Arianna, Joseph Nye, Robert Kuttner And Timothy Naftali Discuss Presidential Leadership At Truman Library Institute (VIDEO)

On Nov. 1st, Arianna participated in a forum that discussed "Presidential Leadership in Transformational Times." The panel was brought together by the 2009 Howard and Virginia Bennett Forum on the Presidency, part of the Harry S. Truman Library Institute, and included Robert Kuttner and Timothy Naftali. It was moderated by Joseph S. Nye, Jr.

Watch the event below.

 

Comments

[Chopin]

08:37 PM on 12/12/2009

Talking transformation, thisis transformational moment for peoplemedia education. It's informative + thoughtprovoking for anyone, of anybackground, from anyplace, who cares to clickon thecomputer. That's unique unprecedented universal "democratic" leveller in itself. Arianna earns great credit for rising to entrepreneurial transformation of unconventional communicationmedia. In intimacy, directness and impact, this new medium potentially surpasses FDR's nationwide access with "fireside chats". For "teachable moments" in opening up substantive communications, this isit. President Obama and next president could tap Arianna onthe shoulder and say, "Arianna, be my Communications Director, run withit, help transform Washington and national communications." That wouldbe one recognizable phase of complete comprehensive package of transformation of Washington politics and American society.

Nye correctly introduced challenge of transformation. It's not mere change. Politicians feelit fashionable toclaim change in their politicalplatforms. It has tobe major substantive change. The country or majority of people have tobe ready or brought along. The conventional sociopolitical machinery might not be ready or conducive to change. Real transformation presupposes the governing machinery isn't ready while people expect and demand it, or times make it feasible or opportune.

Is Obama transformational president? Not yet, says the panel. Too early to judge in presidential record? YesNno, --- too early to judge twistsNturns of historicalevents andtheir impacts on presidential legacy. Hazardous predictive elements to prejudge in president + presidency are temperamental character and ability to "LearnOnTheJob". Some of panel's examples highlight important common aspect --- ability to selftransform. Sofar, Obama's conciliatory temperamental nature hasn't led him towards fundamental substantive transformation.