1989-90 Institute of Politics Jotiii FeKeniiedy School of Governmeiit Harvard University PROCEEDINGS Institute of Politics 1989-90 John F. Kennedy School of Government Harvard University FOREWORD The Institute of Politics participates in the democratic process through the many and varied programs it sponsors. The programs include fellowships for individuals from the world of polihcs and the media, a program to encourage undergraduate and graduate students to get involved in the practical aspects of political activity, training programs for elected officials, seminars and conferences, and a public events series in the ARCO Forum of Public Affairs presenting speakers and panel discussions address­ ing contemporary political and social issues. On Janury 1,1990, as a new year—and a new decade—opened, the Institute began a new chapter with the arrival of Charles Royer, three-term Mayor of Seattle, as Institute Director. On that same date, Shirley Williams, having completed her one-year tenure as Acting Director, returned full time to her teaching responsibilities as Public Service Professor of Electoral Politics at the Kennedy School of Government. Programs and activities sponsored by the Institute during academic year 1989-90 are reflected in this twelfth edition of Proceedings. The Readings section provides a sense of the actors encountered and the issues discussed. The programs section details the people involved and subjects covered by the many undertakings of the student program—study groups, twice-weekly suppers, visits by distinquished visiting fel­ lows, internships, grants for summer research, a quarterly magazine, the Harvard Political Review, and a variety of special projects. Also included is information on fellows, participants in seminars and conferences and public events held in the Forum. Anne Doyle Kenney Editor DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE Theoverloaded station wagons with out­ of-state Ii ense plates, the proud fathers WrL'stlll1g sUItcases and rolls of carpet through a Ilarvard Yard showing the first sIgns of ew England autumn, are wel­ come and familiar signs of new beginnings here. But for this relative newcomer, the pulse quickens as I realize that the start of this wonderful cycle, which has repeated itself for so many years, also starts my first full academi year as Dierector of the In­ stitut' of Politics. I laving arrived in earlyJanuary, 1felt my first priority must be to make certain that the spring semester not be a victim of tran­ silion but rather a full and rich experience for our fellows, our students, and others who have come to rely on the Institute and its programming. I b 'Ii 'v' we a omplished that as 1 hope you will agree after reading this issue of ProCCCdlllgS. That the transition wentsosmoothy is tribute toa fine, small, but dedicated staffwho, under the ableguidance ofActing DirectorShirley Williams, worked very hard to make it happen. I want to express on behalf of the Institute our sincere gratitude to Shirley, as well as our pleasure that we can continue to work with her. By the time commencement rolls around, the Institute of Politics will be well into its twenty-fifth war. We'll have a fine party to celebrate, but perhaps more importantly, we WIll use the occasion to re-evaluate what we do here, to re- dedicate ourselves to our mISSIon, and to plan for the future. While it is too soon for me to say much about the future, I can tell you that the basic mISSion of the lOP-bridging the distance between the academy and politics and inspiring young people to public service-is as right today as it was twenty-five years ago. ,iven the current level of confidence in our politi al system, that mission is perhaps even more important than it was in 1966 when the Institute was created. urs isa search for inspiration. Inspiration in the political eventsand political people we examine and work with at the Institute. Today, some of that inspiration will come from abroad. wift and historic change in the Soviet Union, East and Central Europe, outh Africa, and elsewhere in the world, not only captures our hearts but ets our minds working to re-examine our own governan '. We have much to learn from these global events and from other people, and mu h reason to speed up the process of internationalizing the lOP, the Kennedy "hool and this University. I visited Romania during spring semester as an observer in that nation's first free elections in more than fifty years. In niversitySquare in Bucharest Isaw young people by the thousands standing for their rights, petitioning their government, forcing democracy whIle working to learn it as one might try to learn a strange new language. We must put before our own students as much of that excitement and inspiration as we can, mindful that it is our own political system which needs