Elizabeth Dole Speech to the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce

We're very pleased with her a commitment to continue to meet with us tonight. And I welcome Mrs. Elizabeth Dole. Mr. Mayor distinguished distinguished dignitaries who were introduced earlier tonight and those who may have come in since that time. Ladies and gentlemen my goodness. Thank you for such a wonderful warm welcome. And Steve I'm so gracious to you for your very generous introduction and your a wonderful dinner partner

as well. It's just a real joy to be with you tonight. In fact it feels like a homecoming for me. You know over the years Bob and I have made countless friends in New Hampshire and so many of you are here this evening. So what a joy to be with you. And let me take a moment to congratulate you on the tremendous accomplishments of the Greater Manchester chamber your work to pass the civic center referendum will provide a tremendous boost to this community and your leading role to develop the Manchester Airport has made it as we've heard the fastest growing airport in the country. And one of the least expensive in America to use. And we all like that. Yes and of course I appreciate your emphasis on the importance of volunteering and I'll have to say that my speech subject has changed a bit from the time that you invited me which was many months ago but there's so much more that you're

doing here at the chamber that I'd love to to comment on but I just think we should stop for a moment so you can give yourselves a great round of applause. What a wonderful wonderful accomplishments this chamber is. Now as you may know I've only been gone from the Red Cross a few weeks. So you'll have to excuse me if I look out at a crowd like this of this size and all I can think of for a moment is roll up your sleeves and let's have a blood drive right. But I do encourage you to give blood because it's very important. And the Red Cross provides almost half of America's blood supply. There is however one big difference that I've noticed since leaving the Red Cross when there I was fond of quoting Will Rogers who once suggested that instead of contributing money to presidential campaigns we should just cancel the election and a stay

at have everyone send a contribution to the American Red Cross. Well. Upon re-evaluation I now think there is room for you to do both. OK. Now before I begin tonight I do want to assure you and I'll remember the words of New Hampshire's native son President Franklin Pierce boyhood friend of Strom Thurman. Said. Nearly 150 years ago when talking about Congress. In a body where there are more than 100 talking lawyers you can make no calculation upon the termination of any debate and frequently the more trifling the

subject the more animated and protracted the discussion. It's amazing how little has changed in 150 years isn't it. But let me assure you that even though I'm a lawyer I will not keep you too long the same evening as tonight is all about saluting those who make a difference in this community and not about listening to long speeches. It seems only appropriate on this night when you recognize Manchester's citizen of the year that I should address my own sense of obligation as a citizen of the freest land on earth. I hope you'll indulge me if I speak in very personal terms about some very public concerns. More than three centuries have passed since the first citizen activists crossed a hostile ocean to plant the seeds of liberty in the shadow of New Hampshire's lofty mountains. They came in search of freedom and to put distance between themselves and overbearing rulers who sapped the freedom from their lives. But here

they discover the opposite dilemma. A government so remote it was beyond their influence and understanding. So they invented the town meeting as a means for citizens to control their own government. Live free or die. They told us now is then the greatness of America lies not in the power of her government but in the power and the freedom of her people. As we approach the dawn of a new century the world looks to the United States for a new birth of freedom. New challenges arise challenges to our freedom from modern and diabolical dangers abroad and challenges at home as we wrestle with the quality of our public schools. A ballooning drug problem among our children. The highest tax burden in 50 years and perhaps most importantly a failure of leadership that has shaken our national confidence. But we are as sturdily equipped today as were our forebears to meet the challenges of our

time. Unlike them we have the luxury of unprecedented national wealth. But more than cash we have a national conscience a spiritual and philosophical richness that always has been and always will be our strength. I am reminded of this when I come here when I see the white steeples of New Hampshire when I visit the meeting houses where Sunday worship alternates with the rituals of popular democracy. My small town North Carolina is worlds away and yet I learned as you do here that we are all God's children accountable to him as well as to history. In my church I learned to serve rather than stand in judgment and in my community. I learned a fierce love of country over the years these two passions civic and religious guided my steps through a time of accelerating change. As a young woman

