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South Carolina's man in Kosovo

Beginning with Michael Dukakis after he lost the governorship of Massachusetts in 1978, defeated politicians of both parties have frequently made the pilgrimage to the John F Kennedy School of Government at Harvard. There they lick their wounds, write papers and lecture, receive a certificate, often tell people they "went to Harvard," and then return to what they hope will be a comeback trail.

One JFK School alumnus is taking a slightly unusual detour before reentering politics. Former South Carolina Gov. (1994-98) David Beasley (R.), finishing his stint in Boston five months after being defeated for reelection, telephoned HUMAN EVENTS two weeks ago to reveal he was headed for Kosovo.

"I'll e-mail you when I arrive at Camp Niporsteno," Beasley told us. "That's in Kosovo and I'm going to be there for several weeks, courtesy of the International Rescue Committee [a privately funded nonsectarian group that works with refugees]. There are about 6,000 refugees in the camp. My assignment? Pitching tents, preparing meals, cleaning latrines-whatever it takes to help the refugees"

Last fall, only the third Republican governor of the Palmetto State since Reconstruction was pounded with a stream of cutting newspaper stories suggesting his marriage was on the rocks (which proved untrue) and a last-minute torrent of funds for his opponent because of Beasley's animosity to legalized gambling. In a stunning upset, Beasleyat 41, one of the two youngest governors in the nation-lost to obscure former State Rep. Jim Hodges (D.).

Asked what he will do to resurrect his career when he returns home from Kosovo, Beasley said he is uncertain. "In all likelihood, I am going to back [Texas Gov.] George W. Bush for President,'' he told us. "We worked very closely when I was chairman of the Republican Governors Association and I like him a lot. [Michigan Gov.] John Engler, George and I were the governors who worked most closely together and insisted that people from the administration who spoke to the governors just get to the point."

Would Beasley, as has been suggested by some, run for the U.S. House next year against nine-term Rep. John Spratt (D.) in the 5th District? "Congress?" he replied. "Unless God specifically said that was the only thing I could do, I have no desire at all to serve in Congress"