Category: Leadership

Things to Consider When Evaluating Biden's First Year

10/18/2021

As we move from fall to winter and Biden’s approval polls slide, a little sanity and practical facts need to be inserted into the dialogue about how our President is really doing. I am amazed at Washington veterans in the press corps who just accept and report on the poll numbers without adding some context. Obviously, there are real problems for not just the President but the Democrats in Congress as the 2022 midterm election approaches.

Now, I’m not here to argue that a 35 to 40% approval rating is no problem. What I want to do is put these numbers into some perspective, taking into account some challenges that few, if any, Presidents had to face in their first year in office.

For starters, no incoming President until Biden has had such a crazy transition from Election Day to Inauguration Day. Because then-President Trump fought the results of the election all the way to January 20th (and still considers the results false), his administration offered no help given they believed they were still in office. Not getting the traditional assistance during the transition certainly hampered the early days of the administration.

Keep in mind Biden inherited probably the worst mess of any incoming President in history. For example, the pandemic that was under Trump’s management for the first year was mishandled in so many ways. Yes, Trump pushed for warp speed action on getting vaccines, but more than off-setting this effort was his instilling in his supporters that the virus was not that big of a problem. Then after acknowledging the negative impact of the pandemic, Trump proceeded to tell his supporters that taking the vaccine was not smart. All the while, Trump was activating his army of supporters in opposition to just about everything the government was pushing to help address COVID-19 challenges.

Here is another example. Biden inherited a civil service team that had been brutally treated. President Trump had no respect for professional public servants. At every opportunity, he placed inexperienced political hacks into positions where there had been career professionals who often had worked under several administrations. In addition, there were voluntary exits from civil servants who could not tolerate an environment so counterproductive to serving the best interests of the nation.

Also getting key positions filled that require Senate confirmation slowed things down. The Republicans in the Senate took almost every opportunity to stretch out the process for weeks and in some cases months. In the first fifteen days they had only confirmed five of Biden’s fifteen Cabinet selections. For comparison, the Senate had confirmed 90% of the Cabinet secretaries for Presidents Clinton, Bush, and Obama combined during a similar transition time frame. The bottom line is that Biden is still filling some key leadership positions including ones that Trump never saw fit to fill because he really didn’t want the government to work efficiently.

Biden has received little or no help from Republicans across the board, even on issues they really want Congress to deliver for the American people. I have no doubt that many of the Republicans who will be voting ‘no’ on all Biden’s major proposals including infrastructure will find ways to take some credit back in their states and districts even if these proposals are successfully passed by only the Democrats. As well, in time, when key projects on climate change get done and public support grows, these Republicans’ message will be that progress could not have happened without their support.

Observers of Biden’s first nine months often compare his results with that of previous administrations. The logical focus is with Lyndon B Johnson who also pushed major initiatives and with great success. Pundits often ignore the fact Johnson had strong Democratic majorities in both Houses. Biden has little or no margin for error, and the Democrats are struggling to find consensus on almost everything.

Yes, Biden has made mistakes. All Presidents do. But given the hurdles he has had to overcome, drawing conclusions this early in his term of office does not fairly represent where things really are. The keys for more success going forward are how much has been learned so far and how much getting the full team on board will make a difference.

In the end, Presidential polls are interesting and for the moment give a sense of where things appear to be, but to project conclusions for months and years down the road makes no sense. Things do change, and that includes for the better.

[Photo: Susan Walsh/AP]

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November 2nd is Important for the Future of Kansas

10/4/2021

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Tuesday, November 2nd, is election day in Kansas. This is the last day to vote and express your support for the candidates you want on your local City Commissions and School Boards. But between now and then there are other key dates to remember, such as the last day to register to vote on October 12th and the last day to register for an Advanced Ballot by mail on October 26th. Early voting starts by mail October 13th and in some counties in person voting can be done at your County Courthouse. Voter participation, or lack thereof, will significantly shape the future of the community in which you live.

Why is this so important and maybe more important than ever before? Because we have gone through and continue to experience major change that demands more attention. Businesses and people are more mobile than ever. Quality health care will be even more important coming out of a pandemic. Competitive public schools are often a key factor in family and business location decisions. The younger generation sees things much differently and are much more likely to see their future somewhere else. That future comes down to retention and attraction of residents and explains why in this competitive world, electing the best candidates to local leadership positions is so essential.

Now, if by chance you do not give a crap who makes decisions for your local population, that is your choice but don’t yell and scream when your community suffers from leadership that has failed in key areas, leaving you with higher taxes and lesser results. There is a direct connection between electing real leaders that are engaged in the community and having a community that can compete in these challenging times.

These upcoming elections are officially non-political but very unfortunately in practice are already becoming more partisan. Why do I think getting political parties openly engaged is bad? In my opinion, the importance of electing quality candidates who will serve the community well is far more important than political parties pressing for their preferences to be elected on political party biases. Voters tend to see the political fight and miss the candidates' positions and real qualifications for local leadership. In the end, political parties get their successes at the expense of what the community really needs.

Just think… If President Biden’s Build Back Better plan gets adopted and the potential infrastructure investments become available, there will be huge opportunities for communities that have quality leadership to take full advantage. November 2nd results will significantly play a direct role in how your community responds to the many challenges we face. Please do your part in helping make that future what your community needs to compete in these fast changing times.

Line Outside Sedgwick County Election Office

[Photo: The Wichita Eagle]

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Infrastructure is More than Roads and Bridges

6/17/2021

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My last couple blog posts have centered around infrastructure. It’s an issue I had the privilege to work on and support during my years in public service, and it’s something I feel just as strongly about today—as one of the most important things we can do to set our future generations up for success.

What needs to be made clear now is that infrastructure goes far beyond roads and bridges. Throughout the course of our history, that definition has changed—and should continue to change—over time as our needs evolve. In the late 1800's, the transcontinental railroad connected the country, and it laid the foundation for rail infrastructure development that continues to move people and goods efficiently from coast to coast. In the 1930’s, rural electrification was an infrastructure investment that provided an important utility, improved quality of life, and opened the door for more development in all areas of the country. In the 1950’s, infrastructure meant the Interstate Highway System—which supported transcontinental travel and commerce. Today, infrastructure must include broadband, housing, elder care and, yes, childcare. Investments that promote more engagement in the economy—and support the workforce that makes things happen—should be what meets the definition of modern infrastructure, needed for growth today and into the future.

I understand why the Republicans are taking the position that President Biden has a lot of “non-traditional” infrastructure in his plan before Congress. Given how, recently, Republicans often live in the past, taking that position should not be a big surprise. They frequently don’t see the big picture, connect the dots, and combined with their typical response of opposing any and all Democratic proposals, we should not in any way be surprised.

I expect there are Democrats who are a little puzzled about the Republicans' resistance given the last major Infrastructure plan was with President Eisenhower and the Interstate Highway Program back in the 1950’s. That effort was focused almost exclusively on much of the concrete we drive on today—and for the cross-country connections made and the positive impact on the economy.

What makes today so different is all the changes that have happened in the last sixty years to make today very challenging and the demand for new approaches very real. Today, broadband (for which there is some Republican support) has to be part of any infrastructure package because fully connecting the country takes much more than just roads and airports. Combined with our climate change challenges, dealing with the advancement of electric cars, and in concentrated urban areas much more efficient rail transportation, shouldn’t we be pleased that Biden rightfully looks at infrastructure needs more broadly?

Look at all the countries that in one area or another have caught up with us on infrastructure just in the last 30 years. China obviously leads the pack. But to put that in perspective, if you go back to the 1980’s when our Interstate Highway System was complete, on my 1982 visit to Henan Province, we rode on several dirt and sand roads that connected population centers. In fact, support and partnership on infrastructure from the Kansas Department of Transportation was included as an original component of our Sister-State relationship with Henan Province, which was established during our visits in the 1980’s. Now, contrast that with today, where China has surpassed us with very modern transportation systems that include high speed rail and airports that put ours to shame.

