In speeches and his biography, Bill Clinton makes a point of saying that he decided to commit himself to politics when he met his hero, John F. Kennedy, at the White House.
Last week, Clinton may have felt a tinge of d?©j? vu. This time, he was doing the inspiring, and the role of a young student Bill was played by a group of Tufts students who met the former president at a fundraiser as part of their political science seminar "The Clinton Presidency."
The course is taught by Tufts trustee and Democratic Party fundraiser Alan Solomont (LA' 70).
Solomont invited the class of 19 undergraduates to a fundraiser at his house on Wednesday night that was attended by over 150 wealthy and influential contributors to the Democratic Party.
The students had a chance to meet House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Illinois Representative Rahm Emanuel, Chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
When Solomont introduced Clinton to the class, senior Mike Abare seized the moment.
"He came over to where we were, and I asked him if he'd mind answering a quick question," Abare said.
Abare said that he asked the former president what he thinks the central problem facing our country is today and how future leaders might address that problem.
Abare says that Clinton paused, looking as if he was "thinking a million miles per minute."
The former president responded by saying that America's biggest problem is the economic disparity between the rich and poor, according to Abare. Clinton also cited nuclear proliferation and the lack of bipartisan politics as looming problems.
"He spoke for about ten to 15 minutes," Abare said. "We all went back and said 'it was the best 15 minutes of my life.'"
On the car ride home, Abare said that he started to think that his meeting with Clinton would be a defining moment in his life.
"It dawned on me later that after I saw him I felt inspired and motivated to be in politics," he said. "I want to do something to change people's lives the way that he does."
Solomont has brought a bevy of political insiders to speak to his class since its founding last year, providing experiences like Abare's for many students.
This year, the class has already met with Clinton administration officials such as John Shattuck, former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Human Rights and Labor; Terry McAuliffe, who served as the National Finance Chairman of the Clinton-Gore re-election committee and as the former chairman of the DNC; former press secretary Mike McCurry; former House minority leader Dick Gephardt; head of the New Democrats Network Simon Rosenberg (LA '85); and former Deputy Secretary of Labor Tom Glynn (A '68).
The class also caught up with New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson (LA '70, F '71) in Boston last month. Richardson is widely considered as a possible Democratic candidate for the 2008 presidential campaign.
"They're participants in history," Solomont said. "To have them come talk about these events with students is what makes the class rich."
Solomont would have liked to have bring Clinton himself to the class, but the students were happy to meet the former president in any setting.
"If you can't bring Mohammad to the mountain, you bring the mountain to Mohammad," Solomont said.
