Blavett Lecture: Preview

By Evan Rothera

The Blavettt Lecture, which will occur on Friday March 23 and several subsequent days, will highlight as speakers two prominent former politicians: Former House Majority Leader Dick Armey and Former Senate Majority and Minority Leader Tom Daschle.

Armey began his career in academics and transitioned to politics, trading a job as an Economics Professor at North Texas State University, which is now the University of North Texas, for a position in the United States House of Representatives. He defeated, in 1984, Representative Tom Vandergriff to become the Representative for the 26 th District of Texas. He served in the House of Representatives, eventually attaining the position of House Republican Conference Chairman. In 1994, Armey, along with House Majority Whip Newt Gingrich (also a former professor), drafted the Contract with America. The Contract with America was the driving force behind the Republican Revolution of 1994, which resulted in the Republican Party gaining control of both Houses of Congress. Gingrich became the Speaker of the House and Armey the House Majority Leader, the highest position next to the speaker. In 1998, when Speaker Gingrich resigned due to Republican losses in the midterm elections, Armey retained his post as Majority Leader, which he held until his resignation in 2002. He has remained active, currently serving as a senior policy advisor for the Washington D.C. law firm of DLA Piper, the co-chairman of DLA Piper’s Homeland Security Task Force, and the Chairman of FreedomWorks.

Like Armey, Daschle started his political life as a four term congressman from South Dakota, representingnthe 1 st Congressional District of South Dakota and then the At Large Congressional District of South Dakota. While serving in the House, Daschle quickly became involved with the Democratic leadership. Upon his election to the United States Senate in 1986, Daschle was appointed to the Senate Finance Committee. In 1988, Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell appointed him co-chairman of the Democratic Party Committee. In 1994, Daschle was elected by his colleagues to replace George Mitchell, who retired, and became the Senate Majority Leader. From January 3 rd to January 20 th, Daschle became Majority Leader, as there were 50 Republican and 50 Democratic Senators, and Vice President Gore gave the Democrats a technical Majority. After the inauguration of George W. Bush as president, Daschle reverted again to Minority Leader, until May 2001, when Senator Jim Jeffords of Vermont became an independent and caucused with the Democrats. Daschle remained majority Leader until 2002, when the midterm elections cost the Democrats their majority, therefore he reverted to Minority Leader. He held this position until 2004, when he was defeated by John Thune. Daschle also remains active, as he is a Special Policy Advisor for the law firm Alston & Bird LLP, a visiting professor at Georgetown Public Policy Institute, and a Distinguished Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress.

It is wise that Armey and Daschle were chosen to speak, as they are less likely to try and push one president contender, as some speaker would feel obligated to do, but rather analyze the current political situation with critical and non-involved eyes. The very fact that they are no longer serving in the House of Representatives or the Senate gives them the power to move away from party talking points and offer honest and forthright opinions.