But much of the real investment Biden wants to make is in families as part of this program, which is much more than just raising some folks out of poverty and paying a fair wage. He knows that our current education system needs an upgrade to provide a quality workforce with the skills needed for us to compete in a fast changing world. He also knows that the availability of high quality childcare will be a must for many families to participate in the workforce of tomorrow.

Fortunately, there are communities stepping up to take some action on their own. I call your attention to what Lindsborg, Kansas is doing. They knew in many ways that they had a very attractive community with much of the extras that make the quality of life high. But they learned from their research the problem holding them back from growth was the lack of quality child care. Located between McPherson and Salina they knew the jobs existed but the families who were looking to locate in Lindsborg wanted the quality childcare that currently was not there. More detail can be found in an article “Nurturing Prosperity” in The Journal, published by the Kansas Leadership Center in Winter 2021. It provides a great example of how a community can step up to help meet needs, improve quality of life, and enable more growth.

Maybe what surprises me the most, not really, is much of the corporate community and particularly the wealthy who don't want to help pay for Biden’s plan, when in the end they will be the ones who likely benefit the most. Remember, they got the big Trump tax cut and now with Biden’s plan, yes, they will pay more but not fully back to the level prior to the cut. Adding salt to the wound, the previous administration cut the Internal Revenue Service budget so much that they do not have the staff to collect all the taxes that are due. Now combine that with some of the most wealthy, including corporations, who currently pay no taxes. Chew on that for a while.

Biden’s package for building back better is non-traditional but reflects his understanding of the changes and the challenges we face—and what we must do to have the future we want for coming generations. Hopefully, those who are savvy, investment-wise Republicans can send a message to their elected Republicans that infrastructure is not partisan and that the time is now to do what is smart, period.

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Federal Infrastructure Bill Past Due

4/19/2021

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Given that the last major national infrastructure package was the Interstate Highway System under President Eisenhower, partnering with Speaker Sam Rayburn and Senate Majority Leader Lyndon Johnson, both Democrats, one would think that President Biden’s infrastructure package just might be needed. These are needs that, if not addressed, will have huge negative consequences and particularly for states like Kansas, which do not have the resources to go it alone.

When it comes to maintaining infrastructure, we know there are higher costs down the road when we are not regularly reinvesting, and as a nation, we are falling behind on basic transportation needs as well as the important infrastructure of the future, like Broadband. This means the total price tag of such a bill will be high, but that is largely because it is clearly past time for national infrastructure investment.

The Republican-led Kansas Legislature has done some good on infrastructure, but there has been no help in Washington from the Republican members of our delegation.

Republicans in the Kansas Legislature have generally been positive about the Kelly Administration's efforts in Economic Development, and this includes another ten-year infrastructure program, the Eisenhower Legacy Transportation Plan. Of particular significance is the investment for Broadband, which is built into that plan for highways and bridges. No question, that is positive for many of our rural areas and small towns that are today without Broadband. But to really deliver on our total demands for Broadband, we need what President Biden is proposing in his infrastructure plan, and our Republican Congressional delegation needs to find ways to help.

Given the recent investments the state has made on Broadband, it's clear that from the state-level, Kansas is ready to put these dollars to work right now, in order to improve internet access statewide.

The value of expanding access to Broadband cannot be overemphasized for the best interest of Kansas collectively but most seriously for those areas not now served. Quality of public education, particularly in sparsely populated areas, can really be enhanced. Likewise, in delivering needed health care, Broadband would make a real difference. But maybe most important is the value Broadband will be to existing businesses and attracting startups that are likely non-starters without it.

We should not let our Republican delegation in Washington get away with hiding behind any concern about raising taxes or, God forbid, raising the national debt given their record on both issues in recent years. Their lack of consistency is off the charts. They had no problem borrowing a couple trillion for Trump’s pandemic package not that long after cutting the taxes of the richest individual taxpayers as well as corporations that often find ways to pay nothing and will further benefit financially from implementation of the Biden Infrastructure plan. But, despite all this, Republicans have already vowed not to cast a single supportive vote to address our clear infrastructure needs.

So why is this contrast with Republicans between D.C. and Kansas so hard to understand? I have given it some thought, and I am down to just one possibility. Maybe the explanation is tied to the actual measurable distance between the constituents and those representing them. D.C. is so far off that the real needs of the people do not rise to the top of priorities like they do in Topeka. I feel confident that most rural Kansas Legislators have constituents raising Broadband deficiencies as a critical priority.

Now, let’s get to the real message. I accept the fact that my making these points directly to our Congressional delegation (with the exception of Congresswoman Davids who is on board) in D.C. has no value or return. So I am reminding all of you who are reading this message that your direct contact by text, email, or phone message, just might get their attention and make a difference. Your efforts would particularly be effective if you can share a specific community or location that would significantly benefit from Washington Broadband help. The need is undeniable, and the time to act is now.

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Henry Hollie and the Gettysburg Address

4/1/2021

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As I look back on our collective pandemic experience, when we return to something like the old normal, the one thing I might miss most will be the extraordinary amount of time I have had to read books. This was new to me because, up until the pandemic, work dominated. One book I really enjoyed was John Alter’s, “His Very Best," about former President Jimmy Carter. I share in this blog why I found the book so timely, as well as a direct connection to what I was doing in Topeka during the Carter Administration.

Having lived through the late 70’s and 80’s and, in very modest ways, participating in those historical times, I saw some of the ups and downs of the Carter Administration up close when I was on the Executive Board of the National Governors Association and when I spent time in D.C. Reading Alter’s book, it was fun to be reminded that, on reflection, there is much more good than bad about President Carter and his record. In fact, today, after first placing Carter in the bottom 1/3rd of Presidents, historians now have him in the top third.

Part of the book covers the Camp David Accords, the 13-day effort in 1978 to bring peace between Israel and Egypt after four major wars starting in 1948, a peace that remains today. During this experience, President Carter’s patience was frequently tested in keeping Israel’s Prime Minister Menachem Begin and Egypt’s President Anwar el-Sadat at Camp David and from just leaving and giving up, which was frequently close to happening. After about seven days, Carter decided they needed a break. He chose to take them to Gettysburg and the famous battle ground from the Civil War.

As they were walking around the memorial, Begin, a few feet away from Carter and Sadat, started reciting “Four score and seven years ago, our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that "all men are created equal." He went on to flawlessly complete the entire Gettysburg Address.

My first reaction, after some shock, was how President Lincoln’s words would fit right into the many challenges we face as a country today. Polar opposite positions on everything from dealing with the pandemic, to the economy, infrastructure, immigration, and election reforms, puts Lincoln’s message “a house divided cannot stand” to the test.

My next thought after reading that reflection was how I knew someone who worked for me who could also recite the Gettysburg Address flawlessly. Henry Hollie at Cedar Crest, the Governor’s residence, could at any appropriate opportunity likewise perfectly recite the Gettysburg Address. Henry Hollie was my everything at Cedar Crest. From greeting and taking care of guests, to making sure events came off smoothly, to helping improve my pool game, to making sure I left Cedar Crest to go to work in a freshly pressed suit. My success as Governor can be attributed to incredible staff, a powerful talented cabinet, and maybe most importantly to the thousands of talented civil servants who in the end delivered the goods. Henry Hollie was a valuable part of that team.

Here's a photo of Henry Hollie and I during an event at Cedar Crest. From his ability to flawlessly recite the Gettysburg Address, to the essential functions he served on our team, and his infectious smile, these memories still bring a smile to my face.

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"The Big Lie" Fueling Voter Suppression

3/1/2021

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At every level of government, from the Nation's Capital to individual states including Kansas, with direct impacts on local elections as well, there are currently active efforts to pass voter suppression laws to make it more difficult for some people to vote—efforts with much success likely. The sole purpose of these efforts is to win some elections that would likely be lost without such help. Making it more difficult for some folks to vote has a long history in this country. It took us a long time to even allow Black men and women to vote, and we gradually saw some progress to make voter participation in elections more fair.

