I went to the Economic Club of Chicago (ECC) dinner last night to see President Obama, as he was interviewed by ECC head Mellody Hobson. The former President seemed deeply relaxed, reflective and proud of his service. He is not trying to lead the opposition to President Trump; rather he is attempting to understand the forces that led to the populist surge and counteract them in the long run.
Having just returned from a five city, around the world tour in Asia and Europe, Obama noted that there are today competing American narratives. “The America I know is based on freedom of press and religion, endorses free markets, is willing to be part of big global problems such as Zika. The other narrative is America First, for people who want to find security and are looking for simple answers in the face of massive disruptions in the workplace due to automation and globalization. The technology revolution has made it easy to deliver powerful stories that cause people to question their basic assumptions, leading to a clash of cultures. The question is whether we will resort to nationalism as part of our need to assert our superiority over others or whether we will go back to a narrative that people all over the world aspire to.”
The former President warned against complacency about democracy triumphing in the long run. “We cannot take for granted the norms that we have built over 200 years. These norms are reversible; we have to fight for it. We have made real progress on inclusion and diversity but episodically the values of the USA start to teeter. It happened even with two of the greatest American presidents. Lincoln instituted censorship in the Civil War and Franklin Roosevelt put Japanese Americans into internment camps during World War II. The question is how to defend our best selves. My solution is to pay attention, be engaged and speak out.”
He suggested that we have become accustomed to short-term gratification. “Society entices you to expect instant feedback. Am I attractive? Is my post on Facebook getting likes? I never watched TV news for the eight years that I was president; I just tuned into ESPN while on the exercise machine. We have to wean our citizens off this addiction.”
He talked about leadership and decision-making. “In most cases, I had to make 51/49 calls. An example is the bailout of the car industry; it was clear that we had to support GM but keep Chrysler in business? The same goes for the Bin Laden raid. You need to be comfortable with ambiguity and uncertainty. I always slept well…fell asleep in 10 minutes maximum. The only exception is when I had to send troops into battle. I went to Walter Reed Hospital to see the soldiers who came back wounded. The lucky ones were those who only lost a leg. Some days it took me three hours to get around to all of the troops. I was amazed by their optimism and so moved by their love of country.”
He made a strong case for pragmatism in politics. “If you are making something better, then that’s good. You are just not going to get to perfect.” He bemoaned the lost opportunity for gun control in the wake of the shootings of 20 first graders at Sandy Hook Elementary in Connecticut. “The gun issue reflects the deep and complicated schisms in America. Guns have become symbolic of other issues. There are certain parts of the country that feel ignored. Guns have cultural significance. But that was a moment to cut through the politics; Congress’ failure to act was my biggest disappointment as President.”
He painted a very vivid picture of the Obama Library that will house his presidential papers. “It is going to train the next generation to take the baton. Of course, you can see Michelle’s dresses or campaign buttons. But our real mission is to have an equal number of Americans and global representatives of the next generation of politicians. We need to help them understand what it will take to succeed, to motivate participation and achieve understanding of complex issues.”
As I walked home to my apartment in Chicago, I thought about the role of communications in this very confused moment. Our biggest opportunity and responsibility is to give citizens the best possible information so that they can participate in their democracy. We have nearly a quarter of people opting out of traditional media; we need to serve them through social channels hosted by companies or government. Basic assumptions such as a continuously improving lifestyle for your family are now up for grabs. We have to settle people’s fears by giving them options instead of dictates, the chance to get ahead instead of the pink slip. Willful ignorance is not acceptable; it is our job to fill the void.
Richard Edelman is president and CEO.