Nethercutt Foundation Fellows' D.C. Experience Blog

It’s been five days since we left DC, and I’m still reeling from the challenge, the fun, the stimulation, the excitement, the exposure, the friendships, the networking, the learning, and the generally awe-inspiring insight garnered from our trip.

I’ve struggled for the greater part of the weekend to describe how tremendous my experience has been, but I have yet to adequately convey my thoughts and feelings. The experience – not just the DC trip, but the fellowship as a whole – has been life-changing. George, Kristina, Mary Beth, and the multitude of professionals we met on our trip have exposed me to ideas I never would have thought about or known without The Nethercutt Foundation.

In no particular order, here are some of the highlights of my experience as a Nethercutt fellow:

• Watching the Senate floor
• Learning about the intricacies of the legislative process
• Meeting elected officials
• Touring DC
• Being introduced to alternative forms of entrepreneurship
• Having the opportunity to engage in my local community through George’s book signings and political events
• Learning about ways that government and businesses work together and meeting the people who forge and shape this relationship
• Exploring the roots of my country’s history

These are only a few; the list could span many pages with incredible intangible and tangible benefits of the trip and meetings leading up to it – I’m sure the next six months will bring equal excitement and opportunity. The guidance and support offered by the Foundation have expanded my horizon and prospects exponentially. The friendships that I have fostered with the fellows are priceless, and the confidence and inspiration I have derived from being a part of the organization are limitless. I am so thankful for being able to participate

More Transparency, Right?

I remember one of my favorite campaign promises made by Barack Obama was his pledge to bring more transparency to Washington. I was incredibly discouraged with the way the backroom dealings took place to jam the healthcare bill through congress. For or against, regardless, I wanted to see this new version of Washington that would operate in the light of day.  I wanted to put an end to the backroom dealings and I thought transparency would lead to a more productive congress that would be unable to hide the secret agendas that may not have appeared in campaign pamphlets. Every so often we see evidence of corruption or embarrassing scandals coming from our nation’s leaders. Certainly more transparency would put an end to this, right?

Yesterday, we met with Brian Lamb, founder of C-SPAN. He has been rightfully praised for his social entrepreneurship endeavor of bringing congress’ debates and votes into public view. Nearly any time of day, when I accidently sit on the remote and the channel changes from ESPN, I will be watching the house or senate floor live. And when I try to get back to some decent entertainment, I might have to click through two or three channels that are also showing debates, votes, hearings or sometimes, an empty senate floor. I mean no offense to Mr. Lamb, he was incredibly gracious in our discussions and genuinely cared about our thoughts and ideas more than anyone we have met with. It’s not his fault that 95% of what happens in congress is incredibly boring to those outside of politics. But C-SPAN offers more than just live coverage. Nearly every speech given by our political leaders on the floor in the last couple decades can be viewed on C-SPAN’s website. It really is an incredibly interesting and valuable database. To bring this full circle, no one needs to watch a Phillies vs. Marlins game in May but when Roy Halladay threw baseball’s 20th perfect game in history this year, I’m glad ESPN had the tapes.

From speaking with congressmen, senators, lobbyists, and the media, it became immediately apparent that this notion of transparency might have some negative effects. It was consistently echoed that congress has perhaps changed for the worse now that everything is broadcasted on television. Politicians speak and debate in a fashion that is sure to appease their constituents and protect votes rather than what might be most honest and productive. A great example was seen in the oversight hearing with BP CEO, Tony Hayward. Rather than finding answers to this great catastrophe, committee members essentially took turns scolding Mr. Hayward for his mismanagement.

Our last day in Washington DC was just as eventful and fabulous as its predecessors. Our first meeting was with Andrew Lundquist. Lundquist is an energy policy and technology expert who served on the energy policy committee under the Bush administration. I particularly enjoyed this meeting because energy policy is not a subject that I have been overly exposed to thus far into my studies, so I found his insights and stories fascinating. The experiences Lundquist shared lead us into an extremely interesting discussion about transparency within executive administrations. We chatted about various ways to shape transparency rules based on the subject matter and power balance.

After our morning meeting we headed to the American National History Museum for a docent tour that the lovely Mary Beth Nethercutt arranged for us. As a huge history enthusiastic, I have been to many museums in my life, but this one was by far and away from favorite! I think I enjoyed it so much because the various exhibits displayed terrifically interesting topics that were refreshing original.

Our last meeting of the day was at the Swiss Embassy. What a wonderful glimpse into the world of foreign relations! This meeting was especially fun because it was a very tactic way to be exposed to a the dichotomy of the relationships between sovereign governments.

Overall I come away from this trip feeling immensely blessed and empowered. Seeing the United States Capitol from all the angles of its inner workings is a life changing experience. I truly saw and began to understand the complexity of the system, the importance of each citizen fulfilling their role, and dichotomy of a two party arrangement.

I also was struck over and over by the beauty and wonder America’s great past. I lost of count of the number of times chills shot down my spine while we toured historical and prestigious locations. I sincerely believe it is impossible to walk through Arlington Cemetery, stand on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, see the nine chairs of the Supreme Court Justices, or look at the original Declaration of Independence and not be touched by the legacy of the history United States.

Another very impressive element of this trip and the Nethercutt Foundation in general is the quality of people it attracts. George Nethercutt is truly a class act. Countless people went out of their way to tell us that he is legitimately a statesman.  I made a note to myself to observe and learn from his behavior as much as I could. I was also completely tickled with the caliber of fellow students on this trip. Although there were various political view points and opinions among our group every person was able to tactfully and respectfully have conversations with each other about controversial issues. This is a program that truly can empower the up-and-coming generation with the confidence they need to serve their country.

At one point last night as I drifted into an abyss of slumber, I remember thinking, “I would have been one fat cat on a Democratic House ticket during the 80s.” As a student immersed in the political process thanks to this generous foundation, these are the kinds of lollipop, pie-in-the-sky dreams one has after a fourteen-hour day of meetings with some of Washington’s key political, intellectual, and business players.

I have heard many tales of the changing tides of Washington throughout the course of the past week. For example, “During this era, the process was perfect, but now it is broken.” Or, “Now the government is perfect, but during that era it was broken.” It seems that everyone has a different take on the progress of the process.

Political biases aside, the Congress of the 60s, 70s, and 80s had been romanticized as an era of camaraderie, across-the-aisle negotiations, and political fervor. In an age of technology and wanton partisanship, however, it seems that camaraderie has been traded for attack ads, negotiations for party exclusivity, and political fervor for personal agendas. From the meetings we’ve had thus far, I have garnered the following thematic elements of the modern political scene: Change. Polarization. Self-interest. The perils of air conditioning.

But hope?

Certainly not hope. Hope is the catch phrase of peacetime and prosperity, not unrest and depression. Hope is a preeminent factor in innovation and expansion. Hope is a four-letter word.

Yet today, in meeting with paramount figures such as Brian Lamb, William Delahunt, Patrick Kennedy, Rick Shelby, Mary Ann Simpson, and Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers, I was left with just that – hope. This group of upstanding and outstanding leaders was, in a nutshell, an incredible climax to our time in DC.

I was given hope by Mr. Brian Lamb of C-SPAN, who took over seventy-five minutes to sit down and have a conversation with our group of eleven. Engaging everyone in a meaningful manner, Mr. Lamb, in a very principled display of journalism, showed in a kinesthetic and tangible manner what it means to be a professional journalist in Washington. He did not schmooze, he did not avert questions, and he did not infantilize our bright-eyed and bushy-tailed entourage. Instead, he taught by example. Essentially, he “interviewed” each and every one of us – unbeknownst to me at the time – thereby giving us a true taste of his work. After being discouraged for years by the claims of elders as being part of a generation of ineptitude, Mr. Lamb’s interest and encouragement built upon foundational aspects of The George Nethercutt Foundation with respect to my ambition to pursue greatness.

As an aside, drawing on my theme of innovation and entrepreneurship, Mr. Lamb suggested that he was a “social entrepreneur” after I had relayed my excitement at the various types of unconventional entrepreneurship we had encountered during our trip. Mr. Lamb found a market shortcoming – the public’s lack of access to the inner-workings of Congress – and corrected the shortcoming in an entrepreneurial manner. I found this to be a source of great inspiration and encouragement. Mr. Lamb’s reference to his work as “social entrepreneurship” gave me hope that I might one day be able to meld my talents as a businesswoman with my desire to enact social change in a consequential way.

Without the expectation of hope, I can never become a woman half as worldly as Congresswoman McMorris Rodgers, who took fifteen minutes between votes on the floor to visit with constituents and enter into a dialogue about the benefits of having an MBA in politics (Phew – I really can go places! I was beginning to get nervous about my prospects out here knowing that I will never be “Katie Love, Esq.”). I was extremely impressed with the Congresswoman’s interest in the program and more fundamentally, her interest in the group as human beings. At one point, I overheard Congresswoman McMorris Rodgers’ assistant talk about her bipartisan efforts with Congressman Patrick Kennedy to support neurological research and early childhood education. After being convinced that a canyon filled with disagreement and messy politics divides Washington, Congresswoman McMorris Rodgers’ work across party lines left me optimistic as to the future of policy makers and our nation’s governance.

Prior to our trip, after reading several magazine and newspaper articles, I imagined that Congress and the Senate were places of stagnation, caught in storm of political disagreement and dissention. However, after Thursday, I was left with the impression that people want to work out differences; everyone attested to the importance of compromise. I am therefore hopeful that this desire will manifest in tangible negotiations between Democrats and Republicans. While pundits may often tout elected officials for their un-actualized objectives of “change,” I have the impression that our nation’s leaders are diligently working to rectify the situation. I have hope in the future of politics and government.

Today was a day which will go down in history for each of the Nethercutt Fellows on the trip.  Our plans for the day consisted of an exciting lineup of representatives and an Oregonian Senator, but it turned into so much more.  After finishing a meeting Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon, the group proceeded to the underground tram which connects the Senate office buildings and the Capitol building.  Hopping onto the tram, we bumped into Senator Bryon Dorgan of North Dakota, the first of a quick series of quick opportunities to meet a flurry of senators.

Departing the tram, we ran into none other than Senator John McCain, former presidential candidate of the Republican Party.  At his side was Senator Tom Coburn of Oklahoma, another big name in the Republican Party.  After a brief hello to each of these men, we proceeded up the escalators toward the Senate.  By this point it was clear to the group we were in the midst of senators proceeding to the Senate floor in order to vote.  As we waited for the elevators that would take us up to the Senate Galley, up walked Senator Lindsey Graham, the powerful Republican Senator from South Carolina (our second brief visit with him in 2 days). 

The group split up to use the elevators, and we accidentally ended up on the second floor, right at the point where senators walk in past the press to enter the Senate Room.  As I stood there with Congressman Nethercutt and Maddy, marveling at the luck our mistake had brought us, reporters rushed Senator Ben Nelson of Nebraska, who stood only a few feet away.  By this point, I do believe I was probably too giddy with excitement to do anything except gape and awe at the individuals passing right beside me and the action taking place before me. 

We finally made it to the Senate Galley with our whole group intact, where our rather impeccable timing provided us the opportunity to watch a flurry of activity take place on the Senate floor between presumably all 100 senators.  We watched Harry Reid make a brief speech, and everyone in our group could hardly contain their excitement as figures such as John Kerry, Joe Lieberman, Olympia Snowe, Mitch McConnell, Max Baucus, John McCain, and so many others mingled on the floor discussing who knows what.  It was quite literally a political science major’s dream come true, and it was one of the favorite events of everyone thus far during our time in D.C.

