2008 Election - The Nation at Risk, Defining the Issues, Engaging the Candidates

The Nation at Risk Agenda 2008: Defining the Issues, Engaging the Candidates Center for the Study of the Presidency * 202-872-9800 * www.thepresidency.org The Challenge: Never Before Has America Lost • Its Strategic Freedom of Action and • Its Financial Autonomy … at the Same Time! Today, the Presidency and the Nation are at Peril in at Least a Dozen Ways… Center for the Study of the Presidency * 202-872-9800 * www.thepresidency.org 2 From Vulnerability to Opportunity Global Challenges • • Terrorism Worldwide Violence and Instability in Key Regions and Nations – South Asia – Middle East – Latin America – Africa – Former Soviet Union Rising Anti-Americanism Overstretched Military Proliferation of WMDs Center for the Study of the Presidency * 202-872-9800 * www.thepresidency.org 3 • • • From Vulnerability to Opportunity Domestic Challenges • • • Runaway Health Care and Medicare Costs Threatened Energy Security Over-Reliance on Foreign Credit and Domestic Debt • • • Homeland Security Decline in Character-Based Leadership Decline in Educational Competitiveness • Growing Burden of Social Security Expenses Center for the Study of the Presidency * 202-872-9800 * www.thepresidency.org 4 98% of Americans want their leaders to come together and “work for the good of the nation” Zogby International January 2005 Center for the Study of the Presidency * 202-872-9800 * www.thepresidency.org 5 Response Presidential candidates and many Members of Congress from both parties have recognized the need to work together to find creative policy solutions to these challenges. The Center for the Study of the Presidency can lead the way. Center for the Study of the Presidency * 202-872-9800 * www.thepresidency.org 6 CSP Is Non-partisan, Non-profit Dedicated to: • • • • • Preserving and applying the historic memory of the Presidency Countering political polarization Promoting character-based, inclusive national leadership Overcoming government stovepipes and compartmentalization Facilitating and leading creative, civil dialogue between and among: – – – – Executive and Legislative Branches Business, financial, investment and research leaders Academic community Public policy community • Educating and inspiring the next generation of American leaders Center for the Study of the Presidency * 202-872-9800 * www.thepresidency.org 7 CSP Leadership Dr. David Abshire – President, co-founder and former President of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, former Assistant Secretary of State for Congressional Relations, Ambassador to NATO, Special Counselor to President Reagan during Iran-Contra Affair, and distinguished author Dr. Jay Parker – Executive Vice President, former Professor and Director of International Relations and National Security Studies at West Point, and adjunct professor at Columbia University and George Washington University, former Princeton research fellow, and advisor to the Museum of Television and Radio Dr. Thomas Kirlin – Vice President of Operations, former President of Corporate Communications, Inc., and Project Director for Energy, Science and Technology Policy working groups Dr. Susan Blumenthal – Senior Advisor, Clinical Professor at Georgetown University, former Assistant Surgeon General, and Senior Medical and E-Health Advisor in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Dr. Alvin Felzenberg – Senior Advisor, Fellow at the Woodrow Wilson School at Princeton University, former Fellow at the Heritage Foundation, staff member of the 9/11 Commission, and Senior Fellow at John F. Kennedy School at Harvard University Jonah Czerwinski – Senior Research Associate and Director of Homeland Security Projects and Weapons of Mass Effect Task Force rapporteur Ysbrant Marcelis – Associate Director for International Policy, Project Director for Transatlantic Cooperation and Global Economics, and staff liaison with Iraq Study Group Jeffrey Thomas – Research Fellow for Foundation for International Understanding Center for the Study of the Presidency * 202-872-9800 * www.thepresidency.org 8 CSP’s Agenda 2008 • CSP is uniquely qualified to help the next Administration and Congress regain the high ground • Presidential candidates are already contacting CSP for insights on: – The institutional memory of the Office of the Presidency – Prioritizing and balancing U.S. vulnerabilities and identifying U.S. opportunities – Action-oriented planning built on factual and historical underpinnings – Building a national consensus on the way forward Center for the Study of the Presidency * 202-872-9800 * www.thepresidency.org 9 Agenda 2008 and Presidential Candidates CSP