Who is mostly impacted? Voter suppression laws are primarily designed to impact citizens of color, but across the board they disenfranchise anyone who has difficulty voting. Whatever reason that might be, whether tied to the job one has, their living situation, parental responsibilities, some kind of disability, academic commitments, language barriers, business or family challenges, their likelihood of voting can be altered dramatically by the access options provided.

In recent years, several changes have been made to improve access to the polls. These changes include voting by mail, early voting, sufficient number of places to vote, drop boxes, and maybe most importantly, a communication effort to make sure all eligible voters know their options. And we're coming off a 2020 election where more Americans voted than ever before, something you would think would make us all proud. Unbelievably, but true, is that basic efforts to expand voter participation are used by many to claim voter fraud and, most importantly, to justify suppressing the vote.

Proponents of passing voter suppression laws at both the national and state level are folks who know that, without such actions, too many of their candidates would lose. They hide under the false concern of illegal ballots being cast when there is little or no evidence today of any fraud at any level that would have impacted any election. Despite, for example, the Biden-Trump race in Georgia being recounted three times with basically no change and even the Republican Secretary of State certifying the election, claims of fraud continued to be pushed by then President Trump all the way to the riots in the Capitol January 6th and the first speech of his post-presidency, delivered at CPAC. They continue this lie today. And buying into "the big lie" is being used as a type of litmus test, to prove that certain Republicans are truly "with" the Trump program. It's hard to imagine something more damaging than attacking the integrity of U.S. elections as a base-line belief for a major political party.

Trump’s own Attorney General confirmed the election was fair and very well administered nationwide, and there is a general agreement among professionals in both parties that our 2020 elections were run, with rare exceptions, fairly. Some more-than-sixty lawsuits were filed by Trump’s team claiming election fraud in several states that were key in determining the Electoral College victory for Biden. None gained any traction, including several that reached the Supreme Court and in front of Judges who were appointed by President Trump.

What blows me away is all the voters here in Kansas who happily look the other way and accept such discrimination as perfectly acceptable while they hide under outlandish claims of voter fraud. Former Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach made a huge issue of voter fraud, spending state dollars to investigate with no success in the end finding any real problem, other than a few very isolated examples. Then costing the state more money to defend the discriminatory policies put on the books, many of which have been struck down in court. He did, however, manage to secure years of far right government in Kansas and put himself on the radar of the Trump administration, who unsurprisingly loved his anti-democratic ideas.

Modern elections, particularly after the fine-tuning following 2016, are confirmed to be run fair and square by expert and objective viewers. This is why there is a growing shift for most Republicans to push voter suppression as the way for their candidates to win. We live in a country that theoretically believes in "one person one vote" and throughout our history have made strides towards every legal voter having easy access to the ballot box. Why should that not be our practice?

What needs to happen to stop voter suppression, given Republicans control legislatures and Governors in many state capitals, is for the Biden Administration to introduce a new John Lewis Voting Rights Act setting national standards for voting access and for Congress to pass it. This law would probably be passed by only Democratic votes, but it would counter all the efforts being made by Republicans to suppress the vote and disenfranchise large populations of voters.

Now to those who say this is all just politics, I am happy to be on the side of believing all eligible voters should have easy access to the voting booth and not be handicapped in any way. How else would we truly insure that the will of the people is determining our government, rather than the other way around? And what credibility would we have in standing up for democracy around the world if we consistently did the opposite here at home? This is directly at the core of who we are as a nation and, most importantly, who we want to be.

Donald Trump delivered his first speech as a former President, a lie-filled tirade at the annual CPAC convention. Chief among his "greatest hits" was the effort to deny the results of the 2020 Presidential election. The crowd enthusiastically cheered "the big lie," as they prepare to do his bidding and push for an agenda of voter suppression, that just might help him get elected in 2024. [Photo: Elijah Nouvelage/Getty Images]

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Restoring Quality and Respect for Civil Service

2/1/2021

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I remember in 1978, starting literally the day after my election, meeting with Budget Office Director Jim Bibb and his talented staff who, for the most part, stayed with me for all eight years and did a tremendous job. They were representative of the many unheralded folks in all areas of government who got the job done on a daily basis. When I began my term, I and my new cabinet had most of the civil service talent basically in place to move forward with my agenda.

In contrast, President Biden will be hindered by the many vacancies created by folks who could not tolerate the unprofessional Trump approach and the totally incompetent political hacks that were hired. The public will need to understand this challenge and accept the fact that it will take significant time to not just set aside incompetent staff but hire quality replacements the federal government needs for expected delivery of quality services. But the experienced Biden-Harris leadership team will get started on this task right away at the various agencies and departments of the federal government.

I think back to my ten years with the National Archives and Records Administration, when I had some 3,000 classified civil service employees who dedicated their careers to public service. Their professionalism and commitment to public service allowed me and my leadership team to focus on securing the resources needed and to work on program changes important to address the changing ways of record creation, preservation, and public access.

If this Trump disaster has a familiar ring for Kansans, it is the memories of our eight years of the Brownback Administration and all the pain that came from their total disrespect for career public servants. With the support of the Republican led Legislature, the law was changed so that when a career employee retired or moved to another job, they could replace that employee with an unqualified political friend who would survive in that position when there is a change of administration. As one can imagine, such action has made many problems for the Kelly administration.

In contrast, President Obama, after a trip to Alabama following a devastating tornado to inspect and, most importantly, check to see how his FEMA director Craig Fugate and team were doing, was pleased to get very positive local feedback. Writing in his book “A Promised Land,” Obama said this:

“I wasn’t surprised, for Fugate had been one of my best hires, a no nonsense, no-ego, no-excuses public servant with decades of experience dealing with natural disasters. Still it gave me satisfaction to see his efforts recognized, and I was once again reminded that so much of what really mattered in government came down to the daily, unheralded acts of people who weren’t seeking attention but simply knew what they were doing and did it with pride.”

And as I shared earlier, the Biden-Harris Administration will initially need some patience from we the people as they work to fill the voids and vacancies in the civil service system left to them by the Trump Administration. I am very confident they will, but just maybe not as fast as we’d like or need—following Trump has its special handicaps. And let us all respect the importance of a quality civil service that makes so much difference in how the job of serving citizens actually gets done.

[Photo: Reuters]

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Still Much to Learn from Dr. King's Visit to Kansas

1/18/2021

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I was milking cows in 1968, a year one can never forget. The assassinations, the riots, the Chicago Democratic Convention, and ultimately Humphrey losing to Nixon in November. Even with my aging memory, that year is solidly etched in. Including notable appearances by multiple leaders who passed through Kansas during that tumultuous year.

But the year started with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. coming to Manhattan and Kansas State University on January 19th, speaking in Ahearn Fieldhouse to a packed crowd. The following are his opening remarks and, although 53 years have passed, they are certainly on target today.

“There seems to be a desperate, poignant question on the lips of thousands and millions of people all over our nation and all over the world. They are asking whether we have made any real progress in the area of race relations. In seeking to answer this question I always seek to avoid, on the one hand, a superficial optimism and, on the other hand a deadening pessimism. I always try to answer it by giving what I consider a realistic position. It seems to me that the realistic position is that we have made significant strides in the struggle for racial equality, but that we have a long, long way to go before the problem is solved." Read the full transcript here.

There is no better example of how his words a half century ago ring so true today than the all-too-frequent action of law enforcement in response to white backlash against the struggle for Black equality, safety, and justice. What happened in Washington D.C. on January 6th will be etched in history forever. Contrast the actions, or primarily inactions, of law enforcement that day with the often over reaction to a Black Lives Matter protest this past summer and it is abundantly clear that significant police reform is in order.

