Margaret Chase Smith Essay: High School Student Essay Winners

Maine Policy Review Volume 12 | Issue 1 2003 Margaret Chase Smith Essay: High School Student Essay Winners Emily Parker Rachel Culley Miles Kirby Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/mpr Part of the American Politics Commons, Political History Commons, and the United States History Commons Recommended Citation Parker, Emily, Rachel Culley, and Miles Kirby. "Margaret Chase Smith Essay: High School Student Essay Winners." Maine Policy Review 12.1 (2003) : 8 -13, https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/mpr/vol12/iss1/3. This Essay is brought to you for free and open access by DigitalCommons@UMaine. THE MARGARET CHASE SMITH ESSAY Maine has benefitted from the public service of many wellrespected and influential national leaders over the last two centuries. One of them, Senator Margaret Chase Smith, offered her reflections on leadership at a time when the United States faced a struggle for civil rights at home and the tensions of the Cold War abroad. With the country currently confronting challenges such as the threat of terrorism, ongoing tensions in the Middle East, and the taint of corporate scandals, the Margaret Chase Smith Library in Skowhegan invited Maine high school students over this past year to reflect on the qualities leaders will need to possess in order to be more effective in the twenty-first century. We feature in this issue three outstanding examples of the essays submitted by Maine students. In the order they are featured, the essays were awarded first, second, and third place. All of this year’s prize winners are seniors heading to college in the upcoming year; all contributed essays that not only heed the lessons of the past but also draw upon historical examples of outstanding leadership. The Margaret Chase Smith Essay Contest is sponsored each year by the Margaret Chase Smith Library. Interested students may contact the library directly. 8 · MAINE POLICY REVIEW · Spring 2003 The Margaret Chase Smith Essay F I R S T P L A C E E S S AY What Qualities Will Leaders Need to Possess in Order to be Effective in the Twenty-first Century? by Emily Parker n his study of Harry S. Truman in Character Above All, David McCullough writes, “Character counts in the presidency more than any other single quality. It is more important than how much the President knows of foreign policy or economics or even about politics.” The character of a president greatly affects his leadership, and the three presidents Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Harry S. Truman, and Dwight D. Eisenhower all had character strengths and weaknesses, both unique and shared, that dictated the leadership of each. All had confidence in the American people and democracy, a I profound sense of history and tradition, and all were successful because they were true to their characters. As a result of their shared trait of confidence, all three presidents could make widely impacting and controversial decisions and then remain unfazed by criticism. As effective leaders, their presence is still felt today, and as the United States moves into the troublesome and trying time of war, we hope President Bush and all our nation’s leaders may emulate the same traits of these former presidents. During one of the nation’s most trying times, Franklin Delano Roosevelt possessed the invaluable leadership gift of inspiration. Roosevelt’s constant message to the American people of a better time coming reflected his personal vendetta for triumph over hardship. Doris Kearns Goodwin has described Roosevelt as “leading the people step by step.” FDR recognized that the Depression had left the American people angry and frightened, and he successfully responded by stimulating an active dialogue with the public while still maintaining the dignity of his office. His famous “fireside chats,” coupled with Eleanor Roosevelt’s constant crusades, helped FDR connect with a people who came to appreciate their leader’s straightforwardness. As the United States faces the twenty-first century, a time when technology has molded us into a nation accustomed to View current & previous issues of MPR at: www.umaine.edu/mcsc/mpr.htm THE MARGARET CHASE SMITH ESSAY constant, instant information, our nation will expect leaders to consistently share decisions and policies, to speak the truth and help us make individual and conscientious decisions. Harry S. Truman shared this courage. At one World War I battle, Germans opened fire against Truman and his troops, and Truman was thrown and nearly crushed by his horse. Seeing his panicked troops fleeing, Truman called them back with a tirade full of profanity…and back they came. Thirty years later at the 1948 Democratic National Conventional, Truman again used a few words well, and roused the skeptical and downtrodden audience to its feet. While the American public was comforted by FDR’s stirring chats, Truman resisted any ambiguity in his speeches and decisions—a weakness of FDR—maintained to keep the peace. When Truman took office, Americans found themselves awakened from the