Ohio University Today, Spring 1999 - A conversation with Senator Voinovich

Photos: Bill Grahm

Recapping the work of Ohio University’s student council in 1957-58, The Athena yearbook framed its view point this way: “One day last spring, students gathered in the student government room. The new student council president walked in. A cheer went up for George. From that day on, any student felt free to come in and discuss a problem or file a complaint with that same president. Some called it friendliness; some, just public relations; whatever the means, the results were the same — a better relationship between government and those governed.”

In the 40 years since Athena editors made that obs ervation, George Victor Voinovich’s political career has followed a thoughtful and steady path that in January led to the chambers of the U.S. Senate. His stops along the way, after earning his bachelor’s degree in government from Ohio University in 1958, have included the Ohio House of Representatives, the Cleveland mayor’s office and the Ohio governor’s mansion.

Voinovich last visited campus in December, when the Ohio University Board of Trustees voted to establish the Voinovich Center for Leadersh ip and Public Affairs. The center, which eventually will be housed on The Ridges overlooking campus, will promote leadership training, public policy research and outreach programs.

The university also was chosen to house Voin-ovich’s personal and professional papers for the Ohio Historical Society.

During his visit to campus, the senator-elect sat for an interview with Ohio University Today Editor Mary Alice Casey. Here are some excerpts from their conversation:

QAs you look back on a very successful political career, what experiences here at Ohio University stand out as having influenced the direction of your public life?

A It’s institutions and people that really make the difference. My decision to come to Ohio University was almost a fluke. My family — we didn’t take very many trips — for some reason decided to come to southeastern Ohio when I was 13 years old (he grew up in Cleveland) . We visited the campus and walked around, and I told my parents that this is where I wanted to go to college. In high school I had the idea — some of my classmates have reminded me of this — that someday I’d like to be mayor of the city of Cleveland. I came to Ohio University and focused in on what I wanted to do with my life.

The professors who I had, the education I received and the wonderful experiences I had in extracurricular activities — I was president of the East Green Council, president of Circle K, president of the student body, J Club — had an impact on my life. They made firm my commitment to enter public service. This whole environment I found myself in — working with (then-Ohio University President) John C. Baker, who was President Eisenhower’s representative on the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations, getting to know C. William O’Neill, who at the time was governor of the state of Ohio — all of this came together and reinforced my determination that I would pursue a caree r in government. I can honestly say that had it not been for the fact that I came to Ohio University and had the experience that I had here, I would not be a senator-elect today.

Q How about your fondest memories of being here on campus?

A I think that would be the friendships I made here. I just got a letter from Al Pikora, who was editor of The Post. Dick Feagler and I keep in close contact.

Q In 1991, when you were first elected governor, you gave a commencement address here. You gave the graduates three suggestions: find a job that takes full advantage of the education that you’ve received; consider a teaching career; and find a way to make a contribution to primary and secondary education. Do you have any addendums to that advice for today’s students?

A I might take them back to the paper delivered at the Green Lecture S eries in 1981 when I was given my honorary doctor of law degree by the university. The title of the paper was “Prescription for a Dying City.” I had been mayor of Cleveland for a couple of years. I shared with those who read that paper how the various majors and schools at Ohio University contribute to government. Frankly, one of the largest businesses in this country is government, and the same training that makes a business successful makes a government successful. I think that students shouldn’t close th e doors on government (as a career). I hope that the new Voinovich Center on Leadership and Public Affairs reaches out to students in all areas at this university to familiarize them with the opportunities that exist today in local and state government. When I was in school, the heavy emphasis was on going to Washington, D.C., because they were solving all the problems. Today, the shift in this country is giving local and state government more and more responsibility. One of the wonderful things about being in government is being able to give witness to the two great commandments: love of God and love of fellow man.

Q How about the advice you’d give to the parents of today’s college students?

A My advice to them would be to communicate with their children as much as they can in terms of the relevancy what they’re pursuing in school has with the real world. Not enough attention is given to determining what young people wa nt to do with their lives. Even when students come to college, too often they’re really not sure what they want to do. I think parents, whether they’re paying for the education or not, should sit the student down and say, “How’s it going? Are you enjoying what you’re doing? Do you have any idea how what you’re taking in school is going to relate to what you’re going to do when you’re out of school?”

Q In your first campaign for governor you said you wanted to be k nown as the “education governor” and for Ohio to be known as the “edu-cation state.” At the end of your time as governor, how do you think both you and the state fared?

A When I campaigned for governor, I said we were going to do something for low-wealth districts. I said we were going to do something about bringing technology to our schools. I said we were going to do something about fixing and building schools in the state. And over this eight-year period, we’ve increased funding for low-wealth districts about 58 percent. We instituted the most massive building program in the history of Ohio. In technology, today Ohio is a leader. We’ve wired almost every classroom for video, voice and data. We’ve also made an enormous change in the professional training that we require of teachers.

In terms of universities, we have caused them to start thinking of themselves as part of a family of institutions. We have encouraged universities to look more at how they can be a resource in their respective communities and a partner with the economic development of their area. Today, through distance-learning options — and Ohio University is a leader in this area — you can go to several universities and take the best of what those universities have to offer. The concept has been buildings, buildings, buildings. But the effort now should come in the area of technology.

ABOVE: Stud ent Council President George Voinovich sits at the head of the council table in 1958. RIGHT: Voinovich is sworn in to the U.S. Senate in January by Vice President Al Gore as his wife, Janet Voinovich, looks on.