David Gergen delivers annual state of the union

David Gergen, a former advisor to Presidents Reagan, Nixon, Ford and Clinton, delivered the annual Arnold A. Saltzman State of the Union address at the Monroe Lecture Hall on Tuesday, saying this is the most difficult time for the U.S. since before the Second World War.

Saltzman, who has funded the State of the Union lecture since its inception, introduced Gergen. "I think he is fantastic," Saltzman said. "I can think of no one more worthy of gauging the State of the Union."

American politicians should "move away from reactive politics and toward future politics," Gergen said, something he said he borrowed from Saltzman who is also a former presidential adviser.

Viewing the current Democratic and Republican frontrunners as all "highly impressive," Gergen said he is less concerned with who wins the election than with the winner's ability to govern.

"The next president will inherit the most difficult agenda since the presidency of Franklin Roosevelt," he warned.

Gergen stressed that a continuation of current policies would likely result in the decline of America while Japan, China and India may become superpowers within the next few decades. Whether the U.S. will remain one is questionable, he said, especially if our policies remain static.

According to Gergen, America not only needs to change its policies, but revolutionize them. In addition, problems including two extensive wars, the education system and job growth require solving, not "sugar-coating."

"He correctly highlighted the magnitude of the problems we face as a nation," said Anthony Lucci, a freshman political science major.

Gergen said history has shown that American politics moves like a pendulum: the U.S. begins to move in a more conservative direction for a couple decades with the adoption of laissez-faire and less government regulation of private enterprise. Then, complaints are raided about economic inequality and access to health care, Gergen said, and the political pendulum swings back in a more liberal direction. Then, some years later, complaints about regarding financial restrictions and too much government involvement reach a fever pitch, and the pendulum swings back once more.

Gergen said the Republican "crest" dating back to President Ronald Reagan saw its peak and is now receding, as made evident by the Democratic majority in the House and Senate, as well as President George Bush's significant unpopularity over the war and the economy.

Although Gergen gave his own opinions and commentary regarding the race, he said that he is uncertain of the outcome.

Regarding to the individual candidates, Gergen was impressed with Sen. Barack Obama's (D-Ill.) campaign, expressing that he had infused it with competence and charisma. The energy he has stimulated, particularly in the youth, has been a major advancement for his campaign. He is also perceived as more of a reconciler than his counterpart, Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.).

Gergen said Clinton's mistake in her campaign was that she ran on the presumption that she would win the election without fierce competition. Her argument of experience fared well as a strategy for the general election, yet did not prove helpful to her in the run for the Democratic nomination, particularly in caucuses in which Obama has done well.

Obama's well-run campaign could lead to his nomination and even his election to the presidency, Gergen said. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) remains well-liked and respected; however, the public needs more information about him.

To pull the U.S. out of the deep well of controversy and problems into which it has fallen, Gergen said, this country must be sure that it elects an extraordinary leader.

While Gergen believes McCain, Clinton and Obama each are highly qualified, he admits it is difficult to have a complete sense of confidence in determining any of the candidate's ability to be extraordinary.

"We're in a rut, and it's going to take a driving force to get us back to what we can be," Lucci said.