Today we met with three very different Congressional leaders from the west coast.  Our first meeting was with House Republican Leadership Chairman, Greg Walden from Oregon’s 2nd Congressional District.  We sat with him for a few minutes in a meeting room right as he walked off the floor.  We got to hear a bit about one of his major projects regarding transparency and accountability in the House.  He views the speed that bills are moving through the House as dangerous and thinks it is important that Congress people are informed and educated about the decisions they are being asked to make.  It was interesting to hear him advocate slowing down the process of our government, but I found myself agreeing with his basic idea.  Our system was built to move slowly and it allows for great debate and revision so that only the most effective and beneficial pieces of legislation become laws.  I appreciated hearing his take on the government as he serves as a leader in the minority.  It was interesting to hear his perspective.

Our next meeting was with Jim McDermott, a long time Congressman representing the 7th Congressional district of Washington.  Representative McDermott seemed very defensive at the start of our meeting and it seemed to be because he is a very left wing democrat and we were students from the foundation of a republican.  The first question one of my peers asked, though, was his take on the partisanship of politics and that seemed to break down whatever barrier there was between us.  He provided about a twenty-minute answer and had some interesting things to say.  Some of his thoughts included the importance of relationships among Congress people and the importance of discarding the “winner takes all” mentality between the two parties.  Although his political philosophy differs from my own, I appreciated hearing his perspective and being able to contrast his position and views to the other Congress people and leaders that we have had the opportunity to meet with this week.       

Our final meeting was with democratic Senator Ron Wyden from Oregon.  Our group asked him to speak on the issue of partisan politics as well and he also had some very interesting things to say.  He told us about a piece of bipartisan tax reform legislation that he is currently working on with a Republican leader.  He emphasized the importance of finding principles that both sides can agree on.  He also suggested that as elections get under way for the fall, we should take the time to ask candidates what bipartisan legislation they will pursue if elected.  In such a polarized environment, he said it is important for leaders to be intentional about being bipartisan as much as possible.  I really appreciated hearing a less extreme democratic view of this issue. 

Today was a very well rounded day as we met with three very different Congressional representatives.  Overall, two represented Oregon and one was from Washington, two were democrats and one was republican and two were house representatives and one was a Senator.  This diversity allowed me to gain many perspectives of Congress and especially the current crisis of partisan politics.

Before I begin, I’d like to offer a disclaimer: The following ideas do not reflect the view of George Nethercutt or the Nethercutt Foundation but rather my own views following an interaction with Washington State Senator Patty Murray. 

In my first blog, I indicated that I had some reservations about coming to DC, fearing that I may return home with a pessimistic attitude towards many politicians. Senator Murray legitimized my cynical view in less than a minute.

Many of us anxiously awaited a sit-down with our Senator. Some of us had drawn up points of conversation. Unfortunately, all of us left disappointed. The meeting didn’t happen.  Rather than the informative dialogue that has occurred with all the politicians we’ve met, we received a thirty second photo shoot.  Interestingly, she was so busy beforehand the photographer had already aligned us in order for it to be as expedient as possible.  Despite previous communication between the Foundation and the Senator’s office, in addition to the approval and confirmation of the meeting weeks ago, we were snubbed.  We received a photograph with our Senator. 

After Senator Murray offered her reenactment of “Gone in Sixty Seconds”, many Fellows expressed the same frustration.  Some commented Senator Murray had lost their vote.  I suspect she lost at least 21 votes, derived from the seven Washington Fellows and each of their parents. This may be a conservative estimate when one calculates how many times this story may be shared. This doesn’t take into account the other parties she alienates.  In her defense, she may have been extremely busy. Regardless, it was not the classiest move.  An apology or some genuine words for her inability to spare time may have gone a long way.  This wasn’t the case. 

Enough with our complaining; we’ll get over it.  While the gesture was not appreciated, I’m even more displeased with the intention behind it.  I believe she avoided us because she didn’t want to be questioned on some of her policies.  This indicates intellectual insecurity and faulty policies.  If her policies were solid, why would she have a problem discussing them with a group of students?  While the fellowship presents a group of very intellectual individuals, it is not a group which intended to put her on the spot.  Nor is it one as informed as she and her aids. Perhaps this isn’t the case as one prominent journalist indicated “most people know she’s not someone you’d want to cheat off of during a physics test”. I’d like to think my decision makers are intelligent and informed individuals.  I’m not sure this can be said of Patty Murray.  If this is the case, I do not want her in office.

Lobbyists have an interesting reputation outside of Washington DC. Somewhere along the line I, along with most of America I think, developed the perception that lobbyists were high paid, powerful influencers who have a tremendous amount of control over politicians and the political process.  And naturally I concluded that this was another sign of a corrupt system. Today, we spoke with a couple of lobbyists and two of the most interesting and intelligent individuals we have encountered thus far. My perceptions of their power and influence were confirmed, but I am not longer so sure about my assumption of corruption.

Heidi Biggs Brock is the Vice President of Federal and International Affairs for Weyerhaeuser. She and her team analyze every piece of legislation that could affect Weyerhaeuser’s business and attempt to convince politicians to vote in favor or against various bills. Given Weyerhaeuser’s involvement in nearly every industry, you would have a hard time finding a piece of legislation that does not affect their partners, employees, or shareholders. They are much more than a lumber company. We learned today that they supply materials to Pamper’s baby diapers, are involved in considerable mineral and geothermal exploration, finance industry leading forestry sustainability studies, and have a massive Real Estate Investment Trust. Weyerhaeuser even has skin in the Financial Reform Bill given their risk management practices that utilize derivatives in an attempt to stabilize cash flows in a notoriously cyclical home building marketplace. Very simply, Mrs. Biggs Brock has a job, and an incredibly busy one at that, because nearly every major decision made in Washington is certain to affect millions of shareholders, tens of thousands of employees, countless partner organizations, and hundreds of millions of consumers.

As I referred to earlier, Weyerhaeuser is an industry leader in sustainability as well as other ethical business practices. Mrs. Biggs Brock showed a level of honesty regarding those practices that you may not see from the PR department, but from that, I found myself giving more trust to this behemoth of a company.  She discussed with us how many of the ethical practices employed by the company were good for the public, the environment, and conveniently the shareholder.  First, on the issue of clear-cutting, it is safe to assume that Weyerhaeuser has its hands full with public outrage and environmental groups. But when considering an environmental group’s alternative of only cutting a single tree in areas of the forest, their research found that replanted trees had no hope for re-growth as they would be completely blocked of sunlight. It is actually in Weyerhaeuser’s best interest to develop the best forest protection and forest re-growth strategies to ensure a sustainable source of lumber. Shifting gears, Weyerhaeuser is a stand out in the lumber industry, and many comparably dangerous industries for that matter, for their safety record. Mrs. Biggs Brock explained the importance of sending employees home safe to their families and that Weyerhaeuser considered the lumber industry’s history of danger to be a disgrace. Though probably somewhat insensitive, I could not help but analyze this from a business perspective. In an industry where employee injury claims or lawsuits have the potential to be an overwhelming expense, you literally win or lose on safety.

How does one deal with apathy? How does one consciously abstain from voting, when voting is an ordinary citizen’s vehicle to change? How does one embrace being a means to another’s end?

While today provided far and away more ups than downs, there was a moment when disillusionment took over not only my thought process, but also my very being. After being jazzed about life, innovation, and entrepreneurship by lobbyist David Rehr, I was riding an unstoppable wave of anticipation. I anticipated my future, the future of America, and the future of politics – all of which I felt were going in a positive direction following a scintillating morning of presentations. Nothing could get me down.

Enter Senator Murray. While I have been very excited to meet the myriad of political, business, and intellectual characters on our journey, today was supposed to be special because we had plans to meet with Washington state-elected Patty Murray. My family’s votes have always gone to support the Senator’s reelection efforts, and I know for a fact that the organizations near and dear to my family (trade unions, for example) support the Senator’s campaigns. I looked forward to hearing what was on her plate, to chatting informally with a high-profile public figure, and to learning how national issues are affecting Washington state. My expectations could not have been further from the truth.

Upon arriving in the Senator’s office, we were whisked to a Washington state flag, where a photographer positioned us – without Senator Murray – so we could be more efficient with her time when she finally arrived. I presumed this would be to maximize the question and answer session I had long anticipated. When the Senator came to meet us – minutes late – she shook everyone’s hand, then posed for the picture, said a couple of words, and went on her way.

She never even took the time to ask what part of the state I am from. She never took the time to ask why I choose to live in Washington, or why I chose to get an advanced degree in business. Heck, she never even took the time to ask what kind of degree I am pursuing!

I was floored. Here I was, a concerned citizen anticipating a tough election ahead for the Senator. I wanted so badly to speak with her, if only for a couple of minutes. I wanted her to take an interest in me on a level so miniscule that it can’t even compare to the years I’ve spent following her service. Yet, I was left with a handshake, two photographs, and forty five seconds of generic, distant words.

How is it that the distinguished Dr. Edwin Fuelner, President of the very large and successful Heritage Foundation, will take a whole hour out of his day to talk with us, but my state Senator, could not take an extra five minutes to get to know us? How can I go from being told by top lobbyists and businesspeople that I have the power to change the world, yet I am so insignificant to my own representative that she doesn’t even care to know my last name?

Patty would have received my vote, yet now I cannot, in good conscience, cast her name on my ballot. It would also be unacceptable to vote for her opponent simply because of this off-putting experience, as my views do not even marginally align with his. Equally abominable would be writing in a name or leaving the ballot blank. Votes are supposed to count for something in a democracy, but I was shown today by a lady I held in extremely high esteem, that my votes count for nothing.

In past elections I have left issues blank on my ballot because I was not educated enough about the issue, but I have never not voted for a major office. I hate that this is the experience driving me toward apathy. I hate that I will have to go home and disappoint my parents, my sister, my grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends with the distressing news that a political hero has let me down in a most unacceptable way. I hate that this experience has compromised my faith in elections and politicians. I want so badly to see the good in the situation, yet I see nothing under the veil of disillusionment.

I wanted to be heard, but instead, I was silenced.

Although today’s events provided some of the trip’s most exciting sites, with personal tours of both the Supreme Court and the highly secure Pentagon, our morning interviews highlighted an issue which may be all too commonly ignored in the bustling and boisterous U.S. capital: workaholics.  

Our morning began with a visit from Heidi Biggs Brock, the Vice President of Federal and International Affairs for Weyerhaeuser, a large company that many people in the Northwest are familiar with.  Brock, who primarily spends her time working as a lobbyist, offered a refreshing, insightful, and thoughtful view of the role she plays as the top representative for her company for the federal government.  She underscored the fact that she not only attempts to influence policy in a pro-business manner for the Weyerhaeuser company, but more importantly, for the 13,000 employees of the company who depend on it for their livelihood.

Brock also briefly related a few tidbits from her personal life, and she seemed to possess a sincere commitment to her family.  She noted that her husband was an Episcopal priest, and that together they had multiple children.  Overall, her demeanor concerning this matter suggested that work did not consume her life, a contrast to the next individual we were to listen to and speak with.

