DAYTON DAILY NEWS                   Copyright (c) 1997, Dayton Newspapers Inc.DATE: Friday, August 1, 1997                TAG: 9708010028EDITION: CITY VERNAL G. RIFFE JR. - 1925-1997 THE END OF A POLITICAL ERASECTION:                                            PAGE: 8A TYPE: MAIN SOURCE: By Tim Miller        COLUMBUS BUREAU            FRIENDS, FOES ALIKE  WERE `PARDNERS' TO FORMER SPEAKER     COLUMBUS - The death of former House Speaker Vernal G. Riffe Jr., one ofthe most influential and powerful politicians to serve in Ohio, officiallyends an era in state legislative politics.   Mr. Riffe served 20 years as speaker, longer than any speaker in statehistory, and given legislative term limits, it's a record that's likely tostand. But more than that, in the 1970s and '80s, he redefined how politicswas played in Ohio by endowing the position of speaker with political power ona par with governors and other statewide officers.   He did it through highly polished political skills, the establishment of anunrivaled fund-raising machine and a strong candidate recruitment process.   "Arguably, as a public official he touched more lives than any electedofficeholder in Ohio in this century," said his friend Paul Tipps, formerchairman of the state Democratic Party and of the Montgomery County party. "Hebecame speaker at a time when the power of state governments was peaking andhe seized that opportunity for the good of the people of Ohio."   Mr. Riffe was elected to the House in 1958. When he left his home in NewBoston along the Ohio River for the state legislature, he was admittedly "acountry bumpkin." But when he became speaker in 1975, he had become theacknowledged master of power politics and one of the most respected and fearedpoliticians in Ohio.   He exercised considerable power by building coalitions and rewarding hismany allies. He also exiled those who opposed him and was called ruthless bysome. He called his approach "practical politics."      Slow political climb      Mr. Riffe's political climb was slow. He was a member of the "cornstalkbrigade," the nickname given to rural House members prior to the U.S. SupremeCourt's "one-man, one-vote" decision when each county had at least onerepresentative.   He credited his father, Vernal G. Riffe, longtime mayor of New Boston, forhis political acumen. Often, in describing why he used a certain politicaltactic, the folksy Riffe, who called friends and foe alike "pardner," wouldbegin with, "My daddy used to say...."   Upon arriving in Columbus, Mr. Riffe went to work accumulating favors fromcolleagues by performing the grunt work disdained by many. He called in thosefavors in 1974 when he decided he wanted a bigger platform, as House Speaker.He organized a coup that toppled his friend - and Columbus roommate - A.G.Lancione.   "It was a tough decision," he said years later. "But that's politics. And Ithink A.G. understood that."   Mr. Riffe was helped along by two men who became not only political alliesbut also friends - Tipps and the late state Rep. C.J. McLin of Dayton. Tippsbecame state Democratic chairman at the same time Riffe became speaker and notlong after McLin had helped create and then became president of the BlackElected Democrats of Ohio.   "Vern and C.J. were as different personally as could be," Tipps saidThursday. "But they were similar in their love of politics, their instinctiveunderstanding of common people and in their knowledge of what it takes to beinfluential.   "And that's what they both were - influential. They knew how to use thepolitical process to influence the outcomes they desired."   McLin earned Mr. Riffe's respect early in his speakership when he managed awalkout by black members on key legislation after Mr. Riffe had closed themout of important private negotiations.   "I called C.J.'s bluff, and he whacked me good," a laughing Riffe said in1985. "After that, we got along pretty good."   That was an understatement typical of Mr. Riffe. McLin became a primeconfidant to Mr. Riffe and together they pushed many major bills through theGeneral Assembly, such as the creation of the minority set-aside program andincreased funding for Central State University.   But Tipps perhaps played the most important role in solidifying Mr. Riffe'spower.   Prior to Mr. Riffe's speakership, the majority of state legislativecandidates raised and spent campaign money on their own. Mr. Riffe developedthe caucus campaign fund - pressuring lobbyists, associations and any groupwith issues before the legislature to donate to the fund. He then disbursedthe campaign money to favored members and used it against certain Republicanopponents targeted for defeat.      Powerful run      Legislative leaders have continued the practice, but because of termlimits, it's unlikely any single person will ever exercise the power for aslong as Mr. Riffe did.   Mr. Riffe could be nonpartisan in his friendship and with his war chest.Former state Rep. Corwin Nixon, R-Lebanon, who served as minority leaderduring much of Mr. Riffe's tenure, sometimes escaped without an opponent.Nixon, a tobacco-chewing horse breeder, trainer and racer, was a frequentguest at poker and other card games organized by Mr. Riffe.   With the importance of costly TV advertising rising in the '70s, candidatesincreasingly found they needed Mr. Riffe's largesse - and he let them knowwhen he needed their votes.   Eugene "Pete" O'Grady, another former state Democratic Party chairman,said, "Vern tried to, and damn near did, perfect what you would call 'machine'politics.' But, as he was fond of saying, 'What's fair's fair.' He always letyou know where you stood with him."   Mr. Riffe's "birthday parties" - fund-raising events held in the summer butnot always on his birthday - became legendary. Originally somewhat modestaffairs attended by close associates, they ultimately became a "must attend"event for anyone with pending legislative business. He would raise more than$1 million in one night, a sum unheard of a decade ago.   