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Home , Leon Panetta

A Message from the Chairman Volume 22, No. 2 Where the Needs to Go From Here Winter 2020

By Leon E. Panetta Inside: hen the 46th president of the United has reached even 70 votes in • Lecture Series WStates is inaugurated on January 20 he more than 15 years. continues during will face a myriad of challenges: the rising Members of both parties in pandemic number of COVID-19 cases, deep economic the past joined to pass difficulties, racial injustice and climate change. • AT&T presents landmark civil rights Panetta Institute with President-elect Biden will inherit a deeply legislation, widescale tax $200,000 grant divided country separated in many ways, reforms, fiscal compromises • Leadership Seminar including politics, race, region and cultural and a balanced federal Leon Panetta: features nationally orientation. He has the opportunity to usher in budget. This is a legacy "Our democracy prominent speakers a new era of healing and hope. But to unify worth reclaiming. and the • Reflections of this nation, he needs to govern and end the Achievements of such American People Co-Chair and CEO are resilient." gridlock that has become such a prominent magnitude are not only Sylvia Panetta and painful feature of American political life. possible, they are necessary. Our new president will represent the entire Our democracy, the world’s longest standing, nation, and he must reach out to all is never to be taken for granted. It is a living Americans, nearly half of whom voted against entity that needs to be nurtured and him. He and those who oppose him, protected. It requires that we all stay vigilant specifically in Congress, must realize that we and engaged. This election drew more voters need to come together. Compromise is not a than any in American history. We have to dirty word. It is how we get things done, and stay this involved. The 2021 presidential it is essential for the nation to prosper. inauguration will be our democracy’s 59th quadrennial inauguration. Consider that three of President Reagan’s five nominations to the Supreme Court – Sandra One takeaway from this election that Day O’Connor, Antonin Scalia and Anthony Americans of all shades of the political Kennedy – were approved by the Senate without spectrum can agree on is that we are not a single nay vote being cast. Or that President apathetic about voting. In the presidential Clinton’s appointment of Ruth Bader Ginsburg election that just concluded a higher to the Supreme Court was approved by the percentage of eligible Americans voted than in Senate 96-3 and his nomination of Stephen Breyer 87-9. But no Supreme Court nominee Continued on Page 2 2 PANETTA INSTITUTE update

“We remain Where the United States Needs to Go From Here certain that Continued from Page 1 candidate, President Trump the most by a runner-up. the American any presidential contest since 1900. That is a testimony to our faith in the electoral process As President Franklin Delano Roosevelt said in Dream will and the simple message voiced by political an address in Marietta, Ohio, on July 8, 1938: survive – now parties and pundits alike: Vote. “Let us never forget that government is ourselves and not an alien power over us. The ultimate and in the fu- When the final ballots are totaled, more than rulers of our democracy are not a President and 155 million people will have voted. President- ture and all of Senators and Congressmen and Government elect Biden will garner the most by a winning officials but the voters of this country.” us must share and bear that Lecture Series Continues During the Pandemic responsibility.” —Secretary Panetta he theme of the twenty-third year of the all ticket purchasers. Each of these lectures TLeon Panetta Lecture Series was drew a webinar audience of approximately Decision 2020: A Republic If We Can Keep 525 viewers. It. “The Founders designed our republic, but The first lecture was entitled Impeachment it is the responsibility of all of us to ensure and the Election and focused on how to that it is preserved. That is the duty we faced protect our republic from the dysfunction in in the 2020 election.” said Secretary Panetta. Washington. The second lecture was The The Institute held all four scheduled Future of American Leadership in a programs of its annual lecture series. The first Dangerous World which focused on the session was held in the Monterey Conference flashpoints in the world threatening our Center on February 24 preceded by an national security and America’s role as the afternoon student program that was attended leader of the free world. An Economy on by 502 students from 24 participating high Borrowed Money, the third lecture, addressed schools, colleges and military installations. the rising U.S. debt and the impact of Given the pandemic and for health and COVID-19 on the country’s economy. Last, safety reasons, the Institute transitioned the the speakers discussed the impact of climate format and hosted the remaining three change in A Planet on Borrowed Time. lectures through live webinar presentations to Our invited experts are highlighted below.