That double standard was certainly true in the 1960’s. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated April 4th, 1968. Four days later, Congressman John Conyers from Michigan introduced a House Resolution to have an official federal holiday honoring the work of King. In the Kansas Legislative session shortly after King was assassinated, KS Representative Norman Justice introduced a resolution calling for the state to implement a MLK holiday for Kansas. No action was taken at that time. President Carter tried in 1979 to get the holiday established but came up five votes short in the House.

Final passage making the federal holiday official was not until 1983 (signed into law by President Reagan 11-2-1983) with 1986 being the first year of celebration. Kansas was an early state (1984) in adopting the holiday, with all states on board by the turn of the century. It is striking that, even now, Alabama and Mississippi honor the Confederate General Robert E. Lee on the same day as Dr. King. And we wonder why the symbolism of the Confederate flag is still such an issue.

Today, there is certainly opposition to needed police reform, just as there was strong opposition to the potential of a holiday for Dr. King. Republican Senator Jesse Helms of North Carolina said King was "anti-American." Some Senators said another holiday would be too expensive to the nation. To that, Republican Senator Dole of Kansas said, “I would suggest they hurry back to their pocket calculators and estimate the cost of 300 years of slavery, followed by a century or more of economic, political, and social exclusion and discrimination.”

I cannot imagine any Republican member of our current Kansas Congressional delegation uttering anything close to what Senator Dole said almost 40 years ago. How things have changed, and not always for the better, highlights the many challenges of race relations that we still face. So, on this year's MLK Day, we should heed Dr. King's words, and learn from his legacy, as we continue the struggle to make this a more just and inclusive nation. Because we certainly have "a long, long way to go."

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. speaking in Ahearn Field House on January 19, 1968. [Photo Courtesy of the Morse Department of Special Collections, Kansas State University Libraries]

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A Story on Not Conceding an Election

1/14/2021

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While it fortunately is not the norm, a candidate not conceding an election has happened before.

First, let me take you back to General Election day in Kansas, November of 1978. I was challenging incumbent Governor Bob Bennett. I was underfunded, given little chance to win, and in the latest poll published in the Sunday Topeka Daily Capital before the election, I was down 49% to 33%. How I won is another story, but certainly my opponent had to be totally shocked, especially when the first edition of the Topeka Capital Journal had him winning very early Wednesday morning.

He didn't have to concede and concession was not necessary for the transition process to begin. There was no questioning of the election results but also no real organized help for the transition either, with the exception of access to the budget staff to produce a new budget for the Legislature’s consideration. It was clear that I would become Governor, and I took over as planned on Inauguration Day in 1979 with no fuss. This is certainly the outcome we're all hoping for in 2021.

Years passed and I never gave the issue any thought. For me, Bennett’s unwillingness to concede was never a real issue. After I had left office, the Kansas State Chamber of Commerce sponsored a Leadership Kansas program, inviting both myself and Governor Bennett to jointly appear, share observations, and take questions—something we ended up doing for several years. At the very first joint appearance, Bennett went first and led off with this statement: “For the record, I want to publicly concede that John won in '78.” The audience didn’t know exactly how to respond, but it didn’t keep us from having a really good joint appearance. I always highly respected him, as we had gotten very well acquainted when we were both in legislative leadership and then during his four years as Governor.

I am thankful and we are fortunate that, despite Trump taking over two months to accept there will be a transition of power, and with accountability coming after putting us through hell on January 6th, the experienced Biden-Harris team knows what they are doing—even with limited early access to key information, including intelligence and public health. And, come January 20th, they will be ready to lead and make us proud.

But, clearly, re-establishing civility and mutual respect for one another and the electoral process will continue to be a challenge in the coming years. We must restore our faith in the will of the People and our system for freely and fairly electing our leaders. If we don't do this, I fear more dark days could be in our future, rather than our past.

Kansas Governor Bob Bennett, Kansas Governor John Carlin

Pictured here is Governor Bob Bennett and myself, on Inauguration Day in January of 1979. The speech took place indoors that year, in the Auditorium at Grand Army of the Republic Memorial Hall, with the Swearing-In on the South steps of the Capitol shortly after.

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What the Biden-Harris Picks Say About Their Leadership Style

12/14/2020

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As I watch President Elect Joe Biden put together the team he and Vice President Elect Harris will have come January 20th, confirmations pending, almost without exception I am very pleased. What is obvious is that experience, competence, and diversity are back, and the Federal Government will once again be on track.

Starting with Biden’s White House staff, what a change from what we have witnessed in the last four years! These folks, in many cases, have been there before with success and will be operating smoothly right at the start. As the Biden-Harris team continues to announce cabinet and top leadership posts, the high quality continues, and although some Republican Senators are already targeting some for serious scrutiny, as is normal, there is hope that this process moves quickly given the existing voids of leadership and the incredible problems we have.

As this transition goes by day-by-day, I can’t help but reflect on the two new Presidential Administrations that I had some experience with and how those transfers of power worked out.

Jimmy Carter campaigned early in Kansas, and I had a chance to get acquainted with him. Over time, as Governor, I connected with his staff when I was very active with the National Governors Association. Carter brought with him to Washington many key staff he had as Governor. The group, often referred to as his "Georgia Mafia," had very limited Washington experience, so problems were common.

Six of the eight years I was Governor, Clinton was Governor of Arkansas. Because of our close proximity and the Governors Association, we got very well acquainted. As it became evident that sometime soon he would run for President, I remember telling him more than once to please remember the lesson we both learned from Carter about having experienced folks on your White House staff. Clinton’s first Chief of Staff was a wonderful person with talent that shined in Arkansas but knew nothing about running the White House.

In sharp contrast to these two administrations, Biden has huge advantages. First, there is no Delaware Mafia for Biden, because almost all his experience has been centered in the Nation's Capital. From decades of time in the United States Senate and the eight years as Vice President, he had time to observe and get acquainted with much of the talent his team would need. Biden’s national experience also gave him a clear understanding of the skills needed to successfully lead in this time of huge challenges and pressure.

I think of my own experience setting up an administration and how I ended up with such a great team: Pat Hurley, John Kemp, Barbara Sabol, Joe Harkins, Mike Lennen, Bob Harder, Harley Duncan, and many others including a fantastic staff who were exceptionally talented, hard working, and went on to huge success in government and private business. How did this happen? All I know for sure is I always knew I wasn’t the smartest person in the room, so to succeed, I had to go for the very best. And it is clear now that President Elect Joe Biden is going with folks he knows have the competence and experience to deliver.

He continues to pick knowledgeable public servants that he knows he can listen to and trust when important decisions come to his desk. I know from experience that this style of leadership can lead to fantastic results that serve the people well.

[Photo: Anna Moneymaker/The New York Times]

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Biden-Harris Administration Gearing Up for Huge Challenges

12/7/2020

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Despite continued Trump efforts to discredit and change the outcome of the 2020 election, President Elect Joe Biden will be sworn in on January 20th as the 46th President of the United States. And, despite the lack of transitional help from the Trump Administration, the Biden-Harris team is doing really well at filling out their team and learning as much as possible about all areas of government. They will be as well prepared as possible come the afternoon of the swearing-in ceremony to take over running the government of the United States of America.

Because the election was very close and in an almost equally politically divided country, the challenges ahead are greater than maybe anytime in history with obstacles in the way including the pandemic and a looming depression for many Americans. On top of that, the 2024 Presidential race has in essence already started. Trump is not going away and is preparing his supporters to do everything possible to hurt Biden. Because Trump remains engaged in politics, I fear the bulk of current Republican members in Congress, particularly the Senate, will be gutless in risking offending him.

Additionally, the Biden team is being pushed by elements of their own party who are making all sorts of demands on key appointments as well as pushing several key policy areas further to the left. Biden needs his liberal supporters to be reasonable, be at the table, and be heard. But the liberals should not publicly demand that their views totally prevail because they believe they won the election for him. Delivering the victory could be claimed of almost any group or area when an election is as close as this one. It’s also far too early in this process to claim that one particular constituency or another has “won or lost” anything. It’s best to be patient and allow the selection processes to play out, knowing the functionality and success of the overall team is the priority here.