He demanded, and usually received, complete loyalty from his colleagues.Those such as former state Rep. Ed Orlett, D-Dayton, who worked hard on hisbehalf to shepherd bills through the legislature, were rewarded withleadership posts or important committee chairmanships. Those who crossed him -as did former state Rep. Bob Hickey, D-Dayton, when he refused to vote for alegislative pay raise - were stripped of their committee posts.   By winning a record number of legislative seats for the Democrats in the1970s, Mr. Riffe had a power base that put him on virtually equal footing withwhomever was governor. He toyed briefly with running for that office in 1982.But he decided he would rather be - and stood a better chance of being - "kingmaker" than king. He threw his pivotal support that year to Richard F.Celeste.   Celeste said, "When I decided to run again for governor, my father told meto visit two people and try and gain their support - C.J. McLin and VernRiffe. I did that, and I believe that was key to my being elected."      Favorite governor      Although Mr. Riffe enjoyed his greatest power under Celeste, a fellowDemocrat who served from 1982-90, he confided later that his favorite governorwas Republican James A. Rhodes, who served from 1962-1970 and 1974-1982.   The two had much in common. Rhodes also hailed from southern Ohio. Like Mr.Riffe, he briefly attended college, but did not graduate. And both had a deeplove and understanding of politics and people.   "What Vern and I had in common more than anything was the people of Ohio,"Rhodes said recently. "Vern didn't need to do a poll to know what people werethinking back home, or anywhere in Ohio, for that matter. He just knew."   Mr. Riffe has made similar comments about Rhodes.   "I think Jim Rhodes epitomized what a governor should be," Riffe saidseveral years ago. "He cared about the people of Ohio, and he had an instinctof what they wanted and how to go about it."   In the best tradition of the old school of politics, the two worked intandem to bring projects to their home part of the state. Mr. Riffe pushedthrough the creation of Shawnee State University in Portsmouth, and he andRhodes saw that the Appalachian Highway was properly funded. Mr. Riffe wasproud that state highways leading into Scioto County had roadway signsreading, "Entering Vern Riffe Country."   Both men came under criticism from some quarters for having state officebuildings in downtown Columbus named for them - and they couldn't have caredless. "Doing things, that's what gets you attacked," Mr. Riffe said.   Mr. Riffe was also dismissive of critics who said he and former SenatePresident Stan Aronoff, R-Cincinnati, who also was a friend for decades,worked too frequently behind the scenes, negotiating major pieces oflegislation and divvying up state projects.   "People can say what they want about me and Stan, and believe me, they'vesaid plenty," he said last year, "but we were always concerned about what wasbest for the people of Ohio, all the people. It's probably best to call usmoderates, because most Ohioans are moderates."      Middle of the road      Mr. Riffe believed strongly that most voters favored the middle of theroad, and that often brought him into conflict with the more liberal wing ofhis party, just as Rhodes was disliked by the most conservative Republicans.   "But when you're in power, you've got to work for what's best for all thepeople," Mr. Riffe said. "Most of all, you've got to be honest and fair."   Perhaps as evidence of his ability to judge the political climate, Mr.Riffe announced his retirement plans early in 1994, months before the electionwhen the Republicans would take control of the House for the first time in twodecades. He left after the end of the year, feeling bitter about legislativeterm limits - which he called unnecessary - and as questions were being raisedabout the acceptance of honoraria, or speaking fees, by state lawmakers.   In 1996, Mr. Riffe pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges of failing toreport on state financial forms the interest income received from a 1990inheritance. The charge arose from an investigation that he also did notreport speaking fees of $4,500 from a company controlled by billionairebusinessman Leslie Wexner.   Despite the plea, Mr. Riffe maintained to the end that he did nothingwrong. "Perhaps I didn't technically do some paperwork I should have," hesaid, "but, pardner, I can tell you I never compromised my honesty or ethicsin 36 years in the legislature."   One of his last acts in the 120th General Assembly was to make a rare visitto the Senate chamber to swear in Rhine McLin, C.J.'s daughter, as the firstblack woman to become a state senator in Ohio. He received a standing ovation- and he cried. Never wanting to show emotion publicly, he said little uponleaving the chamber.   But years later he commented about that day. "When it's all said and done,family means everything. I was very lucky because I had my family - and I hadmy political family. People such as C.J. and Paul. And Jim Rhodes. People weregood to me, and I tried to be good to them. And I was sure to be fair."   Mr. Riffe is survived by his widow, the former Thelma Cooper, and fourchildren - Cathy, Verna, Mary Beth and Vern Riffe III, a Scioto Countycommissioner.   LENGTH:  197 linesILLUSTRATION: PHOTO:          Vern Riffe pounds the gavel to close his final session as an Ohio          legislator on Dec. 29, 1994. Mr. Riffe, who served as Ohio's Speaker          of the House for 20 years, died Thursday.          PHOTO CREDIT:  ASSOCIATED PRESS CATEG: GOVERNMENT & POLITICS - STATE OF OHIOSUBJ: OBITUARY NA: VERNAL G. RIFFE JR. GEOG:  AT: POLITICAL LIFE ENHANCER: ref8