challenged the sexual stereotyping at Harvard Law School in Washington I found myself in the vanguard of consumer protection and economic deregulation as the director of the White House Office of Public Liaison. I worked with President Reagan to reverse the trends of half a century during which power and wealth alike flowed from grassroots America to a capitol increasingly out of touch with those who paid its bills and suffered its arrogance. As secretary of transportation I did not shy away from Washington's traditional responsibility to advocate and where absolutely necessary regulate. So we successfully pressed legislation raising the drinking age to 21 working with grassroots heroes and volunteers like Mothers Against Drunk Drivers. We completely overhauled an outdated aviation inspection system and place special emphasis on ensuring airline passenger safety in the age of deregulation.

At the same time we applied lessons learned from the private sector. We returned Conrail the government freight rail road to private management even as we commercialized outer space to open up the heavens. By the way it amused me last year when critics asked why Washington's new airport should be named for President Reagan. Well it's simple really. He built it. No because I initiated and shepherded the legislation through Congress that return to federal airports Washington National and Dulles to local control. This idea had failed no less than eight separate times since 1949 and I had been warned not even to try. But I've always believed that where there is right there can be consensus and by golly we found it as secretary of labor in the Bush administration I pursued cooperation between labor and management

visiting the coalfields of southwest Virginia and spearheading successful negotiations to end a bitter 11 months strike between the Pittston coal company and the United Mine Workers. Meanwhile I sent another kind of strike force into the field to lead a nationwide crackdown on dangerous child labor violations. More recently as president of the American Red Cross overseeing 32000 employees and 1.3 million volunteers I undertook a seven year 287 million dollar transformation of the way the organization collects tests and distributes half of the nation's blood supply. This best in the world system assures a safer blood supply to victims of accident or natural disaster. I mention all this not to trumpet any set of personal accomplishments but to point out that if there is an overriding theme to my 30 plus years in public life and I think there is it lies and placing service

over politics to try consensus before confrontation and account on the deep desire of my fellow countrymen to do what is right in what is sometimes a cacophony of conflicting voices have tried to raise mine and a call to our better nature always sure that America would respond. And I have never been disappointed in my eight years at the American Red Cross Sasol the evil that humans can inflict on one another. I saw it in the demise of starving children in Rwanda and in the paralyzing grief of parents in Oklahoma City I have felt the hopelessness and despair of families who've lost everything to a tornado's brief terrifying violence. But I've also been uplifted by the extraordinary power of human generosity of kindness not legislated by any Congress or parliament but mandated by faith and neighborliness and

yes occasional saintliness. One way or another. I've spent most of my life trying to bring people together. I've never confused civility with weakness. Nor do I mistake the pursuit of consensus for surrender. Quite simply I would rather bridge differences than exploit them and I'm hardly alone in this. Most Americans prefer solutions to soundbites. This makes us naturally suspicious of what I call either or politics liberal vs. conservative. Public school versus private school us versus them as far as I'm concerned. America needs leaders not labels. After all it wasn't a label that wrote the Gettysburg Address or charged up

San Juan Hill or refused to move to the back of a segregated bus in Montgomery Alabama. Individuals did that individuals sure of their cause and confident in their purpose and what holds true for individuals applies with equal force to nations. America is never more herself than when acting in a great and moral cause. Tonight I'd like to share with you the cause that's pressing on my mind. There's been a little speculation that I might run for president. And if I run this will be an important reason why. Because the United States of America deserves of government worthy of her people. We are a good.

We are good and great nation and we must demand a government with the integrity to inspire trust and the straightforward strength to keep us free. At a time when the presidency has been tarnished when words have been devalued and institutions have squandered respect our confidence in our leaders is shaky but we can rebuild it. No doubt you've heard it said that today's voters are indifferent to what goes on in our nation's capital. In fact what they feel I believe is less indifference than incredulity. Millions are repelled by a political process that seems unreal as it is calculated for effect. Americans of both parties and of no party are united in their disdain for SHOWBIZ gestures and poll driven checklist masquerading as sound policy

only one thing would be worse than the status quo. And that would be for the status quo to become the norm. If today's politics seem irrelevant it falls to us all of us to make them more relevant. If public life is lacking in civility than it is our common task to help civilize it if our leaders are not worthy. We have the power to elect leaders who are we. We might begin by discarding the simplistic assumptions which keep us from reaching out to others. Let me speak plainly as a conservative. I hate waste wasted dollars to be sure but even more the thought of wasted lives wasted energies wasted opportunities.

