The Right Stuff...

What John Glenn Taught Me At Our First Meeting

I recalled this story when I came across this old photo/flyer this morning. In addition to John Glenn, in the photograph below are my former boss (retired federal court judge Nathaniel Jones) and former Councilmember David Crowley.

All three have passed away after incredible lifetimes of service, but I do what I do today knowing these heroes, mentors and friends still keep a close eye on me:

When I was 29 years old and first running for City Council, I had the honor of meeting John and Annie Glenn (they were almost never not together). They would go on to support me on a number of occasions. But even at our first meeting, I learned a lesson that I will never forget.

We sat down for dinner in Columbus, sometime in early 2001. Full of youthful energy (and nervous as heck), I asked him about flying combat missions, orbiting the earth, and his recent shuttle mission. I was in awe as he patiently retold stories he had no doubt described thousands of times. (He spent his lifetime recounting those stories…patiently).

Then he and Annie wanted to hear about my race for Cincinnati City Council. And somewhere along the way, I passionately told them how it was so crucial that young people (like me, of course) run for office.  Just as I did then, young candidates often believe that their youth is the prime attribute they bring to their campaign.  Because of course people with our attributes are the ones who should be in office, right?

Well, according to the most famous Ohioan of the 20th century….wrong:

"David," he said politely but firmly. “I don’t agree with you there.”

My guess is I sat in stunned silence at this surprising rebuke by an American hero and living legend…so he continued:

“There are a lot of offices in politics, and they will all be filled. By people of all ages. Someone will always run for these offices. Someone will always filll them. I’m not as concerned whether they are young or old, as I am that they be good people, running for the right reasons.”

I remember looking over at Annie, hoping she might throw me a lifeline. But she smiled and agreed with her husband.

Think about the conversation for a moment. The great John Glenn could have let this wide-eyed and naive kid's idle chatter slip by, uncontested. But instead, he took the time to correct me, and explain why so thoughtfully.  

I never forgot it. 

And he was absolutely right.

When I won a Council seat a number of months later, alongside David Crowley (64 when he won his first political office—also photographed above), I learned how right he was. David, I and a group of council members —some younger than me, some decades older—fought for any number of changes to a struggling city in the coming term. David was driven by his many life experiences, both professionally and as a parent; I and my younger colleagues driven by our impatience to get Cincinnati out of its deep hole and into the 21st century. The combination really worked.

While young, I never again campaigned as a “young” candidate.  That was not the quality I held out, as I had so eagerly at that dinner.

While some voters may be looking for young candidates to support, others may not be. What folks generally want are leaders, whatever age they happen to be.

Glenn said it perfectly: The offices will inevitably be filled. That itself is not an achievement.

What's needed is for true public servants to fill them.

So whether I support next generation candidates stepping up (which is one reason I am proud to be on the advisory board of Leaders We Deserve), or admire far more experienced candidates applying their accumulated wisdom and lessons learned to public office (like my friend and former opponent Phil Heimlich, boldly running to protect democracy in Ohio’s Second District), it is the true and dedicated public servants I now look for.

We actually need them now more than ever.