Strategically, the plan moving forward must include directions that enhance the likelihood of re-election. I say that for at least two reasons. First, I think the chances increase for the policy changes achieved to survive a Republican reversal if the people re-elect the Biden-Harris team, thus showing public support for the Administration’s leadership. Secondly, we need eight years of appointing judges to begin balancing the court system after the unbelievable Trump move to only appoint not just conservative judges but anti-government ones that have and will continue to reverse positions that have stood for decades under leadership of both parties.

For me, this means strategically to accomplish these goals we must be pragmatic. Biden’s tendency to want Republican support needs to really be given a chance. This is absolutely true if Democrats do not win both Georgia Senate races in January. And in achieving even minimal Republican votes, the public perception should be more positive. And the Administration's messaging will be key. Remembering the audience you need to reach beyond your core supporters will be a must.

Regarding overcoming obstacles, we will probably learn soon whether Biden’s long history in the Senate with some former Republican colleagues can work to some modest degree in helping move his Presidential agenda forward. The first clue will be how those key Republicans start to act following the transition and with less direct pressure from the former President, allowing at least some independent thought. Depending on how the Georgia runoff races go, Biden may need none or only a couple Senators to work with him. Ideally, he will find those Republican votes so that legislation looks at least a little bipartisan, which should increase the chances of surviving a future Republican administration.

Given the challenges of dealing with Covid-19 and the unbelievable growth in cases and deaths as well as the economy, we had better hope and pray Joe and Kamala have the support necessary to succeed. Lives are at stake, and the future is on the line.

President-Elect Biden and Vice President-Elect Harris

[Photo: Ruth Fremson/The New York Times]

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Engaging Young Voters: A Role For Everyone

10/12/2020

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To begin, I know that the bulk of my readers are like me, old enough to be grandparents, and that many of your grandchildren are of voting age. I assume you love them and want the very best for them and their future. Therefore, my challenge to you is to see that they, as well as other young people, vote. And this extends to any young person in your life: children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, etc. Many are busy people, and they need to be reminded of key dates and details to make sure their votes are counted, especially in this difficult year. It never hurts to check in, and make sure these important people are making a plan to vote. Their future will depend on their influence in who gets elected. The following is my pitch on just why this is so important.

If younger generations do not wake up soon to the importance of voting, and that means starting now with this election, they will face a future that they will forever regret. They will realize, too late, that they could have done something. The climate change that did not get reined in soon enough as well as the failure to invest wisely in research, innovation, and education, have by then put today’s young people in a position of headaches and disappointments of a huge magnitude that could have been avoided.

For better or for worse, this is a Presidential election that will be remembered forever. The ultimate outcome will be either that our democracy survived and flourished or this will be the election wherein our democracy died. I say this not to scare you, but to put in proper perspective what we and future generations face.

Young people need to vote, but not just only for a Presidential race. There are down ballot races like the U.S. Senate and four Congressional races here in Kansas with national implications. The entire Kansas Legislature plus local county races, particularly county commissioners, also have severe implications for our future. Given the pandemic, we now know much better the importance of local leaders-just think about how county commissioners across the state have made decisions as they oversee their county health departments’ decisions on public health issues. Obviously, there is much at stake come November 3rd.

Historically, young people have turned out to vote at a lower rate than older generations (check out the stats shared by Loud Light). The participation rates between these age groups is not even close. Consequently, campaigns tend to put less emphasis on young voters’s concerns and focus on older generations who are much more likely to vote. The results consequently follow suit with older and more conservative views prevailing. Therefore, the issue is not just voting in this critical election. It is also about establishing that the votes of the younger generation can now make a real difference in who gets elected in the future.

I’ve said many times to my students in my classes at K-State that is is not rocket science to understand why the issues of my generation like social security, medicare, and low taxes get strong attention while issues like investing tax dollars in the future through research, infrastructure, and strong public education at all levels tend to be put off.

Unfortunately, elected officials show more interest in who votes than young people’s futuristic hopes and dreams. If more young people would vote, if that block could start influencing outcomes, policies would more likely change. Politicians agree for the most part on only one thing, and that is the importance of getting elected and re-elected. A young person’s vote counts much more if their peers are voting too. This should be an incentive to get involved and work to get friends and peers registered and voting.

To close on a more positive note, I have been teaching young people at K-State for now over 15 years and in that time I have seen growing interest in politics here in Kansas and nationally as well. When I ask my students if they are registered to vote, the percentage who say yes has grown considerably. I get similar responses as well as who say they have already voted and are committed to vote this November 3rd. There is hope, but we need more senior citizens who can accelerate that movement with some sage advice from our years of experience. IT DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE WHO GETS ELECTED.

[Photo: The Wichita Eagle]

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Debate Brings Full Threat to Democracy Into the Open

10/5/2020

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Along with all Americans, I am concerned about the health of President Trump and the First Lady and fervently hope they (along with others who have contracted the COVID-19 virus) experience a swift and complete recovery. In ordinary times, I would have delayed or held off on posting today’s blog. However, the extreme threat to our democratic electoral system posed by the President’s election strategy compels continued vigilance and explanation. We need to know what is happening and what is at stake. For that reason, the campaign season must go on. This includes inquiries, future debates, commentary, and engagement between the candidates themselves and especially voter-to-voter. So, with all of that in mind, I decided to move forward with this posting.

In a totally bizarre performance last Tuesday night, President Trump laid out his plan for retaining the presidency in starkly clear—and very troubling—terms. He did so knowing he will not win the popular vote, nor the Electoral College, if all votes are counted and certified accurately. Keep in mind that what he proposes would sabotage the process by which we select a democratically elected government for the United States. That his supporters have seemed either unconcerned or even approving of his plan and performance is hard to believe.

Given that Trump is likely to face enormous problems upon his exit from the White House, it is understandable that he views it as a safe house—a residence to be retained irrespective of the damage he does to the country’s underlying institutions.

So how does he win? He wins by creating an atmosphere that the election is rigged—that all his votes were not counted. In fact, Tuesday night he talked about votes already cast for him having been found in trash cans. Of course, no real specifics were shared. But even more troubling is his obvious effort to stir his radical base to mobilize in any way they see fit to disrupt the voting process, and to discourage voters from voting on election day November 3rd by telling these radicals to show up at polling sites.

His hope is that, with so many mail ballots being cast throughout the country and with only two states, Florida and Arizona, counting those ballots as they come in, he will be ahead on election night. He can then declare victory and, when the votes turn to favor Biden, assert fraud and go to the courts where he hopes to find a majority of sympathetic right-wing, Trump-appointed judges who will affirm a win for him.

Along with this judicial strategy, he is issuing a not-at-all subtle call to right-wing radicals and militia types to do what they can to intimidate voters and otherwise disrupt the electoral process and its aftermath. His direction to the Proud Boys, “stand back and stand by,” was immediately adopted by them as their mantra. They feel empowered that Trump embraced their group at the debate and took his statement as a rallying cry. Who would imagine that the President of the United States would in effect be issuing a call for civil insurrection? But that is the core of the Trump effort. And it adds fuel to a threat that's been on the rise in recent years here at home, nationwide, and abroad.

I am reminded of the Watergate era and the huge contrast between the actions of Republican leaders then and now. At that time, senators like Howard Baker (later Nancy Kassebaum’s husband) and Barry Goldwater stood up and spoke out when evidence of wrong-doing was clear. Their actions led to Nixon’s decision to resign and the peaceful transfer of power to President Ford. The Republican senators acted with political integrity and real concern about doing what was right for the country.

What happened then, however, is beginning to seem minor compared to the Trump assault on our democracy that is manifest today. There were, of course, serious concerns about Nixon himself and what had happened in the course of the Watergate break-in and cover-up, but, in truth there was no serious constitutional crisis nor was there a real threat to our democracy.

