Even before Hillary Rodham Clinton started conversing with Eleanor Roosevelt, one wondered if Peter Kovler had been chatting up Franklin D.
In a town where so many people chase careers, Chicago native Kovler is exemplary of the enviable luxury of chasing passions–in his case, FDR.
Kovler, 44, is founder and chairman of the Committee for Roosevelt History Month, a sterile-sounding entity that has succeeded in making October the first month in which a United States president will be honored.
As the Republicans fled San Diego Friday after their convention, one realized the possibility of Kovler’s timing being impeccable, because Roosevelt, if one steps back and thinks about it, is omnipresent during this campaign year.
The GOP headed to its convention not long after its congressional majority wound up ending 60 years of federal entitlements to the poor via welfare reform, expanded health-care protections and a higher minimum wage.
Each element had its origin in the Roosevelt years. Similarly, Bob Dole’s key points of reference–the Depression, during which he grew up, and World War II, in which he was wounded–are reminders, indirectly at least, of the man who led the nation through both cataclysmic events.
When Dole continually invoked older values during his acceptance address Thursday, he was speaking of those frequently associated with Roosevelt.
“Memory obviously means a great deal to people,” Kovler said. “It is no accident that Dole is emphasizing World War II and the Great Depression.
“How one uses memory–whether journalist, political leader, cultural institution or school–is fundamental about how you win or lose the day for your way of thinking. It’s why Dole went to the Dwight Eisenhower Library (in Abilene, Kan.) last week and (keynoter Susan) Molinari spoke of Rev. (Martin Luther) King (Jr.).”
It also may explain the frequent references to FDR himself of late. They’ve been everywhere. Dozens.
There was his picture in Newsweek in a welfare story, while Time mentioned him in the opening of its story on the passage of the welfare bill. (“Certainly Franklin D. Roosevelt did not foresee that some provisions of the Social Security Act he signed in 1935 would burgeon over the next 61 years into a mammoth federally financed and regulated welfare program.”)
Meanwhile, FDR has been mentioned in recent stories in USA Today, U.S. News & World Report (“Six decades ago, Franklin Roosevelt’s `brain trust’ came up with ideas that helped end runs on banks and gave the nation Social Security.”), the Los Angeles Times and the New York Times.
Bill Clinton is a fan, as is House Speaker Newt Gingrich. And much of what Gingrich’s congressional chums have done, whether ending the system of farm subsidies or deregulating the telecommunications industry, is to alter creations of Roosevelt, who was elected four times.
Of course, everybody knows that, right?
They don’t, which helps explain Kovler’s quest for the first such month for a president, at a time so many Americans hold the presidency, and politics in general, in a certain contempt.
“I just thought that the memory of him would be something the whole country would be interested in. I have kids in grammar school and see how important history months are to them.
“Look around at some of the big public-policy arguments the parties have been having. Younger people don’t really know what the older people are arguing about. Telecommunications, health care, welfare–they don’t know the origins of all this. It was Roosevelt.”
Kovler is a University of Chicago graduate whose father and grandfather bought a small, sleepy bourbon company (Jim Beam) and turned it into an international giant before selling it.
A charitable foundation born of the family wealth, the Blum-Kovler Foundation, is a major presence in Chicago, having built parts of many institutions, and has funded the Marjorie Kovler Center for the Treatment of Survivors of Torture, 4750 N. Sheridan Rd., the first comprehensive center for refugees and people seeking asylum in the U.S.
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A liberal Democrat, Peter Kovler turned to journalism, freelancing and producing award-winning documentaries. One of them, “Hotel Terminus,” about the Nazi Claus Barbie, won the Oscar for best documentary.
He then became interested in FDR and oversaw the commemoration of Roosevelt’s 100th birthday in 1982. Then, a movement arose to finally build a memorial to FDR. A history month, hopefully to coincide with unveiling of a 7 1/2 acre memorial, seemed perfect.
Construction of the memorial continues near the Tidal Basin, with completion expected in the spring of 1997. Over the years, progress has been delayed because of recurring budgetary concerns and controversies over prospective designs. One of the most heated debates has been over whether to depict the late president, a polio victim, in a wheelchair; he will not be.
Kovler forged ahead, assembling a diverse board whose members include Hillary Clinton, Ronald Reagan, Gingrich and Arthur Schlesinger Jr. He also made an estimated 1,500 phone calls to persuade legislators to pass a resolution approving of such a celebration. The Senate did its part by a 100-0 vote; the House hasn’t voted yet, though neither’s action is really needed.
The result, at least on paper, will be tons of formal remembrances throughout the federal government, private industry and schools.
On Oct. 1, Chief Justice William Rehnquist will give the first of three speeches on FDR by members of the court.
That same day, one of Bill Gates’ companies, Corbis Corp., will release a CD-ROM on FDR, and exhibits will open at the Smithsonian, Library of Congress and National Endowment for the Arts in Washington.
New York’s Columbia University will hold a conference, as will Chicago’s Roosevelt University. Leah Rabin and Queen Noor of Jordan will accept Eleanor Roosevelt prizes, and lectures will take place at the National Holocaust Museum. Commemorations will be held under the aegis of the National Park Service (a Roosevelt creation).
Several TV and radio networks will do specials. Thousands of schools will see FDR biographies.
Will Kovler’s efforts make a dent? Will they educate a younger, history-ignorant generation?
“This is a big experiment. I don’t know how it will play out,” said Kovler, a lucky heir who’ll have reason to toast a political icon.
PRESIDENTIAL BEAT IS NO SWEAT
It can be hard duty covering the president, especially when he’s vacationing in Jackson Hole, Wyo. Here’s a snippet from Wednesday’s briefing to the media horde covering the vacation, with Mary Ellen Glynn the official spokeswoman.
Q–Do you know anything about travel next week?
Glynn–I don’t know of any other travel next week for you right now, but we’ll try and do it as soon as possible. I’m going to try and have a week ahead for you tomorrow or the next day.
Q–How about signing of the big three bills (health care, welfare reform, clean water)?
Glynn–I’ll try and have a week ahead for you. There’s not a schedule yet.
All right. Anything else? That’s a semi-lid (White House-ese for “You probably don’t have to worry about anything happening for a bit.”). We have a few pieces of paper to put out.
Q–The media party is what day?
Glynn–Oh, excuse me. Yes, sorry–the most important thing. We have got two media parties going on. Thursday night we have got a media party at Fred McCabe’s place (a local publisher). We will put up an address for that. Friday night there will be another media party at the Jackson Hole Golf and Tennis Club.
Friday’s soiree was hosted by the White House. That’s what friends are for.