Former Governor Whitman Graces Pingry
April 6, 2005

At the invitation of Dan Kissel, Form II, former New Jersey Governor and Bush administration cabinet member Christine Todd Whitman spent about an hour with Pingry students at the Martinsville campus on Monday, April 4, 2005. Ms. Whitman began by offering some insight into her choices for becoming a public servant, her journey through political jobs, and her role as governor. She described her years as the governor as being in the best job. Ms. Whitman was invited to join President Bush’s cabinet in 2000. Preferring a question and answer period to lecture, Ms. Whitman opened the floor for questions. Students and faculty were quick to ask her opinion on a variety of political topics, from the state of conservatism in the Republican Party to what was it is like to be interviewed by Ali G. She spoke eloquently on topics surrounding social fundamentalism, the role of a lieutenant governor, and what is needed to depolarize the political parties. Students questioned the role of media in elections and what citizens can do to restore stability in the political machine. At the end of her session, she urged the audience to become involved by contacting their senators and representatives and telling them how they feel and think. She also chided the American people for poor voter turnout. She said, “I have heard of people in Palestine or Afghanistan who waited in line for four hours just to cross a river