Following Brock was David Rehr, a highly energetic, driven, and focused individual.  The atmosphere was noticeably different in the room, as Rehr repeatedly consulted his Blackberry (the near universally chosen device of staffers and officials alike in D.C.) in an effort to keep working while talking.  Rehr provided many entertaining and helpful tips regarding business models and lobbying efforts, and I left with the clear impression that the man was not afraid to use quite harsh and unforgiving tactics in his efforts as lobbyist.  As a former lobbyist for the National Beer Wholesalers, and as a current lobbyist for a broadcasting entity, Rehr has worked hard to gain reputation and power, and the new book he hopes to soon release relates many of the principles he followed in reaching the position he now has.

Although differences definitely surfaced between the lobbyist philosophies guiding Rehr and Brock, a stark contrast also existed in their family lifestyles, which served to be educational in many ways.  Rehr reiterated numerous times the importance of working hard and out-working the competition.  When asked what he did to relax and rejuvenate, Rehr simply replied that he doesn’t, instead, he works.  He briefly mentioned his wonderful wife and how she puts up with his labor, and I could only wonder how his job pulled him away from his family responsibilities, and how this busy lifestyle must tug out so many other families whose loved ones work in D.C.  I hope that we can learn from this slightly less political (in some respects) lesson as we too look ahead in our lives to busy careers serving people.

This morning we met with Heidi Biggs Brock, the Vice President of Federal and International Affairs of Weyerhauser Company.  She was a very professional looking woman and spoke both sweetly and confidently about the job she does for the large company.  She began by giving us her background information, including how she came to work in Washington D.C. and the reasons that she decided to work for Weyerhauser in the first place.  After that she told us about the company in general, including what it does and what its interests are.  Then she explained her job – to manage advocacy for policy issues Weyerhauser has and to manage their political capital (reputation, relationships, etc.).  In other words, she is a lobbyist.

It was interesting to hear her perspective.  I had always been skeptical of lobbyists because I adhered to the stereotype that they were simply shoveling money to candidates so that government officials would be persuaded to join their cause.  I was cynical and under the assumption that lobbyists were, in a sense, detrimental to the political system and the balance of minority and majority voice.  After listening to Ms. Brock, I don’t feel as though that is always the case.  She spoke throughout our meeting about the Weyerhauser Code of Ethics and how important that code is to all employees.  It was refreshing that such a large company would place such importance on integrity and ethical behavior.  Ms. Brock made clear, as well, that she serves to represent the needs and issues of Weyerhauser’s 13,000 employees and simply provides the means of communication between them and the government.  She also spent time addressing how a Political Action Committee works regarding campaign contributions to political candidates.  I found it interesting that their employees give voluntarily to the PAC and Weyerhauser supports candidates based on the issues, not the party.   

I really enjoyed meeting with Ms. Brock and found many of the stereotypes of lobbyists that I had adhered to for so long shattered by her professionalism and integrity.  It was encouraging to hear about the positive contributions lobbyists can make in our government.     

“The right wing and the left wing have been too largely focused on, and we have forgotten about the bird.” This was said by former Congressman J.C. Watts, Jr., who now has his own consulting firm.  After listening to the Honorable Mr. Watts speak to our group today, I felt even more motivated to work hard to better the political stability of our nation.  Mr. Watts and I may not share the same political views, but there is an idea that we both agree on.  As an elected official, you have to work on both sides of the aisle to overcome the obstacles that face the nation.

As an active and aware voter, I have noticed that many elected officials have been so engrossed with their political party that they do not even want to be a part of anything on the “dark side.” But Mr. Watts was right when he said that we need to look at the bird, as a whole, not just its wings.  Much, if not all of my political inspiration comes from my mother.  She is Chairman of the Board of County Commissioners in Southwestern Pennsylvania, and has been involved in politics most of her life.  On the Board, she serves with another Democrat and a Republican as well. So far, she has served as County Commission for seven years with three different Republicans. In those seven years, they have never been split on one single vote.  For people like Mr. Watts and myself, this should provide many with a gleam of hope.  It alleviates my fears that unity can never be reached between the two major political parties, and that it is not too late to reach across the aisle and unify for the best interests of our country.

Mr. J.C. Watts, Jr., was a great speaker and he is someone I admire.  We may sit on different sides of the political spectrum, but we are able to meet in the middles and have a civilized conversation about the direction our country needs to take.  He is a man that has been in different directions and has the ability to communicate with almost anyone.  As I pursue my political ambitions someday, I want to take J.C.’s words with me, as many others should: “Big team. Little me.”

Today we met David Rogers. Rogers got into the journalism world in the 1960’s and was then drafted into the Vietnam War. He served as a combat infantry medic with the First Division until he returned to school in the early 1970’s. Rogers was soon picked up by the Boston Globe which sent him to Washington in 1979 and he has been covering Congress ever since. Rogers worked for the Wall Street Journal for 24 years and now works as a reporter for Politico. Rogers’ stories were interesting to say the least.

As a broadcast news major myself, I found the meeting with Rogers extraordinary. He was very down to earth and easy to talk with. He answered all of our questions truthfully and with stories to follow. It was refreshing to start the day (and our series of meetings for the week) with someone who has been around Washington for so long, not to mention someone so willing to share his stories. I have always had a large respect for “old-school” reporters as we call them today. They have a certain sense of honesty, integrity, truth, and passion for what they do. They always seem to be no-non-sense type of people, which to me is quite refreshing. Not only was it nice to meet with someone so talented and interested in our learning, but his stories were extremely entertaining.

Rogers explained how his education in Congress began with the Massachusetts delegation and spoke about the people that were extremely influential in his life and career, such as Lee Hamilton and Charlie Wilson. He spoke about Charlie Wilson and explained his character, humor and time in Washington from a perspective that we do not get to hear every day. He has seen Congress and Washington in a very special light since his start there in 1979, and I appreciated every minute talking with him. Rogers was brash, funny, and quite entertaining—especially for 8:00 in the morning. His character and attitude made the meeting all the more enjoyable.

I asked Rogers about technology both in general and in the media and how he believes it has changed politics since the beginning of his career. He agreed that both good and bad stem from the technologies of media. An example he gave, which I found very interesting, was the way that planes have changed Congress and how it is run. Since most members of Congress do not live in Washington they are eager to get home and back to their constituents; because of this members tend to arrive in Washington on Monday afternoon and are already leaving town by Thursday evening. This causes a large problem in the way relationships are built and strengthened among members of Congress. Rogers explained that members are not in Washington long enough to build relationships and talk over ideas, which consequently leads to a lack of results. Without easy access to flights, Rogers explained that previous members of Congress had spent much more time together. They were able to discuss ideas, and built strong relationships, thus resulting in more progress.

Rogers has changed throughout time along with everything else in Washington, he has adapted to new lifestyles and constant media changes. It was great to hear stories about his life experiences and the changes along the way. Rogers made a statement that will stick with me as a communication and broadcast journalism major--he said, (in regards to finding stories) “It’s like hunting the river, sometimes you pull out a tire, and sometimes you pull out a fish.” Speaking with Rogers was quite encouraging from a journalistic view and I think that statement really says it all: sometimes you win and sometimes you lose, but the hunt is always thrilling.

Today was a terrific first day. We met with a broad variety of politically affiliated people which gave us a well-rounded idea of the many parts of our government’s function.  We met with a  reporter, a defense specialist, a former Congressman turned businessman, and two leader of prominent think tank institutions.  This day was so rich and stimulating that for the sake of time I am only going to expand on one of our meetings today.

Michael Wermuth is the manager of the Counterterrorism and Homeland Defense programs, RAND National Security Research Division.  Mr. Wermuth is also a lawyer. I deram of becoming a lawyer so I was automatically interested in the work he does.  However, besides a passion for the law and an avid interest in the national defense, Mr. Wermuth and I shared another fascination, the Constitution of the United States.  I am a girl who wants to be a lawyer! As such, I truly love to pick an issue and try to evaluate the Constitutional strength of its defense or objection. Which is why I could barely contain my joy when Mr. Wermuth walked into our meeting and handed out parts of the Constitution he wanted to reference in our discussion. I immediately whipped out my own personal copy of the Constitution to follow along!

The main question we debated during our meeting involved the validity and logistics of whether or not the United States could or should have a national police force.  We referenced Article IV, Section 4, the 10th Amendment and Article II, Section 8 in various roles during our talk.  All this to say, what impacted me most was seeing the variance in interpretations and applications of the Constitution by each of the people in the room.  I had a good time sitting in a room with a dozen very smart and kind people who I truly admire, and listening to diverse ideas being communicated in a healthy way.

Throughout today’s meetings, the dying trend of bipartisanship and politicians’ inability to reach across the aisle in an effort to craft sound policies surfaced multiple times. David Rogers, whom some consider the “101st Senator” and the “best congressional reporter in the country”, alerted of this perishing practice.  Earlier in his career many politicians would meet one another for a drink or dinner.  Occasionally, there would be an informal cocktail party consisting of members from both sides.  Today there is no such interaction. 

JC Watts, a former Oklahoma representative, attested to this environment saying it was difficult to form personal relationships with his colleagues during his time in office.  Many congressman fly in Monday night and leave by Thursday in order to return to their constituents.  The brief stay means less interaction with their colleagues and in turn, less time working on the problems they should be tackling together.  Instead, this environment leads to a fragmented congress that is able to engage in cutthroat politics, leaving no solution to many pertinent problems.  As Watts wisely indicated, the political environment has become so concerned with left wing versus right wing, we’ve forgotten the bird.  

How do we refocus our attention to the bird? How do we get back to good policy making that transcends party lines and puts good ideas and the well-being of the American people above the turf wars that many politicians fight? Some of the group noted the pressure politicians face from their constituents to stick to their party’s ideas.  Perhaps term limits will alleviate this pressure.  Rather than worrying about re-election, politicians could worry about helpful policies instead of popular policies. Perhaps the answer lies in a better civics education.   A more informed younger generation may appreciate the sacrifices Americans from Democratic and Republican parties have made to make our nation great.  Perhaps such an appreciation will put America before party affiliations. 

I say perhaps because I’m not sure there is a clear-cut answer to our dying bipartisanship.  Rogers, whom I consider more informed than myself and therefore a better candidate to answer such a dilemma, offered a suggestion; Rather than meeting during the week, Congressman should meet Friday through Monday.  Perhaps they will be able to grab a drink during happy hour or enjoy dinner with a colleague’s family. I’m not suggesting drinks and food is the answer to our party’s polarized uncompromising views but these types of events allow for political adversaries to know one another on a personal level making it easier to conquer America’s dilemmas together. It may lead to the left wing flapping in unison with the right wing, pushing the bird through America’s harsh winds towards bluer skies.  

Today we were honored with the opportunity to visit two of the premier think-tanks in Washington D.C., namely, the Brookings Institute and the Heritage Foundation.  These organizations work to produce policy suggestions, solutions, and analysis in order to aid legislators and other government officials as they seek to write bills and pass laws.

At the Brookings Institute, the Fellows had the opportunity to meet Steve Bennett, the Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the institution.  He graciously spent time with us explaining the history of the organization and how the institute created the model and basis for think-tanks in D.C.  Bennett, a renowned researcher himself on global development issues, emphasized the intellectual and academic environment that the powerful think-tank seeks to foster.  Quality, independence, and impact signify the fundamental characteristics of the research the institution expects from its affiliated researchers.  Bennett took great care to stress the seriousness with which Brookings takes these attributes, noting that its scholars are not afraid to disagree and debate matters of policy.