our attention and our best people. Speaking of people, this has been a year of new people at the Institute of Politics. Of our entire staff, only three begin the year in jobs they held last year. Soon we will welcome three new members to our Senior Advisory Committee, former Senator and lOP fellow Dan Evans of Washington State, former fellow and soon-to-be former Governor of Vermont Madeleine Kunin, and former Mayor of San Antonio Henry Cisneros. These are outstanding people who love politics, the Institute, and working with students. And speaking of students, working with our Student Advisory Committee has been an education and a delight. They do so much work with such good humor. This past year's SAC will go down in Institute history, not just for their excellent work, but because they are the first SAC ever to lose a softball game to the lOP staff. The score was enormous. Over the last several months countless people have asked me whether I miss being Mayor of Seattle and whether I am surviving the transition. After nine months in Cambridge, I can say without hesitation that there are things I miss—like my parking space. All in all, though, it has been a smooth transition for me thanks to so many helpful, hospitable student, faculty and staff. I am happy to be here and I look forward with real excitement to a new year in this wonderful place. Charles Royer Director September 1990 I. Readings Readings CONTENTS ACTORS ON THE POLITICAL STAGE 11 On Public Service by L. Douglas Wilder 14 Reflections by Thomas P. O'Neill, Jr. 17 Polls and the Government by Adam Clymer 20 Massachusetts Primary Debates with Republican Candidates: Guy Carbone, Paul Cronin, Steven Pierce, Len Umina Media Questioners: Joe Day, Christopher Lydon, Janet Wu Democratic Candidates: Frank Bellotti, Jack Flood, Evelyn Murphy, John Silber Media Questioners: Andy Hiller, Rene Loth, Brian Mooney, Pam Moore DOMESTIC ISSUES: THE TIMES THEY ARE A'CHANGIN' 26 Introducing Cesar Chavez by Kerry Kennedy 27 On Drugs: Views from Left and Right by William J. Bennett 31 Risking Old Age in America by Richard J. Margolis 36 Black History Revisted by KRS-1 and Glenn Loury 39 No Aid for Legal Aid by David Weller THE INTERNATIONAL WINDOW: A REMARKABLE YEAR 44 Africa's Economic PHght by Joseph N. Garba 48 Tales from Tiananmen Square by Fox Butterfield, Ya Sheng Huang, Alan W. Pessin and Richard Roth 54 The Other Path by Hernando de Soto and Lance Taylor THE ROLE OF THE MEDIA 59 An Unbearable State of Distraction by Saul Bellow 63 Peril and Promise by John Chancellor UNIVERSITY VOICES 69 Whither the American Romance? by Richard G. Darman 73 Moving On Is Worth the Risk by Madeleine M. Kunin 76 Public Service on Campus by Becki Berner 78 Outsiders as Politicians by Charles Royer Actors on the Political Stage On Public Service by L. Douglas Wilder Following is an edited version of the Class Day Address delivered by L. Douglas Wilder, Governor of Virginia, on ]une 6th to the 1990 graduating class of the John F. Kennedy School of Government. I always enjoy travelling to this majestic slate of Massachusetts which shares historic bonds with the Commonwealth of Virginia. Since the earliest days of this nation's founding, Virginia and Massachusetts have been the authors and the defenders of American liberty and justice. In every major chapter of American history, favorite sons and daughters of these two states have played vital roles: leading us to victory in the American Revolution, guiding us through the trenches of World War 1, inviting us into the New Frontier. Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Abigail Adams, John Quincy Adams, Daniel Webster, Clara Barton, Maggie L. Walker, SusanB. Anthony, Woodrow Wilson John F. Kennedy. Despite living in different times and under different circumstances, these individuals are united by a common thread. They had much and they gave much. Whether it was wealth of worldly goods, wealth of knowledge, wealth of compassion—or all three^ these sons and daughters of Massachusetts and Virginia willingly shared their good fortune with the nation and with the w^orld. Because of their selflessness, the world today continues to reap the bounty of their labor. How different the world would be had they not lived! How different history would be had some lived longer, lived to see their full vision brought to fruition. As you may know, today marks the 22nd anniversary of the premature passing of Robert Kennedy. Since his death many have engaged in endless games of "what if?" What if Bobby Kennedy had lived? What if he had beaten Nixon? What if all events thereafter had run a different course? But, it serves no purpose to ask "what if?" Instead, we must merely find comfort in knowing that he lived, that he cared deeply, that he worked to make a difference, that we can learn from his example.