pleasant spell of Roosevelt’s appealing eloquence. Despite his lack of presence, Truman liked who he was. Like FDR, he relied on his background to shape his decisions, which he faced head-on. In a highly unpopular move, the president fired General Douglas MacArthur, then deemed the decision a simple one. He dropped the atomic bomb on Japan and then refused to repeat in Korea. He ordered American troops to remain in Berlin during the 1948 crisis. When George Marshall, whom Truman held in high regard, advised against recognition of Israel, Truman did so anyway and moved on to the next problem. This impressive ability to think through a decision, make it with confidence, and then stand by that decision, is a quality we respect in leaders, even if the decision is far from popular. Twenty-first century leaders will need to possess Truman’s unwavering and govern. We need leaders steadfast personal convicwho stand by the princition to effectively guide a ples of democracy as our nation in the midst of nation grows older. fast-paced turmoil, such Eisenhower consisas the current war being tently strove to remember fought in Iraq. that he would be lost This remarkable without the aid of others; Emily Parker is a senior confidence appeared in Roosevelt inspired a at Greely High School the presidencies of FDR depressed nation with a in Cumberland, Maine. and Truman, as well balance of compassion as that of Dwight D. and determination; and She plans to attend the Eisenhower. The former Truman possessed and University of North small-town Kansas boy preserved a courage that Carolina at Chapel Hill refused to deceive or helped him make unpopin the fall and to possibly trick the French in North ular decision and resist major in journalism. Her Africa in fall 1942. taking the easy way out. interests are in literature Consequently, he gained All three men led differFrance’s trust, and ently, in a testament and writing as well as Eisenhower certainly to their varying beliefs history. Currently, Emily realized the power and background. Their serves as vice president of two-way trust. greatness reflected the of her senior class, is a peer By avoiding difficult strength of their leadermediator, and works on language and remote ship, a leadership that the editorial staff of Inkwell, terminology he gained embodied America and a rapport with officials its citizens. The future the school’s literary journal. and the public. He also is never certain, and it is shared the absolute likely that in a hundred faith in democracy and years, moving into commitment to its survival that his two the twenty-second century, others will predecessors had advocated. He rose expound upon the greatness of the above emotion and sent troops into Little past century’s select few whose commitRock, Arkansas to defend integration, ment and passion for democracy secured resisted a huge temptation to utilize the them a spot in history as truly superior bomb, avoided war with China, and advoleaders.  cated fair play in defending Egypt. Like Truman, Eisenhower’s motto was simplicity and honesty derived from his farm-boy roots. As FDR had done, Ike tried to always assume the best about people, and the nation responded to his exuberance. All three presidents demonstrate that a leader must have faith in the system that elects him and allows him to View current & previous issues of MPR at: www.umaine.edu/mcsc/mpr.htm Spring 2003 · MAINE POLICY REVIEW · 9 THE MARGARET CHASE SMITH ESSAY S E Second C O NPlace D PEssay L AC E E S S AY Shaping the Earth: Leaders of the Future by Rachel Culley reat leaders, kings, prime ministers, captains, chiefs and presidents have defined history. Their decisions have enormous implications for the people they represent, and their actions dictate the course of events around the world. With the advent of the twenty-first century and the spread of globalization, it is essential to determine the characteristics of a good leader. An examination of historic leaders such as Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela and Maine Senator Margaret Chase Smith reveals certain similar qualities. These leaders operate with integrity and strength of conscience; they do not make decisions based on political expediency, but rather on their moral convictions. They demonstrate a commitment to diplomacy and nonviolence as a means of conflict resolution. Such leaders exemplify the values of honesty and bravery—they speak their minds, and are direct in their dealings with all people. Peace hero Nelson Mandela explained how he dealt with his political enemies: “I knew the best way to disprove them was simply to be direct and honest about everything.” Today’s world is rife with possibilities for corruption and unethical behavior, whether it is illegal campaign contributions, corporate duplicity or political G 10 · MAINE POLICY REVIEW · Spring 2003 dishonesty. Maine Senator Margaret Chase Smith exemplified the moral rectitude and political conscience that define a great leader. The only woman in the United States Senate, she was nevertheless determined to speak her mind. On June 1, 1950, she delivered a “Declaration of Conscience” on the Senate floor, repudiating the sensationalist, anti-Communist speeches of fellow Republican Senator Joseph McCarthy. She derided the hysteria they created, and questioned the validity of such a campaign, criticizing both political parties for their behavior. She stated: “It is high time that we stopped thinking politically as Republicans and Democrats …and started thinking patriotically as Americans about national security based on individual freedom. It is high time that we all stopped being tools and victims of totalitarian techniques…that, if continued here unchecked, will surely end what we have come to cherish as the American way of life.” Senator Smith’s decision to challenge her own political party and speak out against McCarthy’s insidious and unethical campaign was described as “Morally right and politically wrong.” The subsequent attack on McCarthy’s incendiary tactics and paranoid speeches was largely a result of her moral conviction and determination. President Truman declared: “The Declaration of Conscience was one of the finest things that has happened here in Washington in all my years in the Senate and the White House.” Margaret Chase Smith is remembered in Maine, and throughout the nation, for her bravery, perseverance, and strength of conscience. Great leaders must also face the threat of violence and war. Today, America is embroiled in a war with Iraq, and recently completed a military attack on Afghanistan. War has played an inte- gral role in politics throughout history, and continues to do so today. Yet it is essential that our leaders do not dedicate themselves solely to the pursuit of war. No leader better exemplifies the ideals of nonviolence and coexistence than former South African president and national hero Nelson Mandela. Despite spending almost a quarter-century imprisoned for his opposition to the apartheid government, Mandela denounced violent resistance. He led his country to freedom through the channels of diplomacy and peaceful protest. In his autobiography, Long Walk to Freedom, he explains: “I know that people expected me to harbor anger towards whites. But I had none…I wanted South Africa to see that I loved even my enemies while I hated the system that turned us against one another.” When he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993, Mandela recalled the importance of diplomatic cooperation: “To make peace with one’s enemy, one must work with that enemy, and that enemy becomes one’s partner.” The philosopher George Santayana once stated: “Those who forget the past are condemned to repeat it.” It is imperative that the leaders of tomorrow are attuned to the voices of the past. The lessons of history are invaluable in determining the course of the future. One only need examine the lessons of the two World Wars to understand the importance of this message. A great leader should remember the atrocities of the past— the Holocaust, ethnic cleansing in the Balkans, the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki—in order to identify modernday parallels, such as the current genocide in the Sudan. In times of war and terrorism, it is important to remember history while confronting modern issues. Similarly, it is clear that a leader must possess a strong grasp of international View current & previous issues of MPR at: www.umaine.edu/mcsc/mpr.htm THE MARGARET CHASE SMITH ESSAY events, issues and policreating new hope for an tics. An understanding entire region. Mahatma of global issues, interGandhi championed India’s national dynamics struggle for freedom through and relations between a method of direct social nations is vital to action. His “Satyagraha” making informed movement emphasized nonvidecisions. Former olence, personal courage and From Mercer Maine, American President truth. In a similar fashion, Rachel Culley is currently Jimmy Carter is an Nelson Mandela called for a a senior at Kents Hill example of a leader “movement towards a nonraSchool, a coeducational who works to promote cial, united and democratic interstate underSouth Africa based on onecollege-preparatory school standing, and foster person one-vote.” It is the in Readfield Maine. She humanitarian efforts duty of great leaders to will be attending Harvard on a global scale. protect the rights of the indiCollege in the fall and is Through his diplovidual—the basic tenets of interested in International matic efforts and work freedom, civil liberties and Relations, Near East with international aid democratic representation organizations, he has in the affairs of the nation. Studies, and English promoted underAll of these qualities Language and Literature. standing and humaniare important, but they are In the meantime, Rachel tarian relief around useless without a future. has been active running the world, winning Children represent the cross country and playing the 2002 Nobel Peace continuation of national lacrosse. She has been a Prize. In a time when efforts at freedom and liberty; terrorism and hatred they represent the future student ambassador, tour threaten security on leaders, congressmen, guide