If Roberts and Moran as well as wanna-be Senator Congressman Marshall and the rest of the Republican Kansas delegation stay silent, in essence giving license to Trump to proceed, they will join other Republican-elected officials who share responsibility for undermining our democracy. In their silence, they will have broken their promise to support the Constitution of the United States of America. Our democratic system and institutions could be a casualty of their cowardice.

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19th Amendment Centennial and Where We Stand Today

8/15/2020

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On August 18th, 1920 the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution received final approval when Tennessee became the state to achieve the ⅔ vote necessary to amend. Kansas ratified the 19th Amendment a year earlier on June 16th, 1919. To put this achievement in some perspective, shortly after the Civil War, Black men's right to vote was recognized with the passage of the 15th amendment to the Constitution. Over forty years would pass before a woman's right to vote would be recognized.

This significant advancement was not accomplished by men leading the change. Men were not making the case to their colleagues that the time had come for women to have the right to vote. Much to the contrary, women persisted in leading the way. In 1869 the National Woman's Suffrage Association was formed and led by Susan B. Anthony. This movement was built off of previous women-led efforts around abolition and temperance movements.

Women have always been key in leading change and that is even more important for our future.

From a point of view of state pride, Kansas in many ways has led the nation on women’s equality. Kansas was the first state in the nation to hold a referendum on women’s suffrage in 1867 and recognized women's right to vote in local elections in 1887. That same year, the town of Argonia, Kansas elected the first female mayor in U.S. history. And, in 1912, Kansas recognized a woman's right to vote in national elections, eight years before the 19th amendment passed.

Understanding our past holds lessons for our future. My focus in this blog is on what should be done to make the most of the underutilized talents of the women in our workforce. This is not just about equal pay, but promoting women into positions that make best use of their talents and leadership skills for the benefit of everyone. Especially, at this time in our nation where there is a critical need for making positive change.

The growing fact is that many young women are outperforming young men at a significant pace by doing better in their classes, by simply learning more, and by being better prepared to really make a difference through leading change. I want to make it clear that we have many very talented young men, it is just that they tend to be fewer in number. The key is getting the right person in the right position of leadership and more often than not a woman.

So how does that progress take place? There needs to be more awareness and acknowledgment that when employers fail to fully engage women in the workplace, there are consequences, including a potentially negative impact on the bottom line. Whether financial or due to unachieved policy outcomes and practices with public institutions, the consequences can be quite significant. Given the huge challenges that are coming out of the pandemic, ensuring women are allowed to fulfill their potential is even more important.

In a strange way, the pandemic and all the needs it exposed for major change in our society may accelerate interest, motivation, and pressure for major change. We just might be more aware of the reality of our shortcomings, that we are no longer number one or close in many key areas, and going forward with the past ways will just not get it done. That will put more pressure on getting change agents—often women—in a key position to lead us on climate change, improving education, and addressing the many local issues needed for economic growth in the future.

The fact that more women are stepping up to run for public office also gives me hope. The new, very talented women in Congress from 2018, and likely more coming from 2020 elections including a candidate for Vice President of the United States, is very positive. Younger generations also inspire me to believe that the message of equality is taking hold, and their continued engagement is precisely the thing that can bring about the lasting changes we need.

So here’s to the women’s leadership and engagement that brought us the 19th Amendment. It is my hope that future celebrations of progress for women include not just pay equity but rightful promotions. When that happens, we will not only celebrate but also reap the economic and policy rewards.

To learn more about the history of the 19th Amendment and the key leaders and documents that made it a reality, I’d highly suggest following along with the National Archives this month, as they share suffrage stories and publish inspirational and educational materials on their website. I look forward to reading and sharing these great resources for learning about our country’s history.

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Some VP Thoughts for Joe Biden

7/29/2020

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Joe Biden, sometime very soon, as the Democratic Presidential Nominee, you are going to have to make a decision on your running mate. So whether you will see this blog or not, here is what I think about your options. My views are based on years of experience in politics as a citizen (I voted for Truman in ‘48 at Smolan Grade School) and in elective office as well as my concern for my grandchildren and their future given the impossible challenges we face as a nation.

Of the potential running mates that are mentioned most frequently, Stacy Abrams is a real talent that has emerged on the National scene in a big way and very quickly. She would clearly bring a passion for change that would help excite the younger generation and has demonstrated her capacity to lead change with communication and organizational skills so necessary to succeed. I think she needs more national seasoning but certainly could help your administration in a number of different ways.

Kamala Harris gets lots of attention and understandably so. From starting in a local elected office, she quickly moved to being State Attorney General, and now represents California in the United States Senate. As a woman of color with national standing, it is no surprise she is on your list of potential running mates. She has the potential problems that come with being a former prosecutor. But, overall, her strong and effective voice in the Senate and her ability to take the Trump administration and its officials to task in committee hearings and elsewhere has certainly earned her serious consideration for the Vice Presidency or for other roles down the road.

Not surprisingly, Senator Elizabeth Warren gets a lot of attention. She is very bright, passionate, and has a balanced set of experiences that make her a logical option. She has not only her Senate experience but as well being a part of the Obama Administration leading the then newly established agency to protect the consumers interests. She clearly will be an important ally, especially from a policy perspective. The question is in what position. I would definitely make the best use of her talents for sure if you can get the Republican Governor of Massachusetts to appoint a quality Democrat to her seat.

There are other prospects getting attention and rightfully so. Governors like Gretchen Whitmer from Michigan and Michelle Lujan Grisham of New Mexico are showing real leadership under fire, but I think their potential opportunity will come down the road. Susan Rice was in the Obama Administration but has never run for office and her focus has been at a high-level advising rather than executive leadership positions. This leaves us with Congresswoman Val Demings from Florida and Senator Tammy Duckworth from Illinois, unless, Joe, you have a big surprise for us.

Earlier, I thought Congresswoman Val Demings from Florida would be the best. Her job on the Impeachment team to represent the House was outstanding and gave her substantive national exposure. She is certainly smart and a great communicator. What also caught my attention was her experience as a Police Chief in Orlando Florida, a state that will be key with the Electoral College. Her piece in the Washington Post giving the Minneapolis police hell had more punch coming from her and reinforced her support for change. She was certainly not born with a silver spoon in her mouth and will be able to identify with millions of Americans regardless of color.

But I did some more checking and learned a couple things from my contacts in Florida. I was reminded that with so many Congressional districts in Florida, her statewide political clout is likely limited and 25 years on the police force could have some risks that have not surfaced yet. However, she is clearly another talent to keep an eye on.

Of the names circulated the most at this point, that leaves Senator Tammy Duckworth from Illinois as, I believe, the best choice. Early on, I didn’t even think of her as much of an option, but then she started getting more attention so I went online and got acquainted. Born in Thailand, her father was a retired Marine who was working for the United Nations Refugee Program. Her public service leadership experience at both the state and national administrative level followed by two successful terms in Congress and now in the United States Senate, certainly gives her solid and broad credentials. FYI, for more depth Google “16 Things You Might Not Know About Tammy Duckworth.” You will, I think, be amazed.

As a woman of color, who has sacrificed much for her love of this country, Senator Duckworth would be a significant asset for winning in November. But she also has what might be most important. In talking to several of my political friends, the question that came up most was who is most ready to step in from day one to be your successor? That day will come, and the huge problems we have will only be addressed by strong leadership over a significant period of time, thus making your choice for Vice President even more important. Senator Tammy Duckworth would be the valuable partner you will need, Joe, as well as the strongest leadership credentials to help return this country to the policies and actions that restore our nation’s reputation at home and overseas.

Mr. Vice President, you certainly have your pick of some outstanding potential VP’s, along with a host of exciting talent to build your administration around. But first, it’s incumbent on all of us to do everything in our power to make sure there is no second term for the Trump administration. As you’ve rightly pointed out on the campaign trail, our country can recover from one term of this, but after two, the damage would be irreparable. The stakes are simply too high to get this one wrong.

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Will Republicans Ever Stand Up to Trump?

