A breed of politician that is facing extinction

Seemingly always on the side of the oppressed and disenfranchised, Shriver believed that the only way to break down barriers of class and race was to do just that -- by sending young educated Americans into the slums and ghettos and struggling neighborhoods abroad and at home. And he often went with them. The only criticism Shriver receives from the folks interviewed in "Idealist" is that he was too demanding, too hard-working.

Even those who may not agree with his politics or pedigree cannot deny the work he did or the effect it continues to have on this country -- we did not win the War on Poverty, but at least poverty was acknowledged as an enemy; Head Start alone has improved the lives of millions. And if the Peace Corps is not the post-college draw it once was, it remains vital and has spawned other groups with similar goals.

Oh, and if that's not enough of a legacy, the Shrivers created the Special Olympics. In their backyard.

There is, mercifully, no airing of Kennedy laundry in "Idealist," save the complicated effect the family had on Shriver's career. Yes, he was part of the inner circle, but when it seemed as though Hubert Humphrey was going to put him on the ticket as a vice presidential nominee, it was the Kennedys who apparently intervened. The line of succession did not apply to brothers-in-law, though Shriver later joined George McGovern on his unsuccessful presidential bid.

For all we may praise less famous men, the power of "Idealist" stems as much from its portrayal of this nation as it does from this one man's attempt to improve it. The issues that Shriver tried to address -- poverty, education, healthcare, public participation in the democratic process and the domestic cost of pursuing an aggressive foreign policy -- are precisely the issues this country faces today. Imagine a politician who could rally today's privileged youth into signing up for programs like the Peace Corps or VISTA. Imagine a man or woman who would sincerely pledge to end severe poverty in this country, soon and permanently. A politician who made controversial decisions simply because they were the right thing to do.

Watching "Idealist," it is almost impossible not to wonder just what has happened to this country. How did we lose all that energy, that hope and dedication, that call for personal duty as members of a democracy, that belief not only that we the people could make a difference, but also that we had a responsibility to make a difference? Now 92 and in the advanced stages of Alzheimer's disease, Sargent Shriver has slipped beyond the demands of his nation. We can only hope that someone at some point will try to take his place.

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mary.mcnamara@latimes.com

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'American Idealist: The Story of Sargent Shriver'

Where: KCET

When: 9 tonight

Rating: TV-PG (may be unsuitable for young children)