Former Secretary of State stresses presidential power

Keynote speaker reaffirms role of president after Sept. 11

BECKY GABRIEL / staff photographer Lawrence Eagleburger, 62nd Secretary of State, reflects on presidents' power to destroy terrorism.

A president possessing the power to make decisions and a strong personality are what may secure the country's commitment to destroying terrorism. According to 62nd Secretary of State Lawrence Eagleburger, the objectives of demanding crises were overcome by such means in the past and can be accomplished now.

Reflecting on the role of U.S. presidents in times of crisis, now and in the past, Eagleburger, who served under George H.W. Bush from 1989 to '92, discussed the role of presidents in the scheme of constitutional checks and balances and U.S. actions since Sept. 11 in his keynote speech honoring James Madison Day Friday.

In his second appearance speaking at JMU, Eagleburger focused on the actions of current president George W. Bush in comparison to some of the most prominent presidents in history in a presentation to mostly faculty, parents and alumni in Wilson Hall. Eagleburger gave the May commencement address in 1995.

In an animated speech, Eagleburger stressed that in the records of American history it always has been the president, in accordance with his advisors, who was the one to steer the country out of crisis. Citing examples of Abraham Lincoln's efforts in the Civil War and Franklin Roosevelt's efforts during the Great Depression among many examples, Eagleburger said presidential leadership from Bush similarly can be the turning point in the country's war against terrorism.

"We'd better understand that we only have one president and he's in charge, and we can only hope and pray that he will make the right choices," Eagleburger said.

Making those right choices can only be done once we understand the need for presidential power, a need often questioned in the continued struggle to interpret the powers of each branch of government, he said. "The Congress will most of the time support a president who is forceful enough to recognize the challenges and try to propose legislation, but it's the president who has to make the decisions," he said. "It is the president who has to lead Congress, not the other way around.

"And for those who believe there must be substantial limitations on the power of the presidency, who believe that centralization of power in Washington is in fact in itself dangerous, they must also recognize that it's the bringing together of the powers by the president, under his power, that has been essential in dealing with crisis after crisis that this country has had to face."

Eagleburger addressed the president's responsibility to make clear the United States' efforts in the war and said it is essential that he use his power to carry out objectives set forth by himself and the public. "We are now in a situation in which we have declared war on terrorism, whatever that may be, undefined in terms of geographic location, undetermined in terms of people involved, and undetermined in terms of what it is we will use to accomplish our objectives and finally undetermined in terms of what our objectives are."

Continuing on the president's responsibility, Eagleburger said he would advise the president to now "tell the American people what our objectives are and prepare them for the fact that this is not something that is over the day we discover that Osama bin Laden has either been killed or been captured." He said bin Laden is a footnote in history and that "if he disappeared from the scene tomorrow morning it would mean almost nothing in terms of what we do about the terrorist threat over the course of the next year."

Pairing the need for power with the need for a leader with a strong personality, Eagleburger hailed Bush for his leadership in the crisis thus far. "I don't think President Bush had much choice but to react more or less the way he has, but I must also say, and I hope this isn't viewed as a political message, that had he been defeated in the presidential election that he squeaked through, I do not think we would've seen the same kind of leadership from Mr. Gore that we have of Mr. Bush. Personalities can make a serious difference in these kinds of crises."

Speaking on the relationship between the president and United States' allies in the crisis, Eagleburger said that personality plays a critical part once again in forging alliances and succeeding in the objectives set. Presently, he said he is not sure the United States is succeeding in its efforts to keep its allies strongly committed.

"At the moment I must tell you that while [our allies] may have some useful advice on occasion … their ability to convince themselves that they must take serious measures against something like the terrorist threat, their ability to convince themselves of this and then act on it are very much wanting." This lack of commitment, according to Eagleburger, will not be solved unless the United States can convey a clear objective as to what its goals are.

"Without the leadership of the U.S. in framing the issues, in framing the courses of action that we ought to take, we cannot even try to convince our allies and friends of the wisdom of our thinking and we will not be able to answer the allies questions," he said.

The discrepancy as to what the president's objectives are have faced criticism from many since Sept. 11. Eagleburger stressed that now is the time for Bush to face that confusion. "Now that we're committed, it is the responsibility of the president to continue to carry out whatever is necessary to meet the commitments he has already laid out, and to define those commitments."

Eagleburger touched on his invitation as keynote speaker after the university's dismissal of historian Doris Kearns Goodwin. Goodwin was uninvited after admitting to plagiarizing other writers in her 1987 book, "The Fitzgeralds and the Kennedys." Handling the situation with respect for Goodwin's works and humor at his own invitation, Eagleburger said he would be turning over his $10,000 fee to the university for use in funding scholarships.

"I thought he had excellent comments about the affairs of the nation," said Jim Riley, father of freshman Paul Riley and a member of the Parent's Council, a group of 36 parents of current students who work to involve parents in the affairs of the university. "His use of humor was really wonderful."

In addition to his work as Secretary of State, Eagleburger worked under presidents Nixon and Carter. He served as executive assistant to Henry Kissinger and held several roles in foreign affairs.

According to a press release from JMU Media Relations, Eagleburger now lives in Charlottesville and is a contributor on several network and cable television news shows.