In contrast to this academic approach stands the Heritage Foundation, which was founded on the basis of promoting conservative principles.  Not to say this diminishes the intellectual rigor or standards of information, but Heritage looks to provide and analyze policy based on these fundamental conservative ideals, while the Brookings Institute seems to allow more freedom in the ideas which its researchers produce.  Hosting our meeting was the President of the Heritage Foundation, Dr. Edwin Feulner, which was a special and distinct honor.  Dr. Feulner was not ashamed or afraid to explicitly state Heritage’s allegiance to these conservative principles; yet, Dr. Feulner, similar to Bennett, expressed his wish to see quality and influential scholarship produced within his organization.

In reflection upon this delightful opportunity to meet esteemed professionals in the nation’s premier think tanks, I would have to conclude that I prefer the academic setting of Brookings thanks to its emphasis on scholarly independence and debate.  That being said, seeing both organizations provided me an unparalleled opportunity to understand and appreciate what they both have to offer, and the strengths presented in their differing approaches to policy research and analysis. 

Finally, it was encouraging to hear and see the cooperation between these highly-regarded institutions (which are often at odds).  First, both Bennett and Feulner understood that the government lacks analytical capacity, and each seeks to resolve this dilemma (although in quite distinct ways).  Furthermore, Brookings and Heritage are currently collaborating on an effort to produce awareness and solutions regarding the ballooning and problematic deficits the United States faces.  Such cooperation is encouraging and ought to serve as an example to the polarized leadership guiding our Congress and its party establishments.

Today, I feel like we transformed from wandering tourists to join the rest of the city in hustling through the heat from meeting to meeting. We visited four different board rooms to meet with five leaders across several sectors and political persuasions. Starting at Mr. Nethercutt’s office, we were joined by David Rogers, one of our country's most well known and respected journalists. He detailed his career from his early days at the Boston Globe to his twenty-four year stint with The Wall Street Journal and finally to his new home with The Hill’s most influential publication, Politico. He gave a very insightful perspective on how new media technology as well as commercial airline efficiency and prevalence have changed political discourse in Washington. In a few words, congressmen are spending less time in Washington and flying home more frequently to visit their constituents. Even while they are in Washington, they, not unlike the rest of us, are distracted by blackberries and iPhones, and often watch debates on flat screens in their offices.

It seems that advents in technology have allowed lawmakers to be more informed on a greater depth and breadth of issues. What is lost, however, is some of the relationship building that is essential for bipartisan solutions to our countries problems. The close-knit relationships in Washington and in politics in general are often assumed to be negative, however, as I recall from my undergraduate studies of rhetorical theories, identification is essential for persuasion. Abraham Lincoln once said, “I don’t like that man. I must get to know him better.”

Monday, June 21, 2010. Roll Call:
David Rogers, world renowned journalist at Politico. Michael Wermuth, Manager of Counterterrorism and Homeland Defense Programs for RAND Corporation.  J.C. Watts, former Oklahoma Congressman and much to my interest, a former Oklahoma Sooner quarterback. Executives from two of our nation’s most prominent think tanks, Steven J. Bennett of the Brookings Institute and Dr. Edwin Feulner of the Heritage Foundation.  

I have always had a slight aversion to government as I saw it as the pure politics that often dominates and crowds out the necessary debate of actual policy issues.  I was disenchanted with the news headlines that spoke of a partisan Congress with members that disrespected one another and couldn’t cooperate, even within their own party.  Today, though, I was able to regain a sense of hope in our system and the possibility for change that the future holds.

One leader we had the opportunity to speak with, the Honorable J.C. Watts, Jr. served as a Congressman representing Oklahoma.  He spoke strongly of how his faith influenced his actions, even as a government official.  He also discussed how he decided to leave office after becoming discouraged, but that he has since regained his hope in the system following the 2008 elections and the general public’s increased involvement in the system.  As strange as it may seem, I was encouraged to hear that a Congressional representative became discouraged, but that he currently sees hope in the system.  I was very impressed with Mr. Watts as he was so genuine and humble, despite his impressive resume.  He wore a suit and cowboy boots and walked around the room, shaking everyone’s hand at the end of our time with him.  I am very glad to have had the opportunity to meet with him and find his newfound hope in the government inspiring.    

Another leader we met with was Steven Bennett from the Brookings Institute.  He offered some great insight into the function of a think tank – to provide government leaders with in-depth policy initiatives and solutions to difficult, complex questions.  It was encouraging to learn that so many brilliant scholars are helping politicians become informed about difficult issues and providing the depth and knowledge that these leaders need in order to make informed decisions.  Our future is not solely in the hands of our elected representatives.  The most scholarly minds are assisting behind the scenes. 

I greatly enjoyed all of the discussions we participated in today with various leaders.  I learned so much about the state of the government from various perspectives and was encouraged that they all seemed to say the same thing… our government is not perfect, but even with all its flaws, it is still incredible and there is hope for the future.

When we went to the Nethercutt home for Sunday dinner, I noticed a small placard in George and Mary Beth’s office that read, “You CAN do it.” As a student of entrepreneurship and a fervent believer in the American dream, I have been taught to believe that with hard work, an individual’s dreams can become reality. Yet, despite frequent studies and in-depth classroom readings, entrepreneurship still remains a somewhat foreign concept insofar that without getting to the meat of success – feeling it, seeing it, experiencing it – the spirit is difficult to embrace due to the immense risk surrounding start-up ventures. Monday, however, was an excellent exercise in the methodology, types of, and success surrounding notable entrepreneurial ventures.

Former Congressman J.C. Watts struck me with his assuredness, intellect, and humility. His diverse background – a student-athlete, a pro athlete, a minister, a politician, a businessman – lent itself to a myriad of different life perspectives, which in turn lent credence to a unique and well-articulated political philosophy. As a person with a plethora of interests, hardly able to narrow the scope of potential careers for my future, Mr. Watts’ ability to dip his hand in several ventures and emerge with his amount of success and his forward-thinking perspective was incredibly motivating. One of my favorite economists, Joseph Schumpeter, believed that business cycles surge and contract with innovation; Mr. Watts’ ability to innovate himself and his community was one of the most inspiring aspects of my very informative day. In my opinion, Mr. Watts exemplifies the spirit of American entrepreneurship, a capability I hold in very high esteem.

Lately I have been extremely interested in one day helping to cultivate local economic infrastructure in developing nations, so when I found out that we would be meeting with Mr. Steven Bennett of The Brookings Institute, I was excited to say the least. Not only does The Brookings Institute have an impressive track record of progressive, innovative policy analysis, but Mr. Bennett’s résumé also attests to his experience in similar ventures. I asked him about his experience with the Global Fairness Initiative and what types of “innovative models of economic engagement” have flourished while he has been in the business. He told the group about an initiative undertaken to develop Cambodia’s garment industry into a profitable and (by international standards) humane venture, which emerged as a model of great success for other developing nations. With interests in business, scholarship, and service, his story of change and entrepreneurship in action – finding solutions to fix operational and developmental disadvantages – was extraordinarily encouraging. Not only did Mr. Bennett help to define how I might one day help others in a concrete and meaningful way (I subscribe to the camp of teaching a man to fish versus giving a man a fish), he also gave me hope and insight to an industry that I care a about a great deal.

Lastly, we met with Dr. Edwin Feulner of The Heritage Foundation. I gravitated toward the very learned, straight-shooting Dr. Feulner from the instant that he told me he held an honorary degree from my alma mater, Gonzaga University. Moreover, however, I appreciated his identification of a market shortcoming (the unavailability of sound, timely, and read-able policy analyses) and the fervent passion with which he pursued his solution – The Heritage Foundation. Dr. Feulner’s expansion of his organization, founded upon political and governmental grounds, show the unparalleled heights of success that dedication and education are able to elevate individuals. Dr. Feulner’s entrepreneurial endeavor into the policy center was risky, yet he has achieved a great deal of success and consequently, he has brought a great deal of visibility to issues that he cares about a great deal.

While today was full of many lessons, I am presently reflecting upon my unparalleled levels of inspiration. Today, DC proved that the entrepreneurial American spirit is not only alive and well – it is flourishing. With a little time and experience, I too will one day be able to actualize my own dreams in the same way these great men have innovated the business, international, and policy sectors. For this opportunity, I am extremely grateful.

This was our first weekend in Washington, DC and I think everyone would agree that excitement played a large role this weekend! These past few days have been a great time for fellowship and turning new faces into friends.  Being a girl from a small town, the thought of being in the City for a week was electrifying! It allowed me to step outside of my comfort zone and take part in new sites and experiences.  Our group had the opportunity to see many aspects of our nation’s capitol, which gave us time to bond and get to know one another.

After a light evening dinner and casual strolling on Friday, we had a jam-packed day on Saturday.  We began with Arlington Cemetery. This was one the most moving experiences.  Seeing the rows of gravestones that spanned for acres game me a new appreciation of our Armed Forces. We are blessed to have freedom because of those who selflessly gave their lives in battle.  Also, it was amazing to see the burial sites of the late President John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy. So many wonderful lives have passed before us of leaders who were brave and believed so strongly in our nation.  It truly was a moving experience.

After our visit to Arlington, we also went to the Holocaust Museum along with a night tour of the major monuments on The National Mall of Washington, DC.  The Holocaust Museum game me similar feelings to that of Arlington.  I cannot help but feel sympathy for innocent people whose lives were lost.  Watching the brutality that the Jews had to suffer through made me want to cry.  I cannot wrap my brain around the idea as to why someone could be so cruel to innocent people.  As a young American, it makes me appreciate my freedom and ability to express myself as an individual.

Sunday was an enjoyable day as we went to Mt. Vernon.  Needless to say, it was a beautiful estate and amazing to see where the first President of the United States resided.  The weekend has been wonderful and the days ahead can only get better!

As an avid student of political science, my first weekend in D.C. could be likened to that of a child in a candy store.  The weekend has been filled with the opportunity to see many important historic and symbolic sites, including Arlington Cemetery, the Holocaust Museum, Mt. Vernon, and many of our nation’s most important monuments.  Viewing these monuments, which rightfully honor our nation’s significant leaders and wars, was a powerful and opportune moment for me to reflect upon the powerful impact these individuals and events had upon our country.

First, the Lincoln Memorial was one location I was most excited to visit, and one which I was certainly not disappointed upon seeing.  In the center of this large monument sits the figure of President Lincoln, and on the memorial’s walls are written Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address and his lesser known second inaugural address.  It is this second inaugural address—which I had read many times before, but again reflected upon during our time at the memorial—that struck me.  In this great speech given on the verge of the Civil War’s imminent end, Lincoln does not ostracize or castigate the South for its actions over the past few years.  Instead, he makes a concerted effort to recognize the need for healing and he appeals to the people to avoid judging others.  We can only lament the loss of the good Lincoln may have done with such an attitude in the wake of the Civil War, and wonder how such an attitude might heal the polarized nature of our politics today.

Finally, although we visited many other memorials, I would also like to reflect on the FDR Memorial.  This memorial, which proceeds chronologically and displays the hardships and turmoil that Roosevelt faced during his presidency, was thought-provoking in a couple of ways.  First, regardless of one’s political views on Roosevelt’s expansion of the federal government, the sculpture of a man listening intently to the radio depicts the hope that Roosevelt provided a struggling nation.  This is a powerful image in a time when our society seems to be without hope and frustrated in its own era of (arguably lesser) troubles.  Second, as I reflected on the use of water in the memorial, and its ability to portray the struggles Roosevelt faced, I was again amazed at this man’s perseverance in leading our nation through some of its most difficult hours.  As we look ahead to many of the tough decisions facing our nation in coming years concerning wars and deficits, I hope that we can again find in whatever leader we may have the desire to genuinely persevere and resolve problems for the people’s good. 

