Rider’s Rebovich Institute Hosts Former NJ Gov. Tom Kean

Rider University’s Rebovich Institute continued its political speakers series last night, hosting former New Jersey Governor and 9/11 Commission Chairman Tom Kean.
 
Kean spoke to a rapt audience on the state of contemporary politics in both New Jersey and the nation. Much of his discussion focused on the sharp contrast between today’s political discourse and the discourse he remembers from growing up in the 1950s and 1960s. Kean lamented that the optimism of Kennedy’s New Frontier has been replaced by cynicism. He wondered aloud how elected officials from opposing parties can work together if they do not speak to one another or get along on a personal level.
 
In his time in office, Kean said, budget deficits were not the problem they have become today. During his term and that of his predecessor, Democratic Gov. Brendan Byrne, Kean said that New Jersey enjoyed low taxes relative to its surrounding states as well as a “AAA” bond rating that both governors jealously protected. Kean recalled how surprised he was when, after reckless borrowing led to a downgraded rating, there was no public outcry. This, he believes, is a symptom of the “disease” now infecting the country’s politics.
 
Kean also talked about his tenure on the 9/11 Commission, highlighting his efforts to form personal relationships with his colleagues and prevent members of one party or another from caucusing with each other to the exclusion of the other commission members. As a result, commission members formed friendly relationships and stuck together when they were being picked apart by the press and Congress. Kean credits these efforts with helping to produce a unanimous 9/11 Commission report.
 
Kean lamented that the ideological center is endangered in today’s politics. The recent news that Sen. Richard Lugar (R-IN) will face a primary challenge from his right was particularly troubling to Kean. In his view, a significant contributor to the problem is districts that are drawn to be safe for one party or the other, which force representatives to be concerned only with partisan challenges rather than general electability.
 
Kean’s speech was followed by a brief question-and-answer session in which Kean fielded questions ranging from the pervasiveness of talk radio and its effect on political discourse to the current struggle in states such as Wisconsin and Indiana over union collective bargaining rights. His answers to all were measured, inclusive and respectful—as is to be expected from a politician with a career as storied as Gov. Tom Kean.
 
Next up in the Rebovich Institute’s speaker series are U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez on March 22 and former Gov. Brendan Byrne on April 14.
 Noah Rothman is the online editor at C&E. Email him at nrothman@campaignsandelecitons.com