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There’s much to be said about growing old.
With the exception of sleeplessness, occasional aches and organs that give out with little or no notice, it’s pretty good.
All that life perspective people told you about when you were a feisty, partisan firebrand in your 20s? It’s real, and it makes you a lot more pleasant to be around when you’re in your 40s.
Young political hacks get up every morning raring to pick a fight with the other side. Middle-aged do-gooders play the long game.
Our democratic system needs both, but I’m glad my partisan fightin’ days have given way to a Ted Lasso “be curious, not judgmental” era. It was delightful to attend a recent event where that was very much the vibe.
Last month, the Fortune Institute for Civic Leadership and Capitalism at Marian University hosted former U.S. Sen. Joe Donnelly, a Democrat, and former Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb, a Republican, to kick off this year’s Lugar Speaker Series.
It was chicken soup for old political soul watching the two former statewide elected officials sit on stage talking about the current state of affairs to an audience of erstwhile staffers, aforementioned middle-aged do-gooders and college students readying to begin their careers.
The two men couldn’t have looked more comfortable discussing their political pasts, today’s political reality and their hopes for the future.
Here are five takeaways from the evening:
Progress over perfection. If you want to get things done, you’re going to have to work together. Donnelly, one of the original Blue Dog Democrats, didn’t shy away from his moderate stances, joking about a question he’d ask during disagreements with those to his left: “Would you rather have 70% of something or 100% of nothing?”
Do the job to do better. It was clear both Donnelly and Holcomb loved the roles to which they were elected, but their egos weren’t the driving force behind their public service. They wanted to improve our state, and they took that mission to heart. It’s worth noting that they started in politics before social media created virtual spaces where endless name-calling and outrage fuel the political machine. Ideally, more people would get to see that even with the digital din in the background, most elected officials still do the job for the right reasons.
Love the place you represent. Toward the end of the conversation, moderator Robert Vane—with whom I clashed many times in my partisan days before we became lifelong friends—asked Donnelly and Holcomb about their love of our state. Donnelly most recently served as ambassador to the Holy See, and Holcomb currently is teaching a course at Harvard University’s Institute of Politics. They beamed with pride as they extolled Indiana’s virtues. Now retired from the daily grind of politics, they could locate anywhere, but they remain two of Indiana’s biggest cheerleaders.
Have faith. Both men talked about how their faith guided them through the heavier moments of leadership when they alone had to make difficult decisions that would affect the people they served. That belief in something greater than themselves gave them the strength to make those decisions and push forward through uncertainty.
Be human. Donnelly and Holcomb were funny and real and self-deprecating, a reminder that political people, even the folks with whom we believe we share no common ground, are people. To survive these contentious times, we must be able to vociferously disagree, campaign until the last vote is counted and still see each other’s intrinsic value.•
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Chartier is a lifelong Indianapolis resident and owner of Mass Ave Public Relations. Send comments to [email protected].
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