What a way to start off our week in Washington, DC. A full couple days of the “DC-must-see’s!” Saturday morning we started with touring Arlington Cemetery, then we went through the Holocaust Museum and finished with an evening tour of the National monuments on The Mall.  Each of these places and the exhibits within them have an undeniable power that indiscriminately touches the hearts of all that visit them. As I walked through the tombstones at Arlington, read through the horrific stories of the Holocaust, and strolled by the magnificent statues of America’s heroes – despite the sweltering heat and humidity – I got chills. I got chills because my soul was reminded of the blood and of the hope that built my country.  The reoccurring theme of each piece we visited that resounded within me the most was the coexistence of grief and growth. Such grief, sorrow and pain are hallowed in many of those monuments, but I think that is the point.  We care enough to remember. We remember the hurt but also the courage. We remember the loss as well as the gain.  Most of all, through those things we remember that through turmoil we still survived victoriously.  Saturday’s events were sobering as well as an inspiration.  A true reminder that America is only as strong as her people and the legacy has been left to us.

Sunday was a lovely day! We went to church with Mr. and Mrs. Nethercutt and it was a fabulous time. The fellowship and sermon were terrific and they had a music director with the singing voice of an angel! After church we headed out to Mount Vernon for a quick tour and some lunch.  From that experience I decided I would like to build an exact replica of the house and live in it someday! Sunday evening the Nethercutt’s hosted us for an evening BBQ and that was a great time. Both their children were able to join us and we spent the evening sharing hilarious stories and laughing together.  This weekend was picture perfect—maybe except for the humidity—but a wonderful time none-the-less.

Today, we had the opportunity to visit Mount Vernon, George Washington’s estate.  It was incredibly impressive.  We traveled quite a ways to get there, as it is “in the country,” but the time was worth it for the serenity it provided.  Upon our arrival, I began reading some of the informative signs about the estate and learned that the entire area was about five hundred acres.  The size alone was impressive.  We wandered about the grounds and saw many of the old buildings that have been restored and maintained.  A few highlights included the blacksmith shop, overseer’s quarters, Lady Washington’s personal garden, and George Washington’s tomb.  The grounds were beautiful in full bloom, and the view onto the Potomac River was breathtaking.  This was one of my favorite sites that we had the opportunity to see this weekend.

Mount Vernon was incredibly beautiful and very majestic as it sprawled over every hillside in sight.  One really cool idea for me to contemplate was that George Washington had actually lived there.  He had probably walked the path I was walking and had gazed over the Potomac at the same view I saw (except for the airplanes and cell phone towers).  It was so fascinating for me to think of how Mr. Washington would have stayed cool on such a warm day and how daily life would have been so different.  One interesting area we passed was a big rectangle square enclosed in a picket fence.  Its sign named it the “laundry yard.”  A peer commented how large it seemed compared to our simple washing machines.  Another thought I had while walking around and envisioning the estate during Mr. Washington’s time, was that there would have been slaves in all the fields and in almost all the shops.  It is so strange to visit an area with such a rich history of an incredibly well respected national hero and know that part of that history includes the atrocities of slavery.  I really enjoyed the time we were able to spend at Mount Vernon and was thoroughly impressed by everything we saw.       

As promised, we arrived in Washington D.C. on Friday and immediately hit the ground running. Our days have been filled with visits to the endless sources of history that are ubiquitous in this city. There is something in the air here (besides the humidity and ninety-five degree heat) that is unlike any other city I have visited. It is youthful, energetic and ambitious and all of these are contagious.

En route to each destination, by foot or metro rail, I cannot help but be overwhelmed by how much I have no choice but to pass by. We are here for a little over a week and can only fit so much into our incredibly busy schedule. In the last couple days we have explored Arlington National Cemetery, The Holocaust Museum, Mount Vernon, a couple local universities and a dozen or so monuments in the national mall. A few of us even squeezed in a canoe ride down the Potomac River early Sunday morning.

My favorite moment thus far was reading the engravings at The Thomas Jefferson Memorial. It was not the first time I had read any of these quotes or excerpts, but they had never resonated as they did. Textbooks have the tendency to immortalize our national heroes however being here, connecting with history, and realizing their humanity has somehow made their legacies more powerful.

It is my first time in Washington D.C. and I absolutely love the city. The American history that can be found on every corner is overwhelming and very refreshing at the same time. It is hard to decide what to see and what to make time for and after only two days I know that a trip back here is absolutely necessary. That being said, I have already seen many historical places and monuments that are life changing and thought provoking to say the least.

Yesterday was action packed: a trip to Arlington National Cemetery, the Holocaust Museum and an evening walking tour of all the monuments. Each was incredible, informative, and quite emotional. I could talk about each one for hours but in an effort to save time I will focus on only one subject for the day. 

Arlington National Cemetery will forever hold a special place in my heart and my mind. The visit was a very eye opening experience. It is a place that I believe every American should take the time to visit. The size of the cemetery is completely unbelievable, you can look around for miles and it is as if the head stones never end, each with its own story, each an American hero. Incredible people who have served our country with great honor and many who gave their lives for the privileges we have today. As I walked around the cemetery I felt an overwhelming sense of respect and gratitude for each and every individual buried there. I know it can be easy to forget at times what was lost and given up for the rights and freedoms we hold today. It is simple fact to us American’s-- freedom is the norm of our everyday lives, but it must always be remembered that our privileges come at a very high price. Arlington is a powerful reminder.

Being at the cemetery ensued a feeling of obligation to encourage more people from my generation, and every generation for that matter, to take the time stop and think about all the privileges we have and pay respect to everyone who has given us those privileges. It is important to remember where they came from, how they came about, and remember that they are in fact privileges that not everyone holds. I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude for every person who has served our country.

I realize it can be easily overlooked in my generation and those younger than me simply because we have not been directly faced with any challenges and conflicts that have threatened our freedoms directly. I think that if each person walked through the cemetery and saw the unimaginable number of lives lost the individuals in our country would be able to hold a much greater respect and show a greater sense of gratitude, faith, and honor for our country and its men and women of service.

The most touching and emotional element of Arlington in my experience there was when I saw the tomb for the unknown soldiers, “those known only to God.” I was almost brought to tears and definitely speechless when coming to the tomb for the unknown soldiers. The tomb is guarded twenty-four hours a day and requires complete silence surrounding it. Not only were there the countless numbers of headstones with known individuals, but also the countless number of unknown soldiers that have fought and died for our country and our freedom. It is one of the most beautiful and touching things I have ever seen. I will never forget that sight nor will I forget the way I felt while standing there. After leaving the cemetery I vowed to pray for those soldiers both known and unknown, deceased and living along with each of their families everyday for the rest of my life and continue to show them honor and respect by respecting our country and helping to create and sustain the type of country they fought so very hard for.

I have grown from each of my experiences in D.C. thus far, and cannot wait to see what the rest of the week will bring our way.

Saturday had been a long day by the time I read those four powerful words, but as I stood in the sticky DC dusk, a sense of profound sobriety overcame me. Don’t get me wrong: I have always been thankful to be an American, but viewing the Korean Memorial splashed an enormous wave of emotions across my very being. Having grown up with the ability to speak my mind, develop my individual talent, and feel generally protected to be uniquely Katie Love, I have not often been so acutely aware of the price of my freedom. The events of Saturday, however, made me re-examine my perspective. 

Having recently viewed documentaries and read a great deal about life inside of the People’s Republic of Korea, I felt the weight of extreme sadness as I gazed at nineteen replicas of stone-faced soldiers reflected against an onyx wall. Etched with the faces of the servicemen and servicewomen who fought to free a people thousands of miles away from the hands of oppression, the tall, foreboding wall should have cast a gloomy shadow upon the memorial. Instead, I looked at the wall and saw heroism, triumph, and freedom – I saw Americans free to commemorate and celebrate their heritage without fear of reprisal or misgiving. I saw the open waters of the Potomac, the proud American flag, and grateful citizens, yet I imagined the tremendous poverty, hunger, and tyranny experienced by the People’s Republic of Korea juxtaposed against the liberty, prosperity, and prospects of their Democratic counterparts. My heart ached for the struggle of those who once suffered, those who fought to end suffering, and those who suffer to this day. My soul, however, was thankful for those who sought autonomy and persevered to enable others to pursue the freedoms I presently enjoy.   

Passing the American flag at the tip of the memorial, I walked past a fresh wreath dedicated in gratitude to the American people by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. Tears welled in my eyes and a lump formed in my throat: While some may refer to the Korean War as the “Forgotten War,” citizens of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea certainly will not forget the gallantry and sacrifice of the United States men and women who helped give them the gift of freedom.  

While I rode a wave of emotions Saturday, ranging from compassion to joy to exhaustion to sadness, nothing evoked pain and pride within quite like the Korean Memorial. My grandfather does not speak about his time in Korea, but I am quite anxious to get back to Washington state so that I might speak with him regarding his service, and share my perspective-altering experience at the monument. I might not always agree with the policies of elected officials, but my respect, gratitude, and admiration for our servicemen and servicewomen was electrified at that moment; for that, I am most thankful.

Coming to D.C., I had my reservations.  The normal anticipation and excitement of viewing a new city for a week was masked by some doubts; I wondered if I’d leave the city with further suspicion about our country’s future and its policy makers.  I had let the media’s pervasive negativity towards the country’s outlook and our government seep into my thoughts.  Despite a small bump along the way, the tour of the national mall on Saturday evening changed my inherited cynical view.  

Walking along the tidal basin with tree branches looming over, offering temporary relief from the relentless sun, I gazed down removing my eyes from the Jefferson memorial and its grand marble columns. Simultaneously, I struck my head on a tree branch leaving a significant sized goose egg above my hairline. The goose egg that protrudes from my head will soon fade away, but the memory of the monuments tour will not.  

Shortly after the tree branch and I had collided, the group and I climbed the steps to find a large statue of Thomas Jefferson amid a backdrop of some of his timeless quotes engraved on the marble walls. While many of these powerful messages, which included excerpts from the Declaration of Independence, convey an immense sense of patriotism and appreciation for the great leaders that have guided the American ship so skillfully, the Jefferson memorial will not be the most memorable aspect of the tour. 

Nor will it be the Franklin Roosevelt Memorial.  Each section of the monument depicts one of his four terms as President and conveys the mood of the times through contrasting mediums of water.  Throughout each section, relevant quotes are sprawled across the dark stone colored walls.  While it is beautiful, it will not be the most memorable part of the tour. 

Nor will it be the laser-etched photographs of fallen soldiers on the black marble of the Korean War Memorial. It won’t be the Lincoln Memorial where America has seen many historically transcendent moments take place either. 

The most memorable moment of the monuments tour will not be any of the monuments but the comforting words spoken by a schoolboy.  Among the many grade schoolers roaming the steps of the Lincoln memorial, two young boys sat overlooking the reflection of the Washington memorial. Amid the chaos of the yelling children and tourists flashing thousands of photographs, the boy turned to his friend and offered a simple saying.  What he said was simple and has been echoed many times before:  “God Bless America”.