and peer tutor a global scale, it is teachers, generals and soldiers and, this year, also serves especially important of the world. Gandhi underas editor of the school to promote an understood this: “If we are to reach newspaper. standing of different real peace in this world, we countries, religions shall have to begin with the and cultures and children.” The late American encourage the leaders journalist John Wallach is the of all nations to take an active role in the best example of a leader who planned for work of compassion. the future. In 1993, he founded the Seeds Throughout history, great leaders have of Peace International Camp and Program sustained a belief in the ability of an indifor Coexistence in Otisfield, Maine for vidual to effect change. American philanchildren from war-torn countries to work thropist John D. Rockefeller famously for peace. Every summer, the best and stated: “I believe in the supreme worth brightest students from regions such as of the individual.” Maine Senator George the Middle East, the Balkans, Afghanistan, Mitchell created a successful and compreIndia, and Pakistan arrive at Seeds of hensive peace agreement for Ireland, Peace to meet their “enemy,” and work View current & previous issues of MPR at: www.umaine.edu/mcsc/mpr.htm for coexistence. When they return to their schools and communities, they know that “the enemy has a face,” and will continue to work for understanding and peace. John Wallach was truly a leader with a vision— he believed that children were the winds of change. These qualities are eclectic, complicated and often difficult to realize. This does not make them any less important. Tenacity, intelligence, bravery, determination and conviction are hallmarks of great leadership, but fail to describe every great leader. As we move into a troubled new century in an increasingly connected world, we need leaders who can effectively respond to troubles on an international scale, which requires flexibility, patience, and cultural fluency. Leaders will need to do more than unite and mobilize their own country; their political decisions must transcend national borders and interests. They must avoid a simplistic, short-term approach to the complex, often ambiguous problems of the modern world. An examination of past great leaders provides inspiration for the leaders of tomorrow. The qualities of integrity, honesty, diplomacy and coexistence, global awareness and attention to the future are timeless and supremely valuable. From these “character building blocks” we can choose the leaders who will guide our communities, states and our nation in the twenty-first century and beyond.  REFERENCES “Gandhi.” World Book Encyclopedia. 1990 ed. Goldstem, Joshua S. International Relations. Brief Edition. New York: Longman, 2002. Kissinger, Henry. Diplomacy. New York: Simon & Schuster, Inc., 1994. Spring 2003 · MAINE POLICY REVIEW · 11 THE MARGARET CHASE SMITH ESSAY Mandela, Nelson Rolihiahla. Long Walk to Freedom. Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1994. T HSecond I R D Place P LEssay A C Seeds of Peace. "Seeds of Peace International Camp and Program for Coexistence." Seeds of Peace, 2002. www.seedsofpeace.org Leadership— Conviction and Action Wallace, Patricia Ward. Politics of Conscience: A Biography of Margaret Chase Smith. Westport. Connecticut: Praeger Publishers, 1995. E E S S AY by Miles Kirby onald McGannon once said, “Leadership is action, not position.” This neatly encapsulates what it means to be a leader. It is a popular misconception in today’s society to think of leaders as just people in a position of authority. Although those in authority are certainly in a position of leadership, there are many other kinds of leaders. For example, someone can be a leader simply by living his or her life in such a way that it is an example for others. Sometimes it is the things not done and not said that other people can look up to and emulate. A leader must have a strong sense of direction. Without a moral compass and a sense of ethics, a leader’s actions will inevitably fail. A person’s actions reveal the most about what he or she really believes and what they truly desire. That is not to say that a leader must be perfect; a leader should strive for perfection, while admitting their imperfections and errors along the way. Independence is also a necessity, but along with this the leader must be able to relate to and cooperate with his or her peers. If there is not a healthy relationship between the leader and those that are being led, little will be accomplished. An effective leader must gain the respect of others through consistency, integrity, and confidence. D 12 · MAINE POLICY REVIEW · Spring 2003 A leader must also have vision. He or she must be able to peek into the future and communicate to everyone what he or she envisions for change. In order to lead people, whether physically or intellectually, a leader must know the destination. The leader must also know how to get there. If the leader gets lost, he or she must know how to ask for directions and take instruction. Humility and flexibility are therefore