It was once said only half in jest that conservatives refuse to look at a new moon out of respect for the old one. But Ronald Reagan rode into our lives and changed all that under President Reagan who celebrated his 88th birthday last Saturday. Conservatism became an agent of change and government an engine of enterprise. He may have learned from the past but he lived for the future. Moreover Reagan conservatism wore a smile and it was contagious. Imagine the good in everyone and brought out the best in millions. It was optimistic futuristic and inclusive. If we remember Reagan we will find our course again. We'll stop looking for it in the confusion of focus groups and spin doctors will find it by fixing on the north star of moral and intellectual

conviction one way or another. Most Republicans consider ourselves errors of Reaganism and I'm proud to have been a lieutenant in Reagan's army. I believe as he always insisted that America's best days are before us. I believe the heart of our nation. Yes let's do yes. I believe the heart of our nation isn't to be found in our gross domestic product nor can our soul be measured by an economist or pollster. Every four years candidates of both parties like to stand before the electorate and pose the question as Reagan did. Are you better off than you were four years ago. But perhaps the heirs of Reaganism have another question to ask today for the quality of our lives is determined by much more than the quantity of our possessions. Thus it isn't

enough to ask ourselves Are we better off. What we should or should be asking is are we better. Are our families stronger. Are our public schools committed first to excellence. Are our children safe from drugs. Do we assume responsibility for our culture and our choices. Or has government rests that promise paying for its power with confiscatory taxation. And have we shouldered the burden incumbent on each generation of Americans to man and to maintain a national defense with the wherewithal to keep us free. You don't need me to tell you that we inhabit a world awash in change amid so much change. It's all the more essential that we cling to what is changeless to love and honor integrity and

reverence for things seen and unseen. For example as a conservative I believe in self-reliance putting service ahead of self measuring success not by what we get but by what we give. As a conservative I revere free enterprise is the surest path to economic opportunity. Yet like any human creation. Capitalism is imperfect. Conservatives should never hesitate to speak out against the unregulated unadulterated pursuit of cash. If it leads to the coarsening of our culture to the pollution of the airwaves or the pollution of our air. If conservatism is about anything it is about conserving what is most precious and our traditions our culture and our planet. Can anyone explore Franconia Notch or swim in Winnipesaukee or stand on the coast at Hampton and doubt that we are all stewards of God's creation.

But responsibility requires confidence and confidence requires a sense of control that is lacking today. Throughout our history we Americans have regarded ourselves as masters of destiny not victims of fate. Yet this is part of the faith that's been shaken. Why. Well for one our taxes have reached the highest percentage of gross domestic product in 50 years. When you work two jobs to put food on the table and shoes on the kids then find one of your paychecks goes just to pay the tax bill. You're not in control of your own income. Defense spending has reached its lowest percentage of gross domestic product in 50 years. When we don't have a military commitment to match our foreign ones when North Korea is building nuclear missiles able to strike the United States and Iraq manufactures biological terror and neither seem to care. When

we object world events are out of control. Marijuana and cocaine use by teenagers tripled in the five years between 1992 and 1997 when American schoolchildren have to dodge drugs and bullets in the cafeteria as well as on the streets. You know parts of our culture are out of control and don't get me wrong I love the movie Titanic. But a recent national survey of teenagers found that 90 percent could identify Leonardo DiCaprio as the male star of Titanic. But only 2 percent could identify James Madison as the father of the U.S. Constitution. When the California phone company Miss interview seven state high school graduates seven just a fine one with the math and language skills to be an entry level telephone operator you know that many of our schools are

