Former Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle (D-SD) was elected to the House of Representatives in 1978 and to the Senate in 1986, where he served as party leader from 1995 to 2005. Daschle lost a bitterly contested election to Senator John Thune (R-SD) in the fall of 2004. He will join the Georgetown Public Policy Institute as a visiting professor this fall.
As a leader in national politics, you have the opportunity to be affiliated with any university in which you are interested. Why did you choose Georgetown?
Three reasons. First of all, I have such high regard for Georgetown. It’s one of the finest institutions anywhere in the country for higher education. It’s real honor for me to be affiliated with Georgetown. Secondly, Judy Feder [the Dean of the GPPI] is a very old friend and somebody I respect immensely, and this is an opportunity to work again with her. Third, I like the fact that since I’m spending most of my time here in Washington, I can be affiliated with a universit in Washington, which doesn’t require quite as much travel.
Is there a particular scholarly interest you plan on pursuing at the GPPI?
Healthcare has always been a great interest for me. I have talked to Judy about the possibility of spending some time talking about healthcare policy. In addition to that, I hope to involve myself in what we’re going to be calling “conversations about current events,” discussions about the legislative process and developments going on in the United States Senate that relate to both foreign and domestic policy. I don’t want to be limited in my scope, but healthcare is something I’m particularly interested in.
After the 2004 elections, most political observers have pet ideas about how the Democratic Party can begin winning elections. What do you think the Democratic Party needs to do now?
I think it’s important for us to be the loyal opposition. That is critical as we consider the circumstances in Washington today with Republicans controlling both the executive and legislative branches.
I think we owe it to the American people to provide alternatives to [GOP] public policy on an array of issues. We have to reach out and create the kind of leadership within our party that is essential as we prepare to take back our government.
When you talk about leadership, are there specific people you have in mind?
No one in particular. I’m proud to say that I’m very close to the new-relatively new-leaders in the Congress. I’ve been very blessed to have friends throughout the party and in the caucuses. At this point I think it’s important to recognize that we have two new senators, Obama and Salazar. I think they have tremendous potential to become national spokespeople.
Georgetown is obviously a very political school. What advice would you give to Georgetown students who want to become involved in politics?
My advice would be, first, to be engaged now. Don’t wait for the next election. There is so much that can be done right now, that can be done over the Internet in terms of your own involvement, whether it’s organization in progressive causes or through candidates. Expressing yourself and following the debate is so important.
If we’re going to be successful and have the kind of debate and consideration of the most important issues, it’s critical that all of those people who seem to get involved in the last months of any campaign stay involved for those two years between campaigns.
As to your own political career, do you foresee a return to public office, perhaps a run for South Dakota governor?
I’ve always felt that it’s important that you never close any doors, and I’m not going to be closing doors in my political life for the foreseeable future. I don’t have any current plans to get back into elective political office, but I won’t say, and I couldn’t say, that that wouldn’t happen. We’ll have to wait and see what the future holds and what opportunities present themselves.
