John Dingell: 'The work is certainly not finished. But we've made progress'

He also got in a few digs against President Donald Trump and critics of social programs.

"In our modern political age, the presidential bully pulpit seems dedicated to sowing division and denigrating, often in the most irrelevant and infantile personal terms, the political opposition," Dingell wrote, calling for respectful discourse even on crucial policy issues.

"My personal and political character was formed in a different era that was kinder, if not necessarily gentler," he added. "We observed modicums of respect even as we fought, often bitterly and savagely, over issues that were literally life and death to a degree that -- fortunately -- we see much less of today."

Dingell -- the longest-serving member of Congress, with more than 59 years in office -- died Thursday at age 92.

In a possible nod to some Democrats' recent socialist leanings, Dingell referenced opponents of Medicare calling the program "socialized medicine" in preventing senior citizens from becoming destitute because of medical bills.

"Remember that slander if there's a sustained revival of silly red-baiting today," Dingell wrote.

He also referenced policy issues that had significantly advanced since his time in Congress, such as environmental regulations, food and drug protections, and civil rights actions secured by activists "often demonized and targeted, much like other vulnerable men and women today."

"All of these challenges were addressed by Congress. Maybe not as fast as we wanted, or as perfectly as hoped," Dingell wrote. "The work is certainly not finished. But we've made progress -- and in every case, from the passage of Medicare through the passage of civil rights, we did it with the support of Democrats and Republicans who considered themselves first and foremost to be Americans."

He thanked his friends and family -- especially his wife, Rep. Debbie Dingell -- for their support and reminded Americans that political power in a democracy is not held by politicians, but bestowed by the people.

"In my life and career I have often heard it said that so-and-so has real power -- as in, 'the powerful Wile E. Coyote, chairman of the Capture the Road Runner Committee,' " Dingell wrote. "It's an expression that has always grated on me. In democratic government, elected officials do not have power. They hold power -- in trust for the people who elected them. If they misuse or abuse that public trust, it is quite properly revoked (the quicker the better)."