An Obama Moment

In 1991, when Barack Obama was a third-year student at the Harvard Law School, I was serving as Dean of the University of Chicago Law School. I had heard through the grapevine that there was an extraordinarily talented African-American student at Harvard who was president of the Harvard Law Review and who was planning to come to Chicago after graduation to do public service law and to write a book about his experiences as a community organizer.

After checking with some members of the Harvard faculty, who assured me that this fellow Obama was, indeed, remarkable, I invited him to become a Visiting Law and Government Fellow at the University of Chicago Law School. This would give him support for his research and connect him officially to the Law School. He accepted, and over the next dozen years Obama became a Senior Lecturer at the University of Chicago Law School and a highly respected and much admired teacher of Constitutional Law, while at the same time pursuing his other interests.

In 2003, having served several highly successful terms in the Illinois legislature, Obama announced his candidacy for the Democratic nomination for the United States Senate. This seemed to me an utterly hopeless quest. Peter Fitzgerald, the Republican incumbent, seemed unbeatable, the Democratic field had already drawn several very strong candidates with more established statewide reputations than Obama, and Obama had recently failed in his effort to unseat Bobby Rush as the Congressman from Chicago's Hyde Park neighborhood. Obama's candidacy for the Senate seemed pointless.

Shortly after Obama announced his candidacy for the Senate, I attended (and, indeed, co-hosted) a major fundraising event in Chicago for the William Jefferson Clinton Foundation. At one point, I spotted Obama moving gracefully through the crowd, chatting amiably with each individual, dutifully pressing the flesh. As I observed him, I thought to myself, "What a waste. This is demeaning. Barack should forget politics and become a full-time law professor. Then he could really make something of himself."

A few minutes later, I found myself standing next to Obama at the shrimp bowl. Although it was really none of my business, I decided to impart some of my wisdom. "Barack," I said, "I've been watching you out there, making nice to all these folks. Why are you doing this? Given the realities of politics, you know as well as I that there's no chance you'll get the nomination, let alone defeat Fitzgerald. Why don't you just pack all this in and accept a full-time position on the faculty?" Barack smiled and thoughtfully replied, "Geof, I know where you're coming from, but, you know, I have to do this. I believe I can make a difference. I have a responsibility to try." As he blended back into the crowd, I thought, "What a waste."

Comments

[IkeChicago]

Drip, drip, drip.
Governor of Wisconsin endorses Barack Obama.
Drip, drip, drip.
Bill Bradley endorses Barack Obama.
Drip, drip, drip.
John Kerry endorses Barack Obama.
Drip, drip, drip.

[leftbehind2000]

I enjoy articles like this one. Gives me a sense of the "real" person underneath the veneer.

While I remain skeptical of Obama's true commitment to progressive ideas, I remain convinced of his integrity, and hopeful regarding his intentions.

Should Edwards bow out at any point, I will wholeheartedly support Obama.

[Doofus]

'What a waste.'

One might make that harsh comment about lawyers
& lawyering in general.

Certainly, politicians ought to be lawyers,
if anybody should be, before they are professors.

[Nutcase]

You were right. He has wasted it, by selling himself to the corporations and putting their lobbyists on his staff. Another requiem for idealism.

[OzzieSmerck]

obama's talents would be wasted on the presidency...i'd rather have 40 years of him on the supreme court than 8 years in the white house. hillary should pledge to put him on the court.

[OzzieSmerck]

This kinda dovetails with what i've been thinking about Obama all along...why waste him on 8 years in the presidency when we could have him for 40 years on the supreme court. For every GOPer prez candidate who says he wants more scalias and alitos on the bench, one of ours pledges to put men like Obama on the court.

[Edmonsky]

Some of the responders to Geoffrey Stone seem to misunderstand what he was writing. Mr. Stone seems to be saying with "what a waste" is in reference to everyday politicians that are seen as dishonest with the hallmark of double-speak mentality. He was wondering why such a gifted, honorable man with decency be seen meddling in the cesspool of politics meant for crooks.