6/28/2020

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I’ve had this thought for some time after earlier screw-ups, wondering how, not just our own Kansas Republicans, but almost all elected Republicans stick with the President regardless how obvious the mistakes. What purpose does that serve? I suppose the answer is an easier re-election. But, given all the problems we have (including the unfolding story about Russian bounties for killing for U.S. troops), wouldn’t it be a good time to speak up respectfully?

IF THE NFL AND NASCAR CAN STAND UP TO PRESIDENT TRUMP WITH BILLIONS AT STAKE, WHY CAN’T YOU?

Over the past several weeks, we have seen people of all colors and backgrounds take to the streets, not just in this nation but around the world, demanding action to solve the obvious racial issues we have. Police departments all across the nation are under (and rightfully so) close inspection for major long overdue changes. Social justice for now is at the top of most political agendas. But where are the Republicans who are actually standing up to the President? This is a time for Republicans to join Democrats to pass real sensible legislation that has large public support and will signal just maybe we are on the road to recovery and sanity and, if necessary, over the President’s veto.

Consider also COVID-19 in the early stages, when lessons from other countries should have been learned and turned into mitigation strategies for the United States. Why were the Republicans silent when it became clear that cutting the CDC budget was a huge mistake? Where were they when the cross-agency federal task force set up by President Obama to deal with such problems was abandoned? Democrats spoke up, but I’m sure the general public saw that as only politics. We needed Republicans to speak the truth, speak the truth to power, but they did not and here we are.

I think back to the Republicans who previously represented Kansas that I have known and in some cases worked with for the common good. This includes Senator Frank Carlson, Senator Nancy Kassebaum, Senator Jim Pearson, Senator Bob Dole, and Congresswoman Jan Myers. I can't imagine any of these Kansans not standing up to President Trump for the best interest of the country and even the future of the Republican Party.

It is not just our Kansas delegation but the Republican Party in general. We need a return to the days when we had two strong, competent political parties representing in general two different philosophies. Leaders from both parties were committed to work together in the end to get done what needed to be done for the best interests of the state and country. With the Republican Party now being so very far right and in so many ways anti-government, compromises are hard if not impossible to come by, and the result is needed action doesn’t take place.

This stalemate explains why issues like social justice, climate change and infrastructure needs have never been dealt with and very likely will not be addressed unless major changes take place in how our political system works. That will only happen, it seems, when the people rise up and demand change, demand respect for the rule of law, and a return to the democracy our founders created for us. This positive change starts at the ballot box.

Register and vote like our future depends on it, because it most certainly does.

Majority Leader Mitch McConnell maintains a Republican shield, protecting the President's lawlessness and preventing needed legislative progress.

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Thanking the Governors (Most of Them)

5/20/2020

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With the exception of a few who are content with carrying out whatever the President wants from them—and setting aside my own possible bias—I’ve been especially impressed with the Governors and their role with today’s Coronavirus crisis. Leading on the front line, dealing with unbelievable challenges, and making decisions daily that are seldom easily understood by their constituents, Governors have been the ones with the courage to lead. All of this comes at a time when the Federal Government just cannot get its act together on any consistent basis. National media outlets are turning to the Governors to get honest information on what is really taking place. Governors from both parties, including our own Governor Kelly, are clearly stepping up and in many cases filling the leadership void coming from Washington.

From my experience, I know about how challenging an issue like this pandemic can be. Issuing Executive Orders based on the best science available, while knowing your economy and state budget are going to hell, makes for long days. Then there is the pressure from the public to keep everyone safe and healthy but also get people back to work and students back to school. Nothing is easy here. And the lack of federal guidance and support has left the states to largely fend for themselves on necessary supplies and infrastructure—and foot the bill for it. We can only hope Congress will get its act together and pass some budget relief for the states, otherwise, it will be yet another failure in the response from Washington, D.C., and this one will be largely due to problems they failed to solve during the initial relief stages.

Many Governors are demonstrating real leadership at a time when it is so desperately needed. Their strategy is not rocket science. They surround themselves with very good, qualified advisors. They listen to these experts and then make the tough decisions. These Governors respect science and take seriously that they are leading for all the citizens of their state, therefore leaving politics to a very definite back seat. And, as important as anything, they understand the value of communication that is accurate, understandable by the general public, and does not require walking the statement back shortly after its release.

I have always thought that those who have served as a Governor should be the most important pool from which to draw for potential candidates for President. I say that because in contrast to U.S. Senators, Governors have actually led large, complex organizations. They have experience making tough decisions that directly impact citizens as well as putting together leadership teams that are successful. And because Governors are closer to the people, they have experience dealing with the many challenges that come with being a decision-maker for the public’s interests.

When President Obama was starting out as U.S. Senator from Illinois, I recall telling him when he was in Topeka for a Washington Day Address that my unsolicited advice was to go back to Illinois and run for Governor and then he would be in a really strong position to run for President. Obviously, he didn’t take my advice and was a very good President, but could he have been even better with more Executive experience? On the flip side, given a high percentage of Illinois Governors have ended up in prison, rejecting my suggestion certainly had some merit.

The bottom line is that Governors represent not just the leadership needed now in this health and economic crisis, but they are the pipeline for future leaders of our country. Both political parties have talented Governors who would be excellent national leaders. Maybe the current debacle with a totally inexperienced leader at the national level will be a lesson we do not forget.

Here in Kansas, Governor Laura Kelly has listened to the science and taken responsible action to keep Kansans safe during this difficult time. [Photo by: John Hanna/AP]

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Democrats Lucky to Have Speaker Pelosi

5/9/2020

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Speaker Nancy Pelosi has led through difficult times, balancing political realities with what is best for the country. She has certainly come across often as the adult in the room of Congressional leaders and the Administration. Despite representing a very liberal district, she has operated from a very pragmatic point of view. She has charted an aggressive course of action while working to keep her caucus in the majority, knowing if they lose the majority everything accomplished would be destroyed.

There are those that lump both Houses as making up the do nothing Congress. The facts clearly document that she and her caucus have actually been very responsive to the needs of the American people. Through her leadership and the hard work of her committee chairs and the Caucus, over 400 bills, many key ones, like safeguarding our elections and with huge public support, have passed the House and been sent to the Senate. From there, Republican Majority Leader McConnell makes sure the House legislation goes nowhere and that very few originating bills come out of the Senate for the House to work.

Her first major challenge was dealing with President Trump and the decision of Impeachment. Early on, she clearly wanted the Fall 2020 election to determine if the issues surrounding the President merited impeachment. I believe Speaker Pelosi thought delaying was both best for the United States as well as her Democratic Caucus. But when the Ukraine scandal more clearly brought to light impeachable offenses and the public tide shifted towards holding hearings, she quickly assigned her Judiciary and Intelligence committees to hold hearings. She managed the process effectively and amazingly kept her troops together (albeit, there was one defector), to pass the impeachment of the President and send the indictment to the United States Senate.

Her role in the government’s response to the Coronavirus again showed her leadership skills and capacity both to challenge and to work with this Administration. Speaker Pelosi worked one-on-one with Treasury Secretary Mnuchin to develop packages that address the nation’s needs as well as secure the support of the Administration and the votes needed in the Senate. While not perfect, these relief efforts have been made significantly better through the help of Speaker Pelosi and other Congressional Democrats.

The first day of the 116th Congress, Nancy Pelosi was once again elected Speaker of the House on January 3rd, 2019.

What makes her accomplishments even more interesting is that, after the 2018 Congressional elections and winning the majority, many members of the Democratic Caucus worked hard to deny Pelosi the Speakership. Yet, she not only won, but today is almost without exception solidly backed by the entire caucus. This is not an easy thing to accomplish. But the amount of respect she has garnered among her colleagues over the years and her experienced leadership have clearly made her the right person for the job, at the right time.

Given the challenges of dealing with a President like Trump and a Majority Leader like McConnell, Speaker Pelosi has done amazing things. History will place her in the short list of Speakers who have really stood out with common sense, political savvy, and success. She has impacted Washington action in a positive way for the best interests of our country.