Our last full day in D.C. included a visit to the Brookings Institution where we met with Steve Bennett, the organization’s chief of staff.  I went in thinking Brookings was a left-leaning think tank that was intent on promoting a partisan agenda.  I was surprised, however, to learn about the intellectual integrity and political independence the institution requires of its scholars.  Brookings’ motto is “Quality, Independence and Impact,” a reflection of its commitment to political neutrality and quality, focused scholarship.  Mr. Bennett noted that Brookings scholars have often published reports that are later criticized and challenged by other Brookings members. 

The Brookings Institution does research on a wide variety of issues, ranging from healthcare to foreign policy to international development.  However, they do not contract their research services to any individual or group.  I was also interested to learn that many of the scholars move in between the think tank and the government.  For instance, Peter Orzag, the former director of the Congressional Budget Office and current director at Office of Management and Budget, was previously a top scholar at Brookings.  Further, Mark McClellan, currently director of Brookings’ Center for Healthcare Reform, was previously the administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and former commissioner for the FDA.  The knowledge gained in one sectors provides a great foundation for the other and vice versa. 

I am excited about the quality work Brookings is doing and hope to use their research in future projects.  While they may be slightly left of center on some issues, their commitment to intellectual integrity and neutrality in assumptions makes them stand out as a quality organization that is doing highly valuable work. 

After visiting the Heritage Foundation, I was under the impression that the Brookings Institute would be more of the same. I thought that it would be a think-tank that conducted research to promote a particular policy position. From our conversations with Steven Bennett, I felt as though I couldn’t have been more incorrect. What is unique about the Heritage Foundation is that it is a politically independent organization that produces peer review books, journals and articles. The institute initiates conversation on various issues and advises policy that is not part of legislation. I was intrigued by how the Brookings Institute serves as an independent scholarly institution. It partakes in research to inform the public yet it does not rely on formally educating individuals as a University otherwise would. There are many great intellectuals that work for the institution who formally held positions at Universities or were involved in government, drafting legislation. When contracted, these employees are considered senior fellows and conduct research while remaining non-partisan. This alone seems like a daunting task and I was interested in how the fellows keep their personal politics out of the research. I found that the fellows at the Brookings Institute are held to a high standard of independence and quality – They can’t be too theoretical. Fellows must start with a question instead of an answer. This prevents them from falling into an ideological trap.

Learning about the Brookings Institute gave me great insight into outside forces that affect our political system. The Brookings Institute and many of its sister institutions play an important role in our democracy. They contribute to our complex system of checks and balances while providing legislators with non-bias information that can be used when drafting legislation and forming policy. Interested in the career path that most researchers followed in order to work for the Brookings Institute, I asked Steven Bennett if he had any advice for use students. He told us that we must first and foremost be passionate about something. Once you have passion, you can gear your resume toward this focus. It is this focus that employers respond to when you apply to your first job. I will retain this advice as I enter the professional world, and search for issues that I am truly passionate about.

Our last full day in DC began with a visit to the World Bank Group, where we discussed International Development issues with two economist representatives from the organization. I have, since my study abroad semester in Central America, had mixed opinions and feelings about multi-billion dollar development organizations, the World Bank being one of those entities. It was a bit surreal for me to sit in a high-rise, elegant and professional conference room in my business suit and discuss specifics of poverty, disease and implementation of grass roots projects. Quick fixes and easy answers will never exist in the fight to eradicate poverty. If those options did exist, we would have already moved in that direction, perhaps with great success. If funds are to be continually raised, however, and systemic, comprehensive implementation is to take place, both the hands-on workers in the field and the sharp, business-suited professionals must be involved.

I should not judge those people at the top of development organizations simply because they are working for real change from a lofty, often comfortable vantage point. Many of them have worked in the field in the past, and they have dedicated their lives to ideals that often remain elusive. We should not allow high-ranking employees to lose touch and accountability with the core values and tenets of their organizations (that goes for elected officials of our government as well), but we should, through a lens of our common humanity, seek to challenge and respect one another as we work for that which is good and just.

As a foot note of sorts, I am adding a poem that I wrote. This was originally delivered as a free-style rap on the steps of the Supreme Court a couple days ago…feel free to force the beat and meter to fit your personal preference.

Nine great judges, sitting in a row,
Though not perfect, there are many things they know.

They interpret the law and apply it to our life,
In hopes of eradicating all our pain and strife.

Starting with John Marshall, and now to Sotomayor,
They defend the peoples’ constitutional rights – people both rich and poor.

So here we are today, on these great steps of stone…
and once we make our way inside, we’ll make our presence known!

Today was an interesting day, as they have all turned out to be.  We had an early morning; breakfast meeting at 7:30 with Ken Bentsen, President and CEO of Equipment Leasing and Finance Association.  In spite of meeting so early in the morning, he was animated and had a lot of great advice for us. He commented on the experience that comes with working on the Hill, and how it seemingly provides one a second education based on the fact that you learn so much interacting with the system itself.  He also made a point to emphasize that your opponent today could be your ally tomorrow.  It’s been valuable to see and learn about the different friendships and alliances that result from the politics here.

We also spent time with Senator Patty Murray, Bob Livingston of the Livingston Group, and the Ambassador of the Norwegian Embassy.  Each one of them came from a different sector of Washington DC and had different work experiences and perspectives to offer us.  Seeing a representative, a lobbyist, and an ambassador definitely gave us a more broad understanding of what’s going on in this one city alone. 

The highlight of the day for me began with meeting Congressman Greg Walden and ended with having coffee with George after sitting to watch the House Floor.  Congressman Walden was incredibly personable and very honest about the struggles in the House regarding minority/majority tensions.  It was refreshing to have someone be honest and upfront about the real challenges that the parties’ experience.  We proceeded to watch the House of Representatives vote on the floor.  It was particularly exciting because the representatives were debating the very issues we had just been talking about with the congressman.  I love making real-life connections and seeing our democracy in action.

By the time we left the Capitol it had started raining, so we ducked into a coffee shop to warm up and have coffee with George for an hour or so.  We had a great time just sitting around a table with our coffee, debating the most up-to-date issues that are taking place in the Capitol.  We’ve come so far in the week and a half we’ve been here, both in our understanding of how our government works and in how we feel about issues personally.  Our discussions have become so much more informed, and I feel much more prepared to contribute to conversation when I go back home and to school. 

Today had a running theme: get the job done. We met with former business executives, congressmen, senators, and even the Norwegian Ambassador His Excellency Wegger Strommen. We had the pleasure of meeting former Congressman Bob Livingston who inspired me not only by his own personal story of overcoming setbacks and obstacles, but his call to action and love of the United States. It is a shame Congressman Livingston isn’t still serving in Congress because his pragmatic approach was a refreshing voice of reason in a city full of half measures and fence sitting. In between votes in the House, Congressman Walden was able to meet with us and enlighten us with his ideas as to how to better perfect our union. Congressman Walden is an incredible leader and the citizens of Oregon’s 2nd congressional district are lucky to have him - the name of this entry is inscribed on a wood plaque upon his desk. Everyone we met with today was dedicated and inspired me to “git ‘R dun” and overcome any obstacles I may encounter.

We met with several people today from the House of Representatives, the Senate, and extra-government agencies; however, amongst the eight people we met with today, two stood out.

In the morning we met with Brian Lamb of C-SPAN. He was a very intriguing person in that he first wanted to know about us and then wanted to answer our questions. Mr. Lamb does not subscribe to a party and keeps C-SPAN bipartisan in order to maintain the station’s integrity. He was the most honest and genuine person we have met thus far and I will not forget the advice he gave us: “Ask questions and listen”. Once in a while, I come across a person who’s subtle leadership permeates throughout that leaders work; Mr. Lamb is one of these people. Instead of talking for the sake of talking, Mr. Lamb asks a question out of pure curiosity and actually listens to the answer rather than thinking of what he will say in response. Because of his natural curiosity, he is very well read and knowledgeable. His passion for his work is quite impressive and I came out of the meeting wishing that I could speak with him longer.

The second person to stand out today was Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA). Going into the meeting with Ms. Cantwell, I was not sure what to expect. We were told that Ms. Cantwell is a difficult person to arrange a meeting with and the limited number of people we asked about her were quite vague when discussing her. When we arrived at her office, Ms. Cantwell was running slightly late, so our group sat in her office conference room with her Chief of Staff, Katherine Lister. Ms. Lister told us a brief, but great story concerning how she ended up where she is now. She was energetic, wonderful to speak with, and came off as one of those people who I would not mind working for in the future.

Ms. Cantwell joined us shortly after we were shown to the conference room. She walked around the room shaking each person’s hand then sat in the chair at the head of the table. Then she asked what we wanted to know (something only a few people have said to us since we have arrived). I asked her a question regarding the state of the economy and her thoughts on the drastic increase in deficit spending. Ms. Cantwell spoke with ease and intelligence and she gave us a real answer instead of dancing around the question. Her honesty and willingness to speak her mind made her one of the favorites of the day unanimously among our group. She is a very impressive person and leads with a calm passion that motivates those around her.

Today was a very busy day! We had several exciting meetings, the core theme of which has been the economy and the healthcare reform. I am glad to have heard the two sides to both of these issues. It is fascinating to observe how the worldview of each representative affects their stands on these issues. Doc Hastings and Maria Cantwell gave us their insights on the technical aspects of the healthcare reform. We had a unique opportunity to hear a variety of opinions in one day, first hand from the people directly involved with these issues! I enjoy hearing different opinions, and I hope everyone else does as well. Days like these spark many thoughts and are tough to describe in a short blog posting. I love this country, obviously. If I did not, I would not be here right now. I love the freedoms that this system guarantees and the benefits that it offers. I want the United States to be the best it can be. The fact that forty some million Americans are living without a healthcare insurance is a frustrating reality. I sincerely hope that people residing in this wonderful political entity will find a way of providing a high quality healthcare to all the segments of society. Resources are the driving force behind everything. Individuals who suffer the most are the ones that lack the resources and are therefore vulnerable. These same individuals cannot afford healthcare. Everyone in this country has the right for the pursuit of happiness, thus everyone must have access to healthcare, I believe.

We, the people, really do have a say. We really do have access to many benefits and treasures in our capital city. Our day today was an experience in accessing those rights and gifts. We began our morning at the Supreme Court, and although we arrived about two minutes too late to claim one of the fifty seats in the court room reserved for the public, we were able to tour the Court building and learn much about its history. On days the Court holds hearings and convenes, we, the people, are invited to attend and observe. One of these days, I hope to see the highest law of our land in action, but that will have to wait for another day. The fact that the public does indeed have access to that innermost chamber, however, is a testimony to our government, as complex as it may be.

Our second privilege of the day was a tour and visit to the Library of Congress, and specifically the ornate, incredible Jefferson building. This amazing building creates the closest experience in the United States to that of a majestic European cathedral or museum. The detailed mosaics, marble, paintings, murals, grand staircases, vaulted ceilings and warm wood accents are impressive indeed. The walls call out the wisdom of the ages with quotes such as, “There is but one temple in the universe and that is the body of man.” Another archway reads, “In books lies the soul of the whole past time.” One of our greatest gifts is the knowledge of our history and the roots of our families, culture and country. So much of that history is recorded in the millions of books, maps, manuscripts, tapes and videos in our Library of Congress. The rotunda of the reading room towers above the people at the desks below, and we are all welcome there to request to read virtually any book in the collection. Our tour guide was sincere when she said that this library and its books belong to us, the people of the United States of America.

