House Speaker Gingrich discusses new American agenda

His talk, sponsored by Syracuse University's Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, was the first in a series called "Leadership, Public Service, and the American Agenda." Featuring leading public figures, the series is intended to promote discussion of issues related to governance and public service during the presidential election year. The LBJ School, which--along with the Maxwell School--is ranked as one of the top four public affairs schools in the nation, was invited to participate in the Gingrich talk via teleconference.

Responding to an LBJ School student's question about government downsizing and privatization, Gingrich said that as government becomes leaner it will depend on well-trained people in the sectors outside government to achieve its goals.

"Public service is not the same as government service. . . . Public service is finding a way to serve the community," he said, adding that more and more, the nonprofit sector and many parts of the private sector are engaged in public service.

Although Gingrich reassured students that the federal government would offer plenty of job opportunities, he warned that those who remain in the government sector must work at peak efficiency and be talented administrators and evaluators.

According to Pat Graves, one of 45 students from the LBJ School who were selected to participate in the teleconference, the Speaker was "in control and seemed intent on setting a nonadversarial tone." Graves, who hopes to eventually write and do research for a journalistic enterprise, said he was not surprised that Gingrich discussed theories of organization management instead of problem-solving approaches.

Marvin McNeese, a joint program (Latin American studies) student who was also present during the teleconference, said that Gingrich did not talk "in jargon, which was refreshing."

"The discussion . . . gave credence to my impression that public service would become incredibly entrepreneurial in this next era," he commented. "This is good for those who love challenge and competition. . . . I think it is good that the public sector will no longer be so dominated by the government; it should not be. To that extent, I like the message the Speaker gave."

The interaction between Gingrich and the two groups of graduate students was covered by CNN, the Washington Post, and the New York Times.

According to LBJ School Associate Dean Glen Cope, who is an alumna of the Maxwell School, President Bill Clinton has been invited to participate in the series, which continues through the fall. "If President Clinton accepts, we'll be invited to participate," she said.