Charlie Wilson, the former congressman from Texas, died Wednesday at the age of 76. Most famously, he led Congress into supporting Operation Cyclone—the largest CIA covert operation in history. During Operation Cyclone, the CIA supplied the Afghan mujahideen in its war against the Soviet Union. Wilson’s campaign became subject of the book and film Charlie Wilson’s War. In Congress, Wilson was a liberal, fighting during his 23 years for Medicaid, the Equal Rights Amendment, regulation of utilities, and a minimum wage.
