Karl Weissenbach, former Director of the Eisenhower Presidential Library, leading a tour of the facility, which holds some 26 million pages of records.
In the passing of Karl Weissenbach, Lynn and I lost a good friend and a wonderful former colleague, and our country lost a great public servant. For ten years, Karl was the Director of the Eisenhower Presidential Library, retiring last year. While at the Library, he brought many new initiatives that opened the records to a much larger audience and raised the visibility and learning around President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s life and service.
When I was at the National Archives, he ran the Nixon Project, managing the staff that spent years dealing with the Nixon Tapes and other records. Between the historians, access advocates, lawyers, and the Nixon family, this was very challenging work. Karl was careful, dedicated, and maintained a steadfast commitment to serving the American people. I salute him as an outstanding public servant, at a time when in both Topeka and Washington D.C. public service is disrespected by many, in favor of political friends and financial supporters.
When I was at the National Archives, he ran the Nixon Project, managing the staff that spent years dealing with the Nixon Tapes and other records. Between the historians, access advocates, lawyers, and the Nixon family, this was very challenging work. Karl was careful, dedicated, and maintained a steadfast commitment to serving the American people. I salute him as an outstanding public servant, at a time when in both Topeka and Washington D.C. public service is disrespected by many, in favor of political friends and financial supporters.
Karl is seated behind me in this photo, which took place during an event at the Eisenhower Library just before his retirement. Senator Bob Dole was honored at the event, where I had a great time catching up with Karl and even got to ask my question and give my regards to Senator Dole.
Karl is an excellent example of why career public servants are so valuable. Because he made public service his career, he fine-tuned his skills to more effectively manage and lead workers to serve the Eisenhower Library's mission. When career service is under-appreciated, the system never develops the expertise or the continuity that is so important for wisely serving the public interest. In Kansas, for example, Governor Brownback led the change where now, when a state public employee leaves or retires, the administration can appoint any political friend they want and, in the process, takes that position away from the civil service. And, at the federal level, there have already been plenty of examples of the Trump administration either subverting or showing blatant disrespect for the experts who carry out the people’s business within the various departments. In no way can this action be called good government.
All who knew Karl mourn his passing and share with his wife Jessica and family our condolences. And here’s to a future where more individuals can bring the same level of respect, expertise, and commitment to their careers in public service.
All who knew Karl mourn his passing and share with his wife Jessica and family our condolences. And here’s to a future where more individuals can bring the same level of respect, expertise, and commitment to their careers in public service.
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