Cellucci Stresses Cooperation at IOP Discussion

The luminaries who took to the stage on Class Day and Commencement are tough acts to follow. But Massachusetts Governor A. Paul Cellucci was up for the challenge Wednesday morning as he kicked off the Institute of Politics' Summer-in-Boston speaker series.

The event was billed as a discussion on public service, but while the soft-spoken governor did encourage the audience to explore government, most of his comments focused on his own policies--from his support of Governor George W. Bush's presidential campaign to his desire for greater bipartisan cooperation.

"I've always found by collaborating and focusing on results you can really accomplish a lot more," Cellucci said.

Cellucci cited his tenure as lieutenant governor under William F. Weld '66 as examples of bipartisanship at its best.

"When Bill Weld and I came into office in 1991, Massachusetts was in pretty rough shape," he said, pointing to high unemployment and a huge budget deficit. "I said then, 'It seems to me that we need to work with people already elected to office, Republican or Democrat.... I think it's one of the reasons we were able to turn things around to quickly."

By contrast, Cellucci said, Washington politics are "much more vicious."

"It's become much too partisan and strident at the national level," he said.

Cellucci began his speech--which followed an introduction by Kennedy School Lecturer Martin A. Linsky--with some simple advice, quoting famous local politician Thomas P. "Tip" O'Neill.

"If you're going into politics or government, this is a good rule....never pass up a free lunch or a chance to go to the bathroom," he quipped.

When the floor was briefly opened to questions, Cellucci responded to queries about education, town legislation and the presidential race.

Cellucci said he supported school voucher programs and reaffirmed his opposition to rent control, but he also stressed that he believed politicians' goals ought to be tempered by understanding of their constituents' wishes.

"You try to work with communities," he said. "You don't shove things down their throats."

"I believe in public life, you have to be listening," he added, mentioning that he often travels to talk to his constituents. "You stay at the State House all the time, it's a little like Fantasyland."

Like an increasing number of Republican governors, Cellucci also emphatically endorsed Bush for his party's presidential nomination.

"He's really been what I would call a very inclusive governor," Cellucci said. "If the Republicans expect to win the White House next year, they need someone inclusive."

"I go back a long way with the Bush family," he added, describing them as "good, decent people."

The speech drew around 40 community members and students, including Anthony G. Vila, a summer school student from Ohio, who dashed from class to catch part of the forum.

"Seeing the various aspects of the state government is interesting, the different views," he said.

But Vila, who said he was surprised that the traditionally Democratic Massachusetts had a Republican governor, was disappointed by Cellucci's presidential pick.

"Too bad he's supporting Bush," he said.