Senator Obama"s greatest weapon is how his political opponents usually see him as weak, naïve and easy pushover at their own detriment. Senator Obama is the embodiment of many superlative ingredients that is rare in one person; he comes off as authentic, honest, humble, cerebral, eloquent, and mild-mannered with rare inviting temperament of all seasons. Hilary is about to get a dose of what makes Obama tick as a politician. Did l say that he is also a very good looking, dishy and delicious. Go figure.

[LeeFromVA]

That seems to be the case with a lot of people. The first impression of him is not that great. It seems to work to his advantage. He keeps expectations low, and then surprises you. I've been a fan ever since I read Dreams From My Father. He's the real deal, a down-to-earth, likeable, visionary underdog. He will win the hearts and minds of more Americans than anybody in recent memory. If you're not on the band-wagon yet, quit fighting it. He's going to win you over.

[CanardTahiti]

Sir, I was a Chicago voter back in 2003, registered in the 23rd ward -- a lily-white southwest-side neighborhood inhabited by firemen, policemen, teachers and other city workers.

The word came to us from downtown that Obama was the "machine's" candidate. I researched Barak's bio and was immensely impressed. Yet I doubted my lily-white, extremely conservative neighbors would follow "orders" and vote for Barack.

I sincerely wished him well, based on what I already knew about his accomplishments. I voted for him in the primary and in the senatorial election, and I even got my parents to vote for him.

Imagine my AMAZEMENT when Obama swept not only the city of Chicago, but specifically the lily-white 23rd ward!! Ever since then, this fact was cited incessantly by Dem politicos as PROOF that Obama could carry EVEN lily-white, conservative voters.

It all started there, in 2003, on the southwest side of Chicago. That's where Obama proved his "electability." And the beat goes on.

[ljsfolly]

Thanks for the back ground as it is enlightening to know Obama has made on impact in other ways. I don't know if anyone can match or meet the expectations of so many americans who have been begging for someone to come in and "fix it". As with the elcetions of the democrats for congress and the high expectations of so many that they would just get into congress and bring the soldiers home. No one seemed to realize that without the majority in the veto overide area no one thing could and has gotten done. So many hold up that the congress they elected has failed to do the job the were elected to do and how disapointed and angry they are about it all. Not too many have stopped and looked at the reality of the situation of the veto overide being impossible with the republicans blocking what they have tried to do. Who knows what people will say when things are not done instantly when the new president gets in. The reality of Obama is he has to face the first part to get nominated then hope againest hope someone will help whomever do the right things the first years.

[SCharb]

That's the beauty of Obama's political career.

He's always going to be the underdog. Washington politics rewards the calculating, deceptive crook, not the honest, selfless intellectual.

But the theory of Democracy is just the opposite, and Barack Obama's very candidacy is based on the hope that democracy works. In this time of despair and cynicism, we need that voice of hope.

[Roses]

I don't see the irony. It is not ironic that the Democratic turn-out doubled. It is not ironic that Hillary lost and placed 3rd behind Obama and behind Edwards. It is not ironic that young people came out and organized. Sounds like some of the opinions expressed by the older guard in 1968.

Obama/Edwards '08 or Edwards/Obama '08

[hrayovac]

Mr Stone,
Thanks for the honest 'fess up.
When in 2004 Barack came to Los Angeles via the Demmocracy For America organization the impression of him was very good, so perhaps you can credit your confrontation as a further motivating factor for Barack.

[Pippen]

Iowa was a setup by conservative Iowans caucus mongering to put a weak candidate up against a weak republican. Obama cant win nationally and everyone knows it except the cattle of citizens who think this win was some form of JFK resurrection. The conservative Iowans must be having a huge laugh on the liberals. And they deserve a good one.

If the pundits dont point out that you can switch and trade votes for caucus delegates from party to party candidate and that no mischief was afoot they are not pundits worth the salt that made them.

please people calm down and use your head.

[vaughan]

Great story, and I like the humility throughout. He might be President. Amazing!