Speakers (left to right): Brett Baier, chief political anchor, Fox News; David Gregory, CNN commentator; Mara Liasson, national correspondent, National Public Radio; , Secretary of State (2013-2017); General James Mattis, U.S. Marine Corps (Ret.); Todd Buchholz, White House Director of Economic Policy (1989-1992); Maya MacGuineas, President, Bipartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget; Rosa Gumataotao Rios, Treasurer of the United States (2009-2016); Jerry Brown, governor, (1975-1983, 2011-2019); , White House chief of staff (2009-2010), and Christine Todd Whitman, governor, New Jersey (1994-2001). update PANETTA INSTITUTE 3

Panetta Institute Receives $200,000 “We are commit- Grant from AT&T ted to making he Panetta Institute was recently honored and economic equality in underserved sure that the by being selected for a $200,000 grant by communities.” T next generation AT&T for the Institute’s Congressional Internship “This internship program is about inspiring Program, one of the nation’s foremost and of leaders come youth and providing opportunities for students respected programs for students from the who otherwise may not have the chance to from diverse California State University system and now in experience working on Capitol Hill to build a its 22nd year. A majority of the students selected communities.” career in public service,” said Institute CEO for the semester-long program are low-income, Sylvia Panetta. “With AT&T’s generous —Secretary Panetta first-generation college students and from contribution, the Institute can continue to minority communities. offer students of diverse backgrounds the Explaining why the Institute was selected, opportunities within our Congressional Bettye Saxon of AT&T External Affairs, said: Internship Program.” “The Panetta Institute for Public Policy This program begins with a two-week academic believes that public servants must come from course for the interns followed by a three-month all communities and reflect the people they internship in Washington, D.C., working in serve and this is the guiding principle behind assigned offices of members of the California their Congressional Internship Program. This Congressional delegation. The Institute covers all program was selected because AT&T the costs of the program, including housing, air recognizes that strong internship programs can travel, meals and expenses. Each intern earns 20 change long-term career outcomes for college units of upper division academic credit, the cost students and is supporting their work as part of which is also borne by the Institute. To date, of the company’s philanthropic focus on social 525 students have participated in this program.

Leadership Seminar Invites Nationally Prominent Speakers irmly believing that leaders are made not schools an unparalleled opportunity to learn Fborn, Secretary Panetta, with the guidance from a diverse network of influential leaders and of a distinguished group of officials and visiting professionals. The students are led through an scholars established in 1999 the Education in exploration of leadership principles and Leadership for Public Service Seminar. Now in its practices to help them address today’s challenges. twenty-first year, the Panetta Institute hosted Joining Secretary Panetta were the following this annual California State University accredited distinguished speakers: four-unit course from June 15 to June 19. Due to the pandemic, this year’s Leadership Seminar , chief of staff to Secretary Panetta was presented through video conferencing. at the Central Intelligence Agency and Department of Defense; Historian and The program’s unique curriculum offers elected Professor Douglas Brinkley, Ph.D.; California student body officers from the California State University system and participating private Continued on Page 4 The Panetta Institute for Public Policy NON-PROFIT ORG. 100 Campus Center, Building 86E U.S. POSTAGE PAID CSU Monterey Bay THE PANETTA Seaside, CA 93955 INSTITUTE Donate online at PanettaInstitute.org

Leadership Seminar Draws National Speakers Continued from Page 3 MacGuineas; Bill McRaven, U.S. Navy (Ret.); , President of Supreme Court Associate Justice Ming W. University of California; U.S. Representative Chin; Oracle Vice President and General (D-CA); U.S. Representative We Ask Your Help Counsel Dorian Daley; former NFL Player Thomas Reed (R-NY); former U.S. Assistant and Arizona State Head Football Coach Herm Secretary on Aging, U.S. Department of Health The Panetta Institute Edwards; Presidential Advisor and CNN and Human Services Fernando Torres-Gil, continues to change and Analyst David Gergen; U.S. Representative Ph.D.; Southern Company Vice President grow, but our mission Joshua Gottheimer (D-NJ); Committee for a Chris Womack; and Honorary Consul of remains the same: inspiring Responsible Federal Budget President Maya Mexico Blanca Estela Zarazúa, J.D. people to lives of public service and helping them develop the skills they’ll need to meet the challenges of the Reflections of Co-Chair and CEO Sylvia Panetta future. Please help us with a n spite of the formidable difficulties and turnout of voters, we are thankful for those who tax-deductible contribution. unforeseen circumstances that we have faced volunteer to help in our election process. You can contribute online at I this year, the COVID-19 pandemic, raging PanettaInstitute.org. In this year’s election more Americans than ever wildfires, and a recession impacting on jobs and before dedicated themselves to sustain the business, the work of the Institute continued. backbone of our democracy, our election Our programs moved forward serving our process, and voted. Voting itself isn’t just about students and our community because of the casting a ballot for a preferred candidate. It is an support of our loyal board, supporters and staff. expression of faith in our system of governance. We also believe that in light of the challenges It is saying that despite the cynicism and our community is facing, it is important to negativity that may surround us, We the People recognize those who dedicate their lives to want to step up and make our system better. helping others. As a trained health care provider, The mission of our Institute is to promote I extend my deep appreciation to our nation’s public service to our country. Thanks to all of first responders who demonstrate their courage you, our loyal supporters, we are able to carry and bravery daily by providing safety for all of on. Protecting our democracy and each other us. Also, Leon and I offer our heartfelt thanks to is a responsibility we all have if the promise of those who volunteer in programs to serve the America is to be fulfilled. most vulnerable among us. And after a record

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