived it, breathed it, epitomized it, enjoyed it, perfected it, practiced it, and made it a permanent part of our lives. For all of that, and for the inestimable wit and twinkling wisdom that Jimmy exuded for so many years, we will all owe him a huge and permanent debt. May his memory live forever in and through those of us who cared about him and who were lucky enough to be his friends."

A memorial service is slated for later this afternoon at a Georgetown church.