out of control in these times when life itself often seems permanently stuck on fast forward. I'm not sure any president can give you more hours of the day. But whoever the next president may be he or she that individual should see to it that your taxes are cut our defense is rebuilt. Drugs are reviled and our schools are put back in the control of parents. If Washington doesn't trust the average American to invest his own money or choose the best schools for his children or select the best health care plan for his family. If our federal government doesn't trust states and cities to spend their own

dollars or make their own decisions then why should it expect trust in return. The answer is not reflexive hostility to government at all levels. Our government is filled with able and honorable public servants who have given their lives to better their country. Rather like the pilgrims and pioneers who founded this nation as a free people we must insist that our government reflects our values. For only then will our future be returned to our control. Sometimes we can address our problems with state or local government. Sometimes it may be through a non-profit organization or a business or civic group like this one or it may be churches or schools or charities that can help repair the badly frayed strands of community in America. Even as they give citizens the unique satisfaction that comes with being part of something bigger and nobler

than oneself that is happiness to be dissolved in something complete and great. The words are those of the great novelists Willa Cather a daughter of the American prairie who did some of her finest work in the shadow of Mount Monadnock. Few have ever given a better definition of American citizenship. Its responsibilities and its rewards. So what do we as citizens wish to be dissolved in right now no issue poses a greater test of our citizenship than the future of our schools. Its been said that children represent about 20 percent of today's America and 100 percent of our tomorrows. I have a special interest in the subject. I count my hours teaching a class of suburban Boston students in the 1960s. Among the most rewarding of my life I doubt anyone in this room remembers which federal official had primary responsibility for education

when you graduated from grade school. But I bet each and every one of you can remember the teacher who awakened in you a love of history or a fascination with words. Indeed it's no exaggeration to say that while most people spend their lives building careers teachers spend their careers building lives I regard public education as one of the glories of American democracy which is precisely why I want an educational system in which a poor child in Harlem or the hollows of Appalachia has the same opportunities as the children of millionaires or presidents. How in good faith can we teach our kids the Declaration of Independence while denying the self-evident truth that every child in the land deserves an equal shot at the finest education a parent can choose.

The number one priority of any education reform must be this to restore our public schools to greatness. Yes we are the richest nation in the world. We can afford safer newer classrooms with smaller classes. Places where real knowledge is transferred that better trained more accountable teachers where orderly disciplined students stay in class more hours during more days. If we take up this challenge our public schools will also be places where America's separating classes can melt together again because rich and poor alike will freely choose them for their children. There are many deals to restore to local school districts funds taken in taxes by the federal government. We should do this because local districts know best what their schools need. But

fixing our schools is not an either or proposition. It's not more or less federal spending. It's not public schools versus private vouchers or commitment to public education. The ultimate test of our resolve is not how much money Washington gives to school districts but how much control Washington gives back to parents and teachers. That's what's important to control. Let's be crystal clear about this. Parents have the primary responsibility for their children's education. Everything else follows. Thus I believe that educational decisions should be made at the local level where parents have the greatest voice in those decisions. Everyone agrees on the value of education. Can't we also agree about the need for an education in values. The four R's reading writing arithmetic and

responsibility. By all means let's put computers in every classroom but let's make sure to put parents in every classroom as well. I spoke earlier about the great love of America. You and I grew up with there are few things about which I feel more strongly than the survival of our civic culture and the strengthening of American families. No civilization that neglects the family can long be called civilized and no culture that allows the cancer of drugs to eat away at the Freedom and the future of its young people will long endure. Let us resolve tonight that we will face the gritty and expensive reality of taking back our streets and blunting the suicidal demand for drugs. And while we're recognizing realities let us admit that it's not enough to urge foreign countries to reduce the supply of illicit drugs flowing into our neighborhoods.