two integral attributes for all leaders with a vision. A leader must act, for it is not enough to simply talk. Plans are useless if they are not acted upon. For the silent leader who leads by example, his testimony lies in how he acts each day and what he does, in public and in private. For the leader in public office, promises should be kept and duties should be fulfilled. Finally, the leader must strive to create more leaders. The leaders of today have a responsibility to inspire the next generation of leaders. Leadership is a tool, not a weapon. The leader must use it with assertiveness and propriety, while remembering to show others how to use it as well. Tomorrow’s leaders must be developed by the leaders of today in order to ensure that the vision and progress toward a better world continues. In order to see these attributes of leadership acted out, we must look at the leaders of the past. We must understand why they were successful, why people followed them, and why they were able to accomplish what they accomplished. We must learn from their mistakes. History contains civilization’s greatest moments but also contains its greatest tragedies. At the forefront of these moments were leaders. By looking at the lives of past leaders, the future leaders of the twenty-first century can equip themselves for the jobs at hand. Leaders are View current & previous issues of MPR at: www.umaine.edu/mcsc/mpr.htm THE MARGARET CHASE SMITH ESSAY not born; they are develreforms needed in India. oped. The qualities He became a leader to tens necessary to being a of thousands because of leader require cultivahis strong convictions of tion, and one way of how India ought to be doing this entails structured and because of looking at the leaders his use of civil disobediof yesterday. ence. Likewise, Dr. Martin Miles Kirby attends When one looks Luther King, Jr. helped to Orono High School in at the leaders that lead the civil rights moveOrono, Maine.This fall, he have walked this earth, ment in the United States. will attend Gordon College it becomes readily Dr. King used similar apparent that there are methods of non-violent in Wenham, Massachusetts many different types protest, and he garnered where he plans to major in of leaders. There are the the respect of both those marine biology or medicine. leaders of countries and he was standing up for and He is a long-distance runner huge amounts of people, those he was speaking too. on Orono’s track team, like Winston Churchill. The lessons that can be participates in swimming Churchill offered some learned from such leaders advice to visionary as Gandhi and Dr. King are and diving, and also plays leaders when he said, numerous, but perhaps the guitar, upright base and “It is a mistake to look greatest lesson that can be saxophone in an acoustic too far ahead. Only one learned is that leadership rock band called Shoot the link in the chain of comes from conviction, Piano Player. Recently, Miles destiny can be handled and that from these convicwas selected to represent at a time.” Though tions, peaceful actions must vision is an important result. Dr. King wrote from his school for HOBY (Hugh quality for any leader the Birminham jail that the O’Brien Youth Leadership) to have, things must be method used [in protest] and Boys State. taken one step at a time. must be as pure as the end These steps take time. that is desired. The destination must be However, some leaders reached through perseverance, dedication, abuse power and use their influence to and teamwork. Along these same lines of wreak terror in the lives of others. Perhaps enduring hardship, a quote by football the greatest misuse of power that resulted coach Vince Lombardi comes to mind: in the greatest tragedy is that of Adolph “It’s not whether you get knocked down, Hitler and the Holocaust. Under his it’s whether you get up.” This neatly control, the Nazi regime brutally mursummarizes the persistence required to dered over 11 million people. The leaders accomplish goals and to develop into an of the future have to recognize the reality effective leader. of evil and what happens when power Another type of leader is someone is abused. There are, of course, other like Mahatma Gandhi. By using peaceful, leaders who have gone wrong. No leader non-violent techniques of protesting, he is perfect, and the mark of a good leader was able to draw attention to the social is the one who recognizes this. The ability View current & previous issues of MPR at: www.umaine.edu/mcsc/mpr.htm to admit mistakes and learn from errors not only improves the leader but benefits the people under him or her. In preparation for leadership, today’s young people must examine history and learn from the leaders of the past. There are numerous qualities that are helpful in being a leader, but two stand out: to have convictions and to act. If one looks at the leaders of today and yesterday, one realizes that each leader has both of these qualities. It is with these two elements of leadership that tomorrow’s leaders will be able to lead and create a brighter world.  Spring 2003 · MAINE POLICY REVIEW · 13