We concluded our day with a visit to the Pentagon, one of the largest low-rise office buildings in the world. The Pentagon employs about 23,000 people, only a couple thousand less than my current hometown of Bozeman, Montana. Everyone we met at the Pentagon was respectful, welcoming, intelligent and professional. After winding our way through a small portion of the maze of 17.5 miles of corridor space, we stopped at the memorials to the September 11 attacks. Although I have seen the vacancy in the New York City skyline where the World Trade Center towers previously stood, I have not walked around close to Ground Zero. Standing directly behind the reconstructed wall where the Pentagon was impacted, however, was a new, eerie and incredible feeling. After hearing amazing stories from that fateful day, I am humbled by and grateful for the courage that many people showed in that trying time. To quote many stones that commemorate that day and that historic place, “we will not forget.”

Monday we had the great opportunity to spend an hour with Charlie Cook, the creator of the Cook Political Report.  Mr. Cook has been involved in American politics for several decades and brings a wealth of knowledge to the table.  Our conversation with him focused on a variety of subjects, but the most interesting to me was his prediction of the 2010 midterm elections.  While recognizing that many factors could change the election outcome, Mr. Cook states his belief that the Democrats could lose between 10-12 seats in the House, but that they could also pick up one or two Senate seats. 

On the issue of whether the Republican Party is bound to die, he reminded us that in his more than 3 decades on Capitol Hill, he has seen both parties “die” several times, only to rise again.  This was good to think about as the Republican Party, although not presently in vogue, is likely to reshape itself in the next few years and find wedge issues to highlight their difference from the Democrats and how they can bring positive change to Washington.  Mr. Cook was a wonderful and funny guy to spend our afternoon with, and I am glad we had the chance to learn from such a political pro. 

Often Mr. Nethercutt will ask us what we learned at the end of the day from the important people we met during the day.  I decided I would formulate a simple version of some things I learned, especially since we met SO many people today.

Brian Lamb, President of CSPAN: “Ask a lot of questions, and listen” “most people are on transmit and not receive”

My lesson: Leaders must be better listeners than talkers; Good leaders will always question.

Dave Warren, President of the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities: Was president of WSU Pullman in student government while he attended school there.  Worked in local government.

My lesson: Get involved, be involved.

Senator Wicker: Took the time to meet us, spoke slowly and deliberately and didn’t rush our meeting.

My lesson: Live in the moment, it is as important as the next one.  Pay attention to the people right in front of you.

Congressman Tom Latham: Left early because he had a vote, but met with us before that.

My lesson: Keep your appointments, they show you value the people you did that for.

Congressman Doc Hastings: Discussed the importance of Bipartisan cooperation

My lesson: Cooperation is essential to results, foster relationships.

Congressman Norm Dicks: Has worked in the congress for so long he has seen the majority change, and change again.

My lesson: Things are cyclical; you will want to treat others the way you wish to be treated, because it won’t be too long before you may be in the opposite position, needing help.

Senator Maria Cantwell: Took time to open the floor to us and our questions.

My lesson: Sometimes it is more productive to allow others to take the lead.  A leader doesn’t need to dominate the conversation.

After a long overdue workout, I hopped on the metro and headed to St. Joseph’s Church on Capital Hill to catch the noon service. For anyone who hasn’t visited St. Joseph’s, I would highly recommend it; the church is literally right across the street from the Hart Senate Office building and is absolutely gorgeous. After mass – I decided to hoof it over to the Eastern Market. The Eastern Market is an amazing indoor/outdoor flee market, complete with a deli and fish market. While perusing the crafts, I soaked in the sun with a delicious fresh squeezed lemonade. This evening we all went over the Nethercutt’s home to relax and enjoy a backyard barbeque. Throughout the afternoon and into the evening we discussed everything from American politics to the sorry state of Washington, D.C. professional sports. Today was a great day.

Today was our chance to explore DC for ourselves, and a chance to gain a better understanding of George. This morning, a few of us asked to join George and his family at their home church, National Presbyterian Church. The church was beautiful, and it was great to experience the congregation that the Nethercutt’s call home. The sermon felt serendipitous as the minister spoke about the importance of knowing one’s roots; particularly knowing one’s historical roots. It fit very well with our purpose of being here to gain a better understanding of our nation’s history.

Later in the evening, we were driven over to the Nethercutt home by George, his wife, and his son. I was incredibly impressed by their hospitality and willingness to open their home to us. We sat for hours over BBQ and ice cream talking about current events, our individual life experiences, and what we hope for in the future. I felt a deep sense of gratitude for the opportunity to be here, experiencing everything that we are.

The atmosphere in D.C. has been solemn and somber since a security guard was shot-down by a gunman outside the national holocaust museum. When I woke-up this morning I was unsure whether the museum was closed and tourists were even being admitted. My concerns were calmed as I read the morning newspaper to find out that the museum was open for visitors.

I have been to this museum on two occasions. Both instances were in conjunction with a youth exchange program to Germany. The first visit I made was very informational and I took much from it, but I felt removed from it all. I understood the significance of the atrocities that had been committed by the Nazis, but it seemed so long ago; three generations removed for me. After spending a year in Germany and returning to this museum everything hit me much harder. Not only was I able to read the slander on German posters, but I was able to read the written decrees from Hitler himself that sent thousands of Jews to their deaths. Watching videos of the internment camps put me back to Buchenwald where I read similar accounts of gas chambers and saw where Jewish prisoners were confined. I remember seeing a photo of dead bodies; hundreds of bodies that were but skeletons in a pile. While there in Buchenwald it took me only a second to realize that I was standing in the exact spot where those bodies lay. These thoughts and others were with me at my second visit to the holocaust museum. Overcome with emotion, I quickly guided myself through the rest of the museum so that I would not lose control of myself. Five years later I still regret not fully experiencing the museum and letting the historical accounts have their full effect on me.

Here in D.C. I was given a third and perhaps final chance to experience the museum without worrying about those around me; to let it influence me and reflect upon all that had happened, all of the horrendous crimes that were committed. In the museum I felt personally connected to the exhibits. I took the time to read everything and reflect upon the sequence of events that led to the holocaust. I had chills run down my spine with each new exhibit and waves of goose bumps rolled down my arms making the hairs stand on end. When leaving the exhibits on the first floor I realized that my arms were sore and my fingers were tingling. I had clutched my arms so tightly that I lost much feeling in my hands. They were pale white. As I progressed through the exhibits the events of WWII came to pass in chronological order from the rise of Hitler to the night of broken glass to the mass-murder of Jews in internment camps. In the last section of the Museum I was particularly moved by the few stories of resistance and the acts of kindness that saved others. I hated myself for considering these individuals lucky because millions of others shared a different fate. Luck seemed an understatement, a suggestion that their situation was somehow great, somehow extraordinary. I had to remind myself that those who I considered lucky were also under extenuating circumstances and had probably lost many of their loved ones. A quote from the day also remained with me. Although there were few countries willing to allow Jewish-Germans to immigrate, those who were famous scientists, authors, actors and artist easily found their way into the United States and England. One such man reflected on the specialized circumstances that allowed him to immigrate and stated, “I couldn’t help but to think ‘survival of the fittest’ and I hated myself.”

By the end of the tour, my eyes were blurred with tears. In the last part of the tour I watched a video of recollections from holocaust survivors. This video brought everything that I had already experienced together and I understood the depth of the holocaust and why it is important to remember these events so they never happen again. Leaving the museum I couldn’t clear my mind or align my thoughts. I felt disoriented and searched for the exit but instead found my way to a memorial in the rotunda with benches on all sides. I sat down to reflect and I couldn’t understand how so many tourists around me were able to walk away so calm and assertive from such an exhibit. I knew that many left the museum as they entered: with another tourist attraction in mind. After considering my own experiences I felt as though my reaction was appropriate and I was glad for taking everything in. It took me a while to feel alright again and I wasn’t sure how I was to precede such an event. The Holocaust museum had shaken me to the core. My legs were weak and quivery, my voice was feeble and my gut ached from the tension. When I finally came around with the support of other fellows I realized that I had been in that museum for almost 4 hours. By taking everything in, what seemed like minutes was actually hours.

We started the day off early and had breakfast at Au Bon Pain, the only coffee shop/lunch bistro open on Saturday in the GWU area. I tried Muesli for the first time and it was amazing. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys oatmeal but is not in the mood for a warm breakfast.

After breakfast, the other fellows and I made our way to the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. We arrived at the magnificent building right as the doors were opening and made it in without any problems. Once inside, I felt like a little kid. I wanted to see all of the taxidermic animals (sounds weird I know, but it was fun), the live tarantulas, the giant squid, and, most of all, the dinosaur and ice age animal bones. As a little kid, I was never into dinosaurs, but walking into the Museum of Natural History turned me into a dinosaur lover. We only had two hours to look at both floors of the museum, so we did not have a lot of time to read and really take in the exhibits; however, the next stop was worth cutting our visit to the Museum of Natural History short.

At 12:30pm we met up with Shelia, Rob, and Tom at the Holocaust Museum. I really did not know what to expect going into the museum. I know quite a bit about the Holocaust: I have heard the survivor’s stories, seen the videos, and read a few books; I was not prepared. At the beginning of the museum, you select an identification card telling the story of a Jewish woman or man who lived in Europe during World War II. We were then piled into an elevator and taken to the fourth floor. From there the museum began. The self-guided tour was chronological and borderline traumatic to some of those in our group. Jessica was able to walk until she reached the exhibit on the extermination of handicapped children; she rushed through the rest. I walked through the exhibit, carefully reading the descriptions of the systematic extermination of Jews in the expanding German empire. I was walking for three hours and fifteen minutes. Words cannot describe the pain and suffering of the nameless individuals suffering in each photograph.

We finished the Holocaust Museum at 4:00pm and headed for dinner. We stopped at a food court to eat hamburgers at Five Guys, a vendor that one of our group members said Obama frequented. When we got to the food court, Five Guys was closed, so we went to the Gyro vendor next to it. I ordered a gyro and it was literally at least a foot long and absolutely delicious. I shared some baklava with Michelle and as soon as everyone was done, we headed for the Jefferson Memorial to go on a guided moonlight memorial tour at 6:30pm.

The tour was three hours long and worth every second and painful step (I had probably sat down for an hour the entire day; naturally, my feet were hurting). We saw the Jefferson, Lincoln, and Washington Memorials; the FDR Memorial; and the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and the World War II Memorials. All of the memorials were amazing in their own right and to compare one to another is like comparing apples to oranges. Gazing upon these memorials gave me a great sense of pride in my nation, a pride that I have never felt before and can only be felt when deep in the remembrance of greatness. I gazed at the faces of the American soldiers at the Korean War Memorial, walked up the increasingly difficult stairs to gaze upon Lincoln’s face and read his Gettysburg Address, became witness to the scar Vietnam left on our people, marveled at the grace of the World War II memorial, and laid with my head against the base of the Washington Memorial in an awe-inspiring stupider absorbing and reflecting on the principles on which my nation was built. I will never forget today for I have finally discovered what it means to be an American.

