The Bryce Harlow Annual Award Dinner

Remarks by Alexander B. Trowbridge upon receiving the Bryce Harlow Award

I deeply appreciate this honor. First, because it bears the respected name of our great friend, Bryce Harlow. Second, because the awardee is selected by peers in the business-government relations community. That combination has enormous stature, and I am grateful.

This occasion provides us with an opportunity to honor those qualities that Bryce personified, and to remind ourselves of the fundamental beliefs that he applied to his work and to the world he worked in.

When I first came to Washington n 1965, my stepfather, a former chairman of the NLRB, suggested two rules of behavior; Return all phone calls, particularly from members of Congress; and always leave an escape route open for any opponent in a political confrontation. He said, "Do not push a person into a corner, my stepfather said, so that the only escape is to fight his way out. Bryce would have agreed with both rules.

This type of honest, straightforward dealing was described in Bryce Harlow's 1984 essay on "Corporate Representation." The first "crucial quality" for corporate representative, Bryce said, was "Integrity. The coin of lobbying, as of politics, is trust… One's word is one's bond. Habitual truth telling and square dealing are of paramount importance in this profession."

Indeed this town does work under those rules, when people remember them, and when they don't let partisanship get in the way of realistic problem solving. Rick Smith, in his new book, "The Power Game," quotes Bryce as saying that excessive partisanship was the "cholesterol" that clogged the arteries of the American system because of the enmities and bad temper it produced. Often during Eisenhower's final two years, Harlow made a point of getting the president to invite Lyndon Johnson and Sam Rayburn for some quiet talk over a drink. "The second floor of the White House — just the four of us — every six weeks or so to flush out the political plumbing so that the president and the leaders of Congress could do business if they had to in a crisis…"

Tonight we have a chance to remember, as Bryce often did, that democracy is a working business. It requires serious and personal attention. It is a remarkably successful system, when we look at the pluses as well as the minuses. The American tendency to mock our efforts at self governance is as constant as it is inventive. From Will Rogers' remark that, "I don't make jokes — I just watch the government and report the facts," to the reported hot air hand dryer in the National airport washroom with the sign, "Push here for a message from your local congressman," we accentuate the flaws more than the strengths.

But just look around the world, and see how powerfully infectious is the idea of democracy and freedom; how contagious is the competitive free marketplace.

Privatization in Europe
Solidarity in Poland
Voices no longer silent in Latvia, Estonia or Lithuania
Entrepreneurs in Yugoslavia and Hungary
Perestroika in Russia
Separatism in Armenia
Evacuation in Afghanistan
Overthrown dictators in the Philippines and Burma
Stockholders and incentives in China
Free elections in Chile and Korea

The list is long. The change is rapid and deep. As a New York Times article stated last Sunday, "However crudely the notion may be grasped or implemented, greater political freedom is perceived as a concomitant of greater prosperity." Bryce would have been delighted to watch this historical drama unfold. But he would also have been quick to warn of overconfidence and complacency, or the tendency to relax or search for that uniquely American goal — "a better way."

The call is for us to strive, to sacrifice, and to prepare for the future. Challenged?

Yes. Occasionally discouraged? Perhaps. Defeated? By no means.

This great democratic republic is embarked upon a competitive battle having an impact on every citizen, family and business. We have to do many things as a world leader — but let me suggest a couple of key objectives.

First, we should give respect to, and expect the best from, public service and the political leaders of our land. We should insist on quality in the recruitment, selection, development, and share of "running against Washington," as if all public servants were inherently unqualified and unproductive. We as representatives of business lose more than we gain if the conditions governing public service make it attractive only to those of lesser quality. Greater important in attracting and motivating good people to serve in government as they are to those who seek leadership roles in our companies.

We in business can help educate all Americans about the virtues and obligations of self-government and participation therein. As Elihu Root, Teddy Roosevelt's Secretary of State, stated: "Politics is the practical art of self-government and somebody must attend to it if we are to have self-government… the principle ground for reproach against any American citizen should be that he is not a politician. Secondly, we should equally emphasize the vital role of the private business sector in making this great democratic experiment succeed, especially when we no longer dominate the global marketplace. Bryce Harlow said it as well as possible in that same 1984 essay:

"My starting point is a very simple proposition that just happens to run counter to much of what one reads these days. Business is not a malign influence — something evil called a special interest that harms the public interest. Think about it: Business is an indispensable pillar of our prosperity, of our strength as a nation, of our capacity to provide opportunities for mobility in our society and for the fulfillment of individuals' potentials. In short, business is at the heart of America's well being." Having that justifiable pride in the potential of private business to provide a better living standard for the greatest number, we cannot be surprised when we are challenged to prove it. Business must accept its share of the burden, while resisting the unreasonable expectations that come from those who recognize no bottom to the so-called "deep pockets" of the private sector. It all adds together. We must be proud of our purpose, and competent in our pursuit of noble ends. It is vital for all of us highly practical men and women in Washington to dream great plans for this nation — to cultivate a spirit, a confidence, and a willingness to challenge, collaborate and compete; a determination to make this great democratic society succeed and to improve the life of all o f our citizens. We can do so, particularly if we remember Bryce Harlow's rule: "Integrity is power. I'd put in integrity first.

Enough said. To all of you, my sincere thanks.