Let's be honest with ourselves and our neighbors there wouldn't be a supply if there wasn't demand. The adults of America must rejoin in a community of values for the sake of our children. Parents and teachers shopkeepers and corporate executives. Movie makers and presidents must speak out again and again about this one simple fact. Drugs are not cool. They kill they destroy families and neighborhoods and lives. We adults have a duty to use the respect society has afforded us to protect our way of life. At this moment when the number of Americans behind bars most on drug related charges has never been greater We must make absolutely clear that drugs are a personal and national evil that threatens us all. Franklin D Roosevelt provided a testament to the genius of America a quality of

mind a temper of the will that knows no party or platform when he wrote The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today. Let us move forward with strong and active faith a new century cries out for new solutions. I certainly don't claim to have all the answers but when it comes to charting a course for America I think the inner compass I got from my parents and Saulsbury is a lot like the one you're giving your children in Manchester. Which reminds me of a story I love about Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes when just when Justice Holmes was in his 90s I think he was pretty far up in his 90s when he took a trip on the Pennsylvania railroad and as he saw the conductor coming down the aisle to take up the tickets he was padding his pockets trying to find his ticket and the conductor recognizing the famous jurist said please don't worry Mr. Justice I'm sure you'll find your ticket when you leave the

train and certainly the Pennsylvania Railroad will trust you to mail it back later. Justice Holmes looked up at the conductor with some irritation and said My dear man the problem is not where is my ticket. The problem is where am I going. My mother who will be 98 years old on May 22nd doesn't think that's a very funny story. For too long. That's what it's felt like in America. That's what happens when our leaders fail to lead and when moral confusion replaces common sense in the forging of public policy. Yes America deserves a government worthy of her people. We know where we want to go. Let us take back control. The road ahead beckons to every American for whom the untravelled world is a place of limitless possibility. God willing. All Americans will travel it together. With courage confidence and

conviction leaving no one behind. Knowing that the future is our friend. May God bless you and may God bless America. Thank you so very much for the privilege. Of speak. To. Check check. Against him. You know I'm from Connecticut. Yes I am.

Elizabeth Dole used to be my ex-boss is my favorite. I'm working for the Red Cross and I'm director of operations for the American Red Cross in Connecticut for the block program. But I couldn't hear you can possibly go. Fantastic. Absolutely fantastic. As I said I headed for a boss for eight years and I know what she's capable of doing and she'll be just a wonderful president. I think she did a wonderful job. I think that you can tell from the crowd the crowd was very enthusiastic and I think the handclap things were you know came at the right time and she said definitely the right things that people wanted to hear. She delivers. She delivered in the in the past and she's going to leave her continue to deliver. She took the Red Cross and I

know that for sure she took an organization that was I wouldn't on the brink of disaster and basically through very hard work made this organization kind of reborn and reinvented itself. So I think that she can do it again on the bigger size of the entire nation. You're welcome Schreiber you know where I'm from Simsbury Connecticut. Deb Sklar Bedford New Hampshire. Have you back there. This. Is the way I'm getting you think of. That. She sounds like.

A lovely woman and I thought she stuck very generously. I was sort of disappointed that it wasn't more specific but. I'm not sure she is presidential material. I think she was testing the water here to see what her response was. I think initially many women are going to be attracted to her because she's a woman. But I really believe that after that people will look for substance to see whether or not she would be qualified to be president of the United States. If she's going to do which I think she she talked tonight about being a builder of bridges and being someone who was interested in consensus rather than confrontation. I think there's a lot of healing that needs to be done in this country now and

she would have to do that whether or not she's the one to do that though remains to be seen. Specifics look judge whether is. Wisdom. In many different situation domestically and globally. I. Think. You. Know but I'm gonna leave. But that's not a big deal. I love you to man. You don't. No not at all. If you're going to do this to me here is wait six months. I'm used to that. The worst thing that can happen to. Steve. What you say but we're. All here tonight and all the candidates last week and during Friday we say the season started actually started the day after the midterm elections and there were some who never left.