will: • Engage the policy community, business and non-profit leaders, scholars, strategic thinkers and subject matter experts in issue groups Develop and articulate a National Strategic Agenda responsive to pressing national vulnerabilities • • • • Present all Presidential candidates with Agenda 2008 and invite them to draw on CSP’s resources and issue group findings Encourage and facilitate public discussion and candidate dialogue on Agenda 2008 Prepare and release updated case studies on Presidential leadership, transition to office and first 100 days Center for the Study of the Presidency * 202-872-9800 * www.thepresidency.org 10 Agenda 2008 and Congress CSP will: • • Meet and discuss with Senate and House leaders prior to and throughout Agenda 2008 Consult with Members and Hill staff on national vulnerabilities and agenda alternatives • • Share the findings of each working group with Hill leadership and staff Provide advance report on final findings and recommendations to Senate and House leadership Center for the Study of the Presidency * 202-872-9800 * www.thepresidency.org 11 Agenda 2008 and the Media CSP will: • Work with a team of senior media advisors, including: – Edward Ney: legendary leader of Young & Rubicam, Inc. advertising agency – Richard Whalen: author and distinguished political journalist – Charles Black: DC political media and public relations expert • • • • Develop and execute a comprehensive, consistent and coherent media plan for all phases of Agenda 2008 process Develop and regularly release talking points and strategic papers on specific issues for the press Regularly post and update Agenda 2008 findings and news on CSP website Conduct periodic press conferences to spark interest Center for the Study of the Presidency * 202-872-9800 * www.thepresidency.org 12 Post-2008 Election Activities CSP will: • Assist with transition – Provide Agenda 2008 findings to Presidential task forces – Advise individual members on transition task forces • Assess progress after first 100 days and regularly thereafter – Reconvene working groups and assess performance on critical issues / strategic vision – Share results with policymakers, policy community and the public – Engage press 13 Center for the Study of the Presidency * 202-872-9800 * www.thepresidency.org Agenda 2008 is Built on CSP’s Record of Successes • Domestic Nuclear Detection Office – CSP organized an interagency Nuclear Steering Committee to help foster research to better detect and deter smuggled nuclear weapons, resulting in the DNDO, which reports directly to the Homeland Security Secretary. Secretary Ridge asked CSP to organize off-the-record dialogue with think tanks, universities and business leaders to help stand up the new Department of Homeland Security. Congress charged CSP to develop a business plan for a grant-making organization to engage Muslim youth and other cultures in long-term peaceful dialogue through the Internet, film, video, radio, serious gaming and joint productions. CSP proposed, developed, and authored this national Declaration that calls on the President and Congress to marshal the nation’s best talents, regardless of party or ideology. The Declaration, which emphasizes unity and the need to collectively find and implement creative, breakout solutions to pressing vulnerabilities, has been signed by more than 185 distinguished U.S. leaders with a wide variety of professional experience. Center for the Study of the Presidency * 202-872-9800 * www.thepresidency.org 14 • Homeland Security Leadership – • Foundation for International Understanding – • Declaration on Civility and Inclusive Leadership – Sponsors • CSP welcomes organizations interested in sponsoring all or part of Agenda 2008 – Organizations can support working groups on specific vulnerabilities, case studies, or CSP’s strategic assessment of national interests, vulnerabilities and resources • CSP will publicly recognize organizations that help sponsor Agenda 2008 • CSP will invite sponsoring organizations to participate in appropriate working groups and in select briefings of Executive, Legislative, think tank and agency officials Center for the Study of the Presidency * 202-872-9800 * www.thepresidency.org 15 The Center for the Study of the Presidency 1020 19th Street, NW, Suite 250 Washington, DC 20036 202-872-9800 * www.thepresidency.org The Center is a non-partisan, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that seeks to further the understanding and functioning of the American Presidency and its related institutions and, thereby, to educate, illuminate, and inspire leaders of tomorrow. Center for the Study of the Presidency * 202-872-9800 * www.thepresidency.org