Stand and Deliver

It's a peculiar thing, to be put into a situation where you have to perform. The people around you sometimes hope for something, and somehow that hope gets put onto your shoulders. It doesn't happen often. And when it does happen, sometimes a lack of success isn't even noticed. But sometimes you know when it does happen.

When I think about legacies, I think about moments. Those are the most tangible things for me. Outcomes are so often difficult to disentangle. It's interesting (no commentary here, though), that if you think back over the last 25 years, of memorable presidential moments, you think about things like, "Mission Accomplished." "I did not have sexual relations..." "Boxers or briefs?" Puking in Tokoyo. "Read my lips, no new taxes." "...tear down this wall."

Some of the events are positive, and some are negative, and others still are neutral, though all are interesting. For example, the memories of George H.W. Bush are both bad. He threw up on some Japanese dignitaries, and then raised taxes after promising to not raise them. Reagan's emphatic talk was part of what won the Cold War. Bill Clinton's moments are marked with youthfulness (appearing on MTV), and infidelity/dishonest (for cheating on Hillary and they lying about it). And Lil' Bush has the inspiring memory of walking on a aircraft carrier, wearing the flight suit, and telling us that we had won the war (whoops!).

One instance that's fresh in my mind is one from George W. Bush, in Yankee Stadium, to start Game 3 of the 2001 World Series, after 9/11. Our guy threw a literal and symbolic strike, that suggested that America should be unafraid, and that our lives were going to continue, despite tragic events. Of course, much of that has been lost since then, given this lukewarm war, where we are neither strong enough mentally to really win the war, nor were we weak enough to allow things to pass. Similarly, the economic policies over the last few years have been somewhat suspect. But that doesn't change the moment from Game 3 in 2001.

Overall, you look back, and you see that the events don't really speak to the quality of the presidency. But that's what I remember. So even though they may not be representative, the memorable events matter quite a bit.

About 2 weeks ago, AC, one of my colleagues passed away. He had died when complications arose during surgery to remove a cancerous mass in his chest. It has been a strange time for my program. Though I'm not terribly close to all of the folks in the doctoral program, AC was a friend. We had come into the program together. My advisor was also AC's advisor, so it's been a little close to home for me. We had a memorial service for AC this past Friday. It was interesting to have the solemn time in the green sea of chaos of Unofficial St. Patrick's Day that enveloped the campus. Obviously, it wasn't deliberate, but it was a nice contrast. I spoke a little bit at the service, representing the doctoral students, as well as some former doctoral students who have since moved on to professor jobs around the country. I am one of the few native English speakers in the program, as well as one of the senior doctor students. I think that I had to accept this role, though I don't particular relish public speaking.

I helped echo the sentiments that AC's other friends made. And I encouraged the people to help remember AC by incorporating some of the good things that he did into our lives. And in the end, that's really all that we can do. I don't often get the chance to be memorable (in a good way, at least!). I had the chance this past Friday. I think that I made the most of it.

-Chairman