Peter McPherson is member of "National Committee to Unite a Divided America"



Peter McPherson is member of "National Committee to Unite a Divided America"

Sixty Leaders Call For Greater Inclusiveness and Civility in Government

1/12/2005 1:00:00 PM

To: Assignment Desk, Daybook Editor

Contact: Tom Kirlin, 202-872-9800; Rachna Sethi, 202-737-8400, both of the Center for the Study of the Presidency

News Advisory:

SUMMARY: Dr. David M. Abshire, President of the non-partisan Center for the Study of the Presidency, and Ambassador Max Kampelman, who served as chief nuclear arms negotiator for President Reagan and received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Clinton, recently organized a National Committee to Unite a Divided America, which today will release its "Declaration on Civility and Inclusive Leadership." This document urges America's leaders to tap the nation's most creative minds and leaders-regardless of political party-to deal with the war in Iraq, proliferation of nuclear weapons, runaway healthcare costs, extended deployment of our National Guard and Reserves, burgeoning trade and budget deficits, and other national challenges, just as past Presidents and Congresses drew strength and wisdom from inclusive leadership and civility when faced by the Civil War, World War II and Cold War. More than 70 leaders in diplomacy, the military, academia, religion, politics and public policy have signed the Declaration, and more will be added as Steering Committee members carry their message to the President and leaders in Congress, business, education and politics. A new CSP/Zogby poll shows overwhelming voter support of this effort, with 98 percent of the respondents saying "I want my elected officials to work toward the good of the nation, rather than the good of their party."

WHO: Dr. David M. Abshire, President, Center for the Study of the Presidency, former Ambassador to NATO and former Special Counsellor to the President (co-chair)

Ambassador Max Kampelman, former Chief Negotiator on Strategic Arms Reduction with the Soviet Union and Presidential Medal of Freedom Awardee (co-chair)

Dr. Zbigniew Brzezinski, former National Security Advisor

Ambassador Jeane Kirkpatrick, former Ambassador to the United Nations

The Honorable Thomas F. McLarty, former Chief of Staff to President Clinton

General Edward Meyer (USA-Ret.), former Army Chief of Staff

The Honorable Togo West, President, Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies

Dr. Albert Zapanta, Chairman of the Reserve Forces Policy Board

Mrs. Patricia McGinnis, President of the Council for Excellent in Government

Dr. Peter McPherson, former President of Michigan State University

WHAT: Call for Greater Inclusiveness and Civility in Congress and the White House

WHEN: Thursday, January 13, 2005, starting at 2 PM

WHERE: National Press Club (Ballroom) 529 14th Street NW, 13th Floor, Washington DC.

When this story was posted in January 2005, this was on the front page of PCOL:

Coleman: Peace Corps mission and expansion Senator Norm Coleman, Chairman of the Senate Subcommittee that oversees the Peace Corps, says in an op-ed, A chance to show the world America at its best: "Even as that worthy agency mobilizes a "Crisis Corps" of former Peace Corps volunteers to assist with tsunami relief, I believe an opportunity exists to rededicate ourselves to the mission of the Peace Corps and its expansion to touch more and more lives."

RPCVs active in new session of Congress In the new session of Congress that begins this week, RPCV Congressman Tom Petri has a proposal to bolster Social Security, Sam Farr supported the objection to the Electoral College count, James Walsh has asked for a waiver to continue heading a powerful Appropriations subcommittee, Chris Shays will no longer be vice chairman of the Budget Committee, and Mike Honda spoke on the floor honoring late Congressman Robert Matsui.

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January 8, 2005: This Week's Top Stories Zambia RPCV Karla Berg interviews 1,374 people on Peace 7 Jan Breaking Taboo, Mandela Says Son Died of AIDS 6 Jan Dreadlocked PCV raises eyebrows in Africa 6 Jan RPCV Jose Ravano directs CARE's efforts in Sri Lanka 6 Jan Persuading Retiring Baby Boomers to Volunteer 6 Jan Inventor of "Drown Proofing" retires 6 Jan NPCA Membership approves Board Changes 5 Jan Timothy Shriver announces "Rebuild Hope Fund" 5 Jan More Water Bottles, Fewer Bullets 4 Jan Poland RPCV Rebecca Parker runs Solterra Books 2 Jan Peace Corps Fund plans event for September 30 Dec RPCV Carmen Bailey recounts bout with cerebral malaria 28 Dec more top stories...

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Latest: RPCVs and Peace Corps provide aid Peace Corps made an appeal last week to all Thailand RPCV's to consider serving again through the Crisis Corps and more than 30 RPCVs have responded so far. RPCVs: Read what an RPCV-led NGO is doing about the crisis an how one RPCV is headed for Sri Lanka to help a nation he grew to love. Question: Is Crisis Corps going to send RPCVs to India, Indonesia and nine other countries that need help?

The World's Broken Promise to our Children Former Director Carol Bellamy, now head of Unicef, says that the appalling conditions endured today by half the world's children speak to a broken promise. Too many governments are doing worse than neglecting children -- they are making deliberate, informed choices that hurt children. Read her op-ed and Unicef's report on the State of the World's Children 2005.

Changing of the Guard With Lloyd Pierson's departure, Marie Wheat has been named acting Chief of Staff and Chief of Operations responsible for the day-to-day management of the Peace Corps. Although Wheat is not an RPCV and has limited overseas experience, in her two years at the agency she has come to be respected as someone with good political skills who listens and delegates authority and we wish her the best in her new position.

Our debt to Bill Moyers Former Peace Corps Deputy Director Bill Moyers leaves PBS next week to begin writing his memoir of Lyndon Baines Johnson. Read what Moyers says about journalism under fire, the value of a free press, and the yearning for democracy. "We have got to nurture the spirit of independent journalism in this country," he warns, "or we'll not save capitalism from its own excesses, and we'll not save democracy from its own inertia."

RPCV safe after Terrorist Attack RPCV Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley, the U.S. consul general in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia survived Monday's attack on the consulate without injury. Five consular employees and four others were killed. Abercrombie-Winstanley, the first woman to hold the position, has been an outspoken advocate of rights for Arab women and has met with Saudi reformers despite efforts by Saudi leaders to block the discussions.

Is Gaddi Leaving? Rumors are swirling that Peace Corps Director Vasquez may be leaving the administration. We think Director Vasquez has been doing a good job and if he decides to stay to the end of the administration, he could possibly have the same sort of impact as a Loret Ruppe Miller. If Vasquez has decided to leave, then Bob Taft, Peter McPherson, Chris Shays, or Jody Olsen would be good candidates to run the agency. Latest: For the record, Peace Corps has no comment on the rumors.

The Birth of the Peace Corps UMBC's Shriver Center and the Maryland Returned Volunteers hosted Scott Stossel, biographer of Sargent Shriver, who spoke on the Birth of the Peace Corps. This is the second annual Peace Corps History series - last year's speaker was Peace Corps Director Jack Vaughn.

Read the stories and leave your comments.