From 96 I mean Lamar Alexander has been here Steve Forbes. Dan Quayle. So you know I I know I'm biased because I live in New Hampshire I'm the New Hampshire chairman but I do think New Hampshire and Iowa play an extraordinary role in the process because there are states where you have to meet the voters and you have to ask endless answer endless follow up questions no matter how rude. I think probably we're we're a little bit more battle tested than even the media in some respects so I think it's good for democracy because it makes them go through the storm. Don't try not to be rude to me. That's all right you can. What do you think we're going to see as the date of the primary given the way things are moving today. I was informed by the Iowa Republican chairman that they have set their caucuses for February 7th if that date were to hold. That would put the new Hampshire primary on February 16th. However New Hampshire Iowa excuse me in Iowa the party chairmen are in charge of caucus states. New Hampshire the Secretary of State Bill Gardner secretary States a wily veteran and he always waits until all the legislatures in the country have gone home so they can do more no more mischief. And then he declares the date but it will be one

week after Iowa and they've tentatively set it for February 7. Think about it. But she did a good job but I think she touched on automatics clearly positioning herself in the mold of Reagan optimistic Sunny can serve autism. Touched on themes people care about. They want a leader who's not leading by polls but offering real moral leadership. I thought that was appointed but polite jab at Clinton and the Democratic Party and touched on education and drugs and national defense and those are good things. What is your concern here. Well I think that was a statement that a potential candidate would make. And you know I think she's clearly giving it a hard look and it sounded to me like a speech of a potential candidate. Well I mean she has to make a decision. And then when she makes a decision form an exploratory committee and then immediately start raising money and start coming back here and working with the activists. I mean there's no question that.

She and Governor Bush and John McCain are behind some of the other candidates in terms of courting activists. And you know you can't win in New Hampshire with just media. Steve Forbes found that out in 1996 you need a core of hardworking volunteers who next December and January will go out and leaflet and things like that. And so she's a little bit behind there. But I will say this she's she's well-known having campaigned here for her husband. She has a loyal cadre of followers. And so she and Governor Bush probably are afforded the luxury of starting a little later than some others. Assessors What are her strengths. Well her strengths are that she's been a very successful Cabinet secretary that she's run one of the nation's largest charities very well. There's nobody who can sound out the themes of volunteerism and local control and community involvement. And somebody has headed a charity that does that. She clearly will be a formidable fundraiser both in her own right

and with the help of her husband. I suspect she's campaigned many times here in New Hampshire she's campaigned every time Bob Dole has and has run a separate schedule so she's met a lot of these people before. And I think those are her strengths. You know in terms of her weaknesses at this point there are other candidates who are ahead of her in terms of organization. And she will soon have to start taking very specific positions on issues and that's when you start to divide and separate yourself from another candidate in the room. So you have the. Media. Still.

Be. You might My. Question is What are you. I'm. Pretty. Oh then there's your public radio how nice. You have. Become. President. I got that tonight. It's. Great. Yeah. But how. Would. You do. That. I thought it sounded like a campaign speech. It. Would. Be. Great. I think she has a great great vision and I think she'll be a great consensus leader for the United States. What are you for from. Her in the next. Few weeks. I would be looking for her to run a terrific campaign. What do you think. I think she is. And she's got a great management style. She's got great integrity she's wonderful personable person. She's just all around great.

Can I just get your name just so that you can you should be. Oh. Gee. That's. Great. Guy. Who's still worth the trip up to the radio. Do you mind if I ask you what did you think of that speech. It's inspiring. It's called a dull light. Inspiring. Awesome. So what are your figures at present. I think that we all are in need right now of true leadership somebody who really makes you feel good about. The country the issues what's needed and I think that this lady is an energizer. And will give us just that. What do you think her strengths. I think I think her strengths are really that she's a very strong leadership she's a moral person. She doesn't like the way the drugs are in the school.

She she doesn't like the way the parents are shut out of the school system. I think she's a realist and she's visionary and she's really looking out for the best for the parents and the children. And I think that's that's the future of our country. So as you were going to launch it here next year. I mean. I mean if you do that but my personal feeling is that she's going to win. I hope she wins. I want her to win. You don't think she needs to do at this point probably just declare she's going to run. Seriously that's all I feel. Do you think that that's what you say to people. Yes she is.

Yes. Yes. We seriously hope she runs. She's she's she's energizing totally energizing totally. And I think the country needs that at this point in a positive way. Thanks I actually I'm a state legislator. My name is Vivian de Maris and I represent Manchester district 43.