In spite of Coverdell's appreciation for the importance of media coverage in politics, however, he also believed sincerely that the most important responsibility of someone in public office was to make government work for the people who elected him. This is why he worked 12- to 15-hour days, and it is why he never resorted to outlandish behavior or "gimmicks" to attract the media's attention. Like all successful politicians, Coverdell recognized the importance of the media, but he worked hard to earn coverage based on issues and policy positions, not showmanship. Paul Coverdell was the 11th Director of the Peace Corps.
Lee Raudonis writes: For slightly more than a decade, I had the opportunity to work with Paul Coverdell as he climbed the ladder of political success from being one of five Republicans in the Georgia State Senate to becoming a member of the Republican leadership in the United States Senate, with stops along the way to lead the Georgia Republican Party and the United States Peace Corps
Modesty a virtue long gone in politics
By Lee Raudonis
For slightly more than a decade, I had the opportunity to work with Paul Coverdell as he climbed the ladder of political success from being one of five Republicans in the Georgia State Senate to becoming a member of the Republican leadership in the United States Senate, with stops along the way to lead the Georgia Republican Party and the United States Peace Corps.
Like any successful politician, Coverdell was not shy about talking to reporters or appearing in front of television cameras. In fact, there were more than a few occasions when he let me know - sometimes subtly and sometimes less subtly - that he believed my efforts as his communications director were, let's just say, "not as productive as he hoped they might be."
In spite of Coverdell's appreciation for the importance of media coverage in politics, however, he also believed sincerely that the most important responsibility of someone in public office was to make government work for the people who elected him. This is why he worked 12- to 15-hour days, and it is why he never resorted to outlandish behavior or "gimmicks" to attract the media's attention. Like all successful politicians, Coverdell recognized the importance of the media, but he worked hard to earn coverage based on issues and policy positions, not showmanship.
Former U.S. Sen. Sam Nunn also impressed me. Although I never worked with Nunn and do not know him personally, I admired his conduct. Never once did he appear to be grandstanding in order to attract press attention, although he often appeared on the Sunday political talk shows and was frequently quoted in national publications. Like Coverdell, Nunn's key to success was to be a public servant first and a politician second. Perhaps more than any political figure in Georgia over the last few decades, Nunn achieved success by becoming a genuine expert on a crucial issue - national defense. The reason he was sought after by the national media was because he had something valuable to say and could say it well, not because he was going to say or do something controversial or outlandish.
Undoubtedly, there are still elected officials like Coverdell and Nunn who care about public policy more than self-aggrandizement, but tragically, it seems as if the only public figures that the media notices today are those such as South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford and Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, both of whom attract attention almost entirely on the basis of their personal behavior. I very seriously doubt that 20 percent of the people in this country could describe a single position that either of these governors has taken on a key policy issue.
Having worked many years with political candidates and elected officials to court media attention, I find it ironic that the more sources of information that exist, the less focus there seems to be on issues and the more on personality. Unfortunately, this is probably due to the belief among the various media that the only way to survive in an increasingly competitive environment is to become increasingly sensational. While Sen. Johnny Isakson's latest proposal to improve the real estate market won't attract viewers (or readers), Rep. Peter King calling Michael Jackson a "pervert" certainly will. Gone are the days when Chet Huntley and David Brinkley, Walter Cronkite and Howard K. Smith had a virtual monopoly on the national news and competed more on the basis of presentation than on how sensational their stories were.
Now people are as likely to get their "news" from "The Daily Show," Fox or CNN as they are from the networks or their local newspaper. In such an environment, how long will the modern-day Coverdells and Nunns survive, or will those like them be forced to increasingly call attention to themselves rather than their issues? If so, it will be a sad day for us all.
Lee Raudonis, a former GOP state director, worked for Paul Coverdell in the Georgia Senate, state GOP and U.S. Peace Corps.
