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July 2005
Sabo Lecture: Daschle shares vision of freedom
Martin Sabo
Tom Daschle
Former Sen. Tom Daschle, addressing an audience of about 300 on May 2 at the Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs, encouraged the search for an "authentic vision of freedom" and called for America to reassert its place in the world as a beacon to freedom.
Daschle's presentation, which focused on what he learned during his career in public service and offered advice for current and future public leaders, was part of the annual Martin Olav Sabo Lecture Series. The lecture series, which began in 2002, is a forum for distinguished individuals to address the challenges of public service for our states and nation. The series honors Congressman Martin Olav Sabo, who has had a distinguished career at the state and federal levels for more than three decades.
Lee Munnich, senior fellow and director of the State and Local Policy Program at the Humphrey Institute, introduced Daschle and Sabo, ranking minority member of the Homeland Security Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee and former top Democrat on the Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee. Munnich also announced the establishment of the Martin Olav Sabo Fellowship at the Humphrey Institute, which he deemed a "crucial tool" to ensure economically disadvantaged individuals would be represented at the school.
Congressman Sabo, whose career in public service has been similar to Daschle's, told of the special bond he'd developed working with Daschle as newly elected representatives in 1978. In addition, Sabo, describing a plaque of homespun wisdom on the wall of Daschle's Senate office that emphasized the importance of each constituent, lauded Daschle's "incredible leadership for the country."
Following warm words for Sabo and a light-hearted reference to his own recent election defeat, Daschle launched into a lesson on the challenges of public leadership in our changing world. He framed much of what he said around the meaning of freedom.
"I share the president's hope that the world is moving toward freedom," Daschle said. But he took issue with how freedom has been defined by our leaders.
"At its very best, politics is a contest of ideas and values that shape our lives, and therefore our nation. I believe this is a pivotal moment for our nation, for our people," he said, pointing to the close and deep differences in values and ideology that continue to divide the nation, especially since the last election. "Freedom is what has defined America."
To illustrate the precarious nature of freedom, Daschle recounted the inspiring stories of the Polish Solidarity movement and of the plight of Japanese-Americans during World War II as experienced by Hawaiian Sen. Daniel Inouye, a war hero. He also reached back to FDR's defining speech about freedom of speech and worship—and from want and fear.
"This is the vision of freedom that our parents and grandparents fought for," he said, telling the story of his father's service as a soldier on D-Day. He stressed the need to bring dignity and hope to every American, including the elderly, the poor, and the disenfranchised, by recommitting efforts to ensure economic freedom, health care, education, employment, and retirement for all.
Daschle, citing statistics and providing several more historical and personal anecdotes, admonished some public leaders for misunderstanding the difference between choice and freedom. "Freedom must be more than just freedom to fail," he said. "It must allow Americans freedom to control their lives."
Daschle served as representative and senator from South Dakota from 1979 to 2005. He was elected to the Senate in 1986, where he served as both majority leader and minority leader. Earlier this year, Daschle joined the Washington, D.C., law firm Alston & Bird, LLP, as a public policy adviser.