The Gary Bisbee Show

50: Democracy is Hard Work, with Governor Bob Kerrey, Managing Director, Allen & Company and Former Governor & U.S. Senator (NE), and Mitch E. Daniels, Jr., President, Purdue University and Former Governor (IN)

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Meet Bob Kerrey:

Bob Kerrey is a Managing Director at Allen & Company, Chairman of the Minerva Institute for Research and Scholarship, and Lead Director of Tenet Healthcare. He served as the 35th Governor of Nebraska and as a U.S. Senator from Nebraska. He was also the President of The New School and served as a U.S. Navy SEAL. Governor Kerrey received a degree in Pharmacy from the University of Nebraska.

Meet Mitch E. Daniels Jr.:

Mitch E. Daniels Jr. is the President of Purdue University and previously served as the 49th Governor of Indiana. He is a current Director and former Lead Director at Cerner Corporation. Previously, President Daniels was the Director of the U.S. Office of Management and Budget and worked as the President of North American Operations and then Senior Vice President of Corporate Strategy and Policy for Eli Lily & Company. He received a Bachelor’s from the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs.

Key Insights:

In the spirit of bipartisanship, we invited two former politicians, one Democrat and one Republican, for a bold discussion on today’s greatest challenges.

  • Decision Making During COVID-19. Both explore how they addressed COVID-19 issues with limited information. President Daniels describes how Purdue designed protective guidelines from scratch, building in a way to evaluate their choices. Governor Kerrey reminds us to not assume we know everything, and to not apply solutions with a broad brush. (6:45) (9:44)
  • Democracy is Hard. Governor Kerrey reflects on American history and the perceived partisan divide. He points out that we as a country have overcome a lot worse than what is happening today. Democracy takes work and we should not fear conflict or criticism. (39:02)
  • What Drives You? President Daniels shares that the most fulfilling aspect of his work is leaving behind something better. He encourages young leaders to question why they are seeking leadership roles. The answer should not be about you, rather the impact you can have. (43:05)

Relevant Links: 

  • Read Mitch Daniels contributions to the Washington Post
  • Read “When I Was a Young Man: A Memoir” by Bob Kerrey
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The Gary Bisbee ShowBy Think Medium