I am currently reading the new book “Pelosi,” by Molly Ball. I haven’t finished it yet, but I’ve already learned about so many fascinating, character-building experiences she’s had in her decades of public service. She has always been a smart, tough leader. And she's paved the way for so many other outstanding female leaders, who will help guide us into the future. I’m looking forward to learning more about her brilliant career as I finish reading this insightful new book.

This photo was taken at the Reopening and Rededication of the Rotunda at the National Archives on September 17th, 2003. Pictured here are Congressional leaders, Rep. Steny Hoyer, Rep. Nancy Pelosi, Sen. Tom Daschle, and Speaker Dennis Hastert along with former Chief Justice William Rehnquist, who delivered remarks and myself, Archivist of the United States.

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Lessons from Coronavirus: Federal Failures

4/14/2020

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When we experience a challenge or crisis—like we’re seeing with the COVID-19 pandemic—it reveals what we’re made of. This comes with a recognition that previous actions and decisions have consequences, and they ultimately lead us to the norms, systems, and structures we currently have in place. Unfortunately, we cannot change the past events that have led us to this disastrous point with the Coronavirus crisis, but we can most definitely learn from these events in ways that better prepare us for the future. There are many aspects to cover and many things to learn, and I plan to continue exploring other lessons throughout the crisis and further down the road on my blog. But I want to start with the area that is perhaps the most glaring vulnerability that has been exposed by this crisis: the failure of federal leadership to respond to and address the immediate public health risk that all Americans now face.

Here are some of the governance lessons that stand out to me from the federal level:

First, it’s clear that, with something as big and complex as the current crisis, there is not and can not be just one Federal level agency with the budget or capacity to fully deliver. Over four years ago, President Obama recognized this and put in place a coordinating mechanism that could reach across agency lines to better assure that the response to a major crisis would have the best chance of success. President Trump abolished the Obama-created White House National Security Council Directorate for Global Health Security and Biodefense, consistent with his philosophy of small government being best. In my opinion, that was a short-sighted decision and the current crisis is clear evidence there are challenges where every resource of the Federal government needs to be brought together in a coordinated way to be the most effective.

Second, if a small government approach is the path a President takes, it becomes even more important to have better coordinating and operating systems in place. In any crisis affecting multiple states, there will always be some resources and involvement from the Federal government. For example, the Department of Defense resources for working with state and local governments to deal with the health crisis should always be an option. And, in terms of engagement with the private sector, it should be done in a coordinated, mission-oriented fashion, rather than the “everyone for themselves” approach we’re currently seeing. The private sector has expertise and a huge capacity for innovation and production, but this needs to be leveraged more effectively—which requires strong leadership making specific directives and implementing smart, strategic policies.

With this pandemic, we were simply not prepared. The Federal government was not ready to deal with the challenge and certainly had no coordinated system worked out with state and local government. The fact that our government and infrastructure at the national level and in many states was so woefully under-prepared to deal with this pandemic is linked to successful right-wing moves at all levels of government and across many areas, like health care, the social safety net, and more. They have been able to cut necessary programs at every opportunity, without thinking about the real results including loss of lives.

The other clear lesson in this crisis is that choices made in selecting leadership across all levels of government can and does make a huge difference in the capacity of government to respond with clear, accurate information and decisive action. In making appointments, President Trump emphasized family, business, and political connections much more than whether the person had the capacity to deliver. And, perhaps worst of all, those folks are now in positions where they can effectively shut out or, worse yet, actively ignore or deny the advice of the scientists and experts we do have within our government.

And, when it comes to leadership at the very top—from the President himself—it pains me to see just how far we've fallen from President Truman's "the buck stops here," to President Trump's "I don't take responsibility at all" stance. Deflecting any blame and trying to rewrite the history of his administration's response is a sign of weakness, not strength, in a time of crisis. And it's certainly not the way to actually solve problems or gain trust and credibility with the American people.

Hopefully, out of this crisis, we learn something. Government should be at the size and quality to serve the legitimate needs of the public. Whether that be Federal dominated or heavily led by the states, the response to a crisis like Coronavirus must be well-planned in advance, with the correct systems in place, and the leadership needed to carry out the mission.

I’ll have more “Lessons from Coronavirus” in the coming weeks, including some positive notes on the leadership we’re seeing across our state and country, so I hope you’ll continue to follow along. And keep in mind as we go through these difficult days and weeks: There is always more we can learn. These challenging times will require all the dialogue and lessons we can possibly generate in order to help us all emerge from this crisis stronger. It’s something we can all contribute to and participate in; whether it’s changes to large, complex systems or in our everyday activities, we can always improve, and creativity will be key. Good ideas and leadership can come from anyone, anywhere, at any time. Remember: Challenges simply reveal what we’re made of.

Wearing his campaign hat, President Trump visited CDC Headquarters on March 6th. It was the day he promised that, "everyone who needs a test gets a test...they have the tests and the tests are beautiful." With a group of experts standing behind him, he utilized his press conference to talk at length about his own intelligence and how much he understands about science and public health. As several states were reporting their first cases, including Kansas the day after this visit, he also utilized the opportunity to spread misinformation about the virus being "under control" and mischaracterizing the timeline for possible vaccines and treatments. He then took to attacking the media and smearing Governors of the opposing party, calling Gov. Jay Inslee, "a snake" and telling Vice President Pence not to be complimentary of him. And, of course, when asked about taking in Americans from the Grand Princess cruise ship, he explained that he'd rather not because, "I like the numbers being where they are." All of this happened at a time when Americans desperately needed correct, clear communication about the spread of COVID-19 and the enormous challenges facing all of us.

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Best and Worst from the 2010s

1/4/2020

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Looking back over the last ten years and my eighth decade of life, I am sharing what stands out for me both in good ways and bad:

On the good side:

I had the pleasure of finishing ten years as Archivist of the United States and played a role in making sure we all understand that it is not just for history that we have records, but to protect citizens’ entitlements (Veterans, for example). And maybe, most importantly given the times we are in, conveying the importance of records as essential in holding the government accountable.
My engagement with the Staley School of Leadership Studies at Kansas State University for the entire decade has grown my confidence in the potential of our younger population, giving me hope for the future.
Governor Kelly defeating Secretary of State Kris Kobach in the 2018 election.
Kansas City Royals won the World Series for the first time since 1985, K-State won Big 12 championships in both football and basketball. Yes, KU won the other nine in basketball, but offsetting that, K-State was 10-0 competing against KU in football.
Kansas State University closed the decade by making really good decisions and hires that will, I believe, have significant positive impact for the coming decade.

On the bad side:

Having to endure eight Brownback years (and all the mistakes that will haunt Kansans for many years) really makes a much more difficult path to the future for both the Governor and Legislators.
The election of Donald Trump as President in 2016. A man with little or no respect for the law, little or no understanding of how our government functions, and little or no appreciation of the huge challenges (e.g., climate change) we face that, if not addressed, will do damage of unbelievable portions.
Having Moscow Mitch (Republican Senator from Kentucky) in a position to stop almost every important piece of legislation through the entire decade, even those that had overwhelming public support. In addition, his handling of the courts and judges has set several damaging precedents for the future.
Almost 100% of Scientists with a climate background have issued serious warnings throughout the decade and there has been little or no action in response.
The national failure to make any progress on immigration reform, funding of infrastructure needs, dealing with gun violence, addressing climate change, as well as the increasing National debt. This represents the utmost failure of our leadership in Washington D.C.

Here’s to a new year and decade with the hope that progress can and will be made.

The rotunda of the National Archives, home to the "Charters of Freedom." These documents, including our Constitution, have safeguarded democracy in our country since its founding. But, as we know from Dr. Benjamin Franklin, our nation is only a republic, "if we can keep it."

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Democrats Lucky to Have Speaker Pelosi

Lessons from Coronavirus: Federal Failures

Best and Worst from the 2010s

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