Another wonderful day in the Capital! Today we went to the museum of Natural Science, the Holocaust museum and toured this city’s memorials. The theme of the day went hand in hand with the world’s great decisions and very unfortunate ones. The Holocaust museum had a heavy emotional effect on me and hopefully on everyone who goes there. The museum’s concrete and metal structure contributes to the experience of this inhumane and monstrous historic event. I recommend everyone to visit this museum; it should be included into the list of things to do before you die. The memorials to the veterans of Korean and Vietnam Wars remind you of all the horrors that war brings about. It is necessary to have these monuments as a constant reminder, and is very unfortunate that people still do not learn history’s lessons and keep dehumanizing each other and killing each other. Washington DC is a powerful city filled with symbolism and wisdom. The decision making process of the nation is happening in the environment that is filled with history; I find it very brilliant.

During lunch at a local café Grill Kebob I got a chance to meet Mahsud, an immigrant from Afghanistan. Mahsud spoke perfect Russian because he lived in Moscow for several years. Mahsud owns the café and does a fantastic job running it. Kebob, clay oven flat bread and rice with saffron are flavors that remind of home. This encounter is a fantastic example of how nations of the world can hypothetically live in peace with each other and share their treasures with each other. I am endlessly grateful for being here and having this experience.

Arlington National Cemetery touches many visitors with its powerful memorials and vast rows of headstones as far as the eye can see. The most gripping piece to me was a quote on a wall next to the Kennedy memorial. Speaking to a group of South African students living under the racist and oppressive Apartheid regime, Bobby Kennedy proclaimed, “It is from numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is shaped each time a man stands up for an ideal or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice. He sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring those ripples build a current that can swell down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.”

This quote impacts me most when I envision a Caucasian man delivering a message of hope and a call to action to a crowd thirsty for justice. It makes me think about how few leaders we have today that can inspire and provoke us to tear down walls of intolerance and support the most vulnerable in society. Tonight, roughly one in five U.S. children will go to bed hungry. More than a billion people live on less than a dollar per day. War and tribalism has wiped out entire generations in many countries. And in a country where we embrace civil rights, equal protection and due process of law, we have institutionalized the practice of torture and justified warrantless searches and wiretaps, all in the name of security. I am optimistic for progress, but the road to justice is difficult and leaders like Bobby Kennedy are becoming harder to find.

I am constantly reminded of our common humanity. I could see it from the front lawn of Arlington House, Robert E. Lee’s estate just across the Potomac River that overlooks Arlington National Cemetery and all of Washington, D.C. I could see it in the walking stick leaning against the bookshelves in George Washington’s office at Mount Vernon, Virginia. I could see it in the gravestone marking the final resting place of President John F. Kennedy. These famous figures become more human, more complex every day.

All our nation’s leaders, from the Founding Fathers to the present day, lived with hopes, fears, dreams and insecurities. They second guessed decisions. They made poor judgment calls. Each generation faced new challenges, but each generation has faced them, indeed, and growth has followed those trying times. General Washington fought long and hard to establish a unified nation of states. Several decades later, another great general, his great granddaughter’s husband, Robert E. Lee, made the difficult decision to serve his state and family above the Union. None of these decisions were made in haste, nor were these courses of action easy to follow.

In holding to ideals, our leaders have paid a price I cannot fully understand. The difficult nature of life and leadership comes alive in the stories of our past leaders. Wandering among the sheet white stones of Arlington or the orchards of Mount Vernon, I can now assign time, place and sensory experience to these people, bringing their lives that much closer, that much more into focus.

We started the day out today with the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. What a wonderful museum! We were able to see everything from bugs and Egyptian artifacts to dinasaurs and the Hope Diamond. There is so much to see and do there, that we could have probably spent an entire day at that museum alone, but we left to see the Holocaust museum.

The Holocaust museum was probably by far the most difficult thing to see. In school you learn about the Holocaust, you see some of the pictures, but this museum, as one of my co-fellows put it, was like the Holocaust through a fire hose. It was very graphic. It was also full of history. The museum uses several different types of media to get visitor’s attention. There are photographs, videos, audio tapes, quotes, some actual material items from the prisoners and prisons, and models of the camps. Horrific doesn’t even begin to touch on the magnitude of this atrocity. To be honest, I didn’t make it very far before the tears came…after that I guess I walked rather quickly through the most of the exhibit, at least until stories of heroism started to show up. Although it is a difficult museum to walk through, I think it is something everyone should do; bring tissue.

We did have a chance to pull out of our somber moods a bit by visiting the memorials on a guided tour after that though! The monuments are so massive and grand it is hard to give them justice through mere description. Large quotes from the various national heroes adorn massive walls of marble or granite, just amazing. We saw so many today, and they are all my favorites for different reasons: The Jefferson memorial because of his amazing speeches and writings which hang on the walls around him; The FDR memorial because of the uniqueness of it, being more of a landscape piece than a building or structure; the Lincoln memorial because of the view from the top, and the historical nature of that site; the Washington monument because of its sheer magnitude, especially when you are at the bottom looking directly up.

Between the Holocaust museum and the memorials I thought a lot about leadership. The memorials erected to many of our former presidents were because they were ahead of their times regarding ideals and thinking. The Holocaust stressed the importance of action by all people no matter how “ordinary”. I started to think about the many different types of leadership we learned about today, and what kind of leader I want to be.

Today was another busy day in the capitol. As was told to us before coming here, everyday is subject to change with flexibility as a necessity, and today lived up to that prediction exactly. We ate breakfast at one of the capitol cafeterias, which was much more exciting than it may sound. I was amazed by the fact that there is literally a small underground city, eating and interacting, right below one of the political hot spots of the world. All of us enjoyed reading the Roll Call and having some lively early-morning policy debate before we met the people who participate in the real one.

We proceeded to have our tour of The US Capitol after breakfast. It’s hard to describe in words how it felt, and what it meant, to tour the capitol of our country. This is my first time visiting, and I was overcome with a sense of pride while touring this building that holds so much history. I was impressed by the intricacies of the architecture, and the countless beautiful corridors, stairways and statues of prominent historical figures. The building was bustling with crowds of people, but if I stood still, I could find solitude to imagine what it was like, years ago, when our first Congressmen began making law.

After lunch and the tour, we had originally been scheduled to meet with only one Senator in the afternoon. However, by the time the day was over, we had crossed paths with multiple Congressmen and the Leader of the Minority Party in the Senate! It has been incredibly valuable meeting with the different Congressmen that we have. Each has a different style of relating to constituents and different issues that they’re passionate about. I find it particularly interesting to be here as a young person who is continually attempting to figure out and hone their political ideology. I am incredibly appreciative of the different perspectives we’ve been presented, as it helps me understand more and more the ideas being discussed today, and develop how I might personally feel about them.

Today, more than any other in my life, demonstrated that life is all about relationships. When strolling the halls of the Capital with Congressman Nethercutt it is easy to forget that you are amongst the world’s most powerful legislature. Behind any given door could be the Speaker of the House or Senate Minority Leader. However, it wasn’t until we moved between committee hearings and meetings that the real excitement, in my opinion, started. Catching a member of Congress in a candid moment is quite the experience and opportunity. An experience we all had literally dozens of times today, because of the Congressmen and Senators who went out of their way to say hi to their former colleague, Congressman Nethercutt.

We were lucky enough to meet with Rob Neal of Rathyeon. Rathyeon is a $21 billion a year corporation and its employees certainly have many better things to do than meet with a group of students; but, Congressman Nethercutt’s former intern, turn legislative assistant, turn Rathyeon lobbyist jumped at the chance. From there we headed back to the hill. Not knowing what, if anything, would be going on, after meeting with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell we proceeded to walk up to the gallery and observe the Senate floor. As we entered the chamber that has housed some of our nations most heated debates since 1859, I became overwhelmed with the history at my finger tips. Standing amongst ornate sculptures and artwork, Senator John Thune of South Dakota delivered a floor speech introducing a bill he had drafted. The speech was well prepared and even better delivered. After leaving the chamber and winding down the marble staircase, we happened to pass Senator Thune in the hallway. He, like nearly every other member we passed, stopped Congressman Nethercutt and wanted to say hello and introduce himself to our group. It was that moment which solidified the message of the day for me: relationships.

It has been over five years since Congressman Nethercutt cast a vote, but you certainly wouldn’t know it. For the relationships Congressman Nethercutt developed during his decade in office are obviously genuine and true. That is a lesson I will undoubtedly take into my professional career; because regardless of ones party or political affiliation, ones character and the relationships they build trumps all.

This is day two in the nation’s capital. First of all, I would like to thank Mr. Nethercutt for providing us with this wonderful opportunity. This is my first time in DC and I am glad that I am exploring this city at this point of my life. I have lived in the US for five years now, I have traveled around the country quite a bit, and I majored in Political Science. This is the perfect time to tie it all together through exposure to the engine of politics – Washington DC.

We started our day with the tour of the National Cathedral where we received a lovely tour and everyone in the group enjoyed our charming guide. After the tour we met up with Mr. Nethercutt in his office and held a series of meetings. The CEO and President of the American Frozen Food Institute, Mr. Kraig Naaz, gave us some wisdom behind profitable lobbying. In contrast, Vice President of Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International, Mr. Larry Soler, shared the techniques of non-profit lobbying with us. Two completely different tactics an hour apart! In the afternoon we headed to the Hill and had the pleasure of meeting Senator Lamar Alexander (Tennessee), Congressman Dave Reichert (Washington), and Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (Washington). It is important to meet with the representatives and have a chance to ask them questions. Driven by the needs of the constituents, the system of representation is reflected in the priorities of each Representative (at least the ones that we had the pleasure of meeting so far). While the Congress has some issues with stagnant policies regarding immigration and educational systems, it was refreshing to hear the Representatives address the necessity of reforms. Cathy McMorris Rodgers impressed me the most, perhaps due to her “down to Earth” nature.

This town breathes politics! Anywhere you look there is a strategic federal building assembled in the Greco-Roman style. These epic buildings make me feel like I will run into Plato or Aristotle on one of these streets.

We ended the day with dinner at the Peruvian restaurant and for desert we had lightning, thunder and layers of warm rain! I love thunder storms!

When I decided to join the foundation, I joined because I thought it would be a wonderful learning opportunity and an enriching leadership experience; it has certainly been that, and much more. One of the things I have learned in our short two days here, and especially today, was that the best learning opportunities hide in some of the most unexpected advice. Today we met with the representatives of two lobbyist groups; Kraig Naasz, President and CEO of the American Frozen Food Institute, and Larry Soler, Vice President and Government Relations of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International. Although these two lobbyist groups come from different angles of their profession (commercial versus non-profit) they both were able to offer a piece of advice that although wonderful and simple, was somehow revolutionary to me, their advice was to be honest, straightforward and have integrity. Now this doesn’t seem like revolutionary advice, but when you consider the source the advice seems to alter perspectives. It altered my perspective regarding D.C. and regarding lobbyists. The media somehow convinces us that D.C. is full of dishonesty and corruption but the lobbyists and several of the representatives we had met with seemed to be the antithesis of what we see on the news. These people rely on their integrity and their word and reputation to get their jobs done; whether this job is to gain the attention of a representative of government, or as a representative to gain the support and ultimately re-election of one’s constituents. Further, all of the people we met with today, including the lobbyists as well as Senator Lamar Alexander from Tennessee, Congresswoman Cathy McMorris from Washington State and Congessman Dave Reichert from Washington State, stressed the importance of relationships in government. All of the actions of government from the support of bills, the passing of legislation, the career paths of many of the representatives and their staffers, depend upon relationships. So their advice today changed my perspectives dramatically of D.C.: be honest, have integrity, be straight-forward, and forge and foster lasting bonds and relationships with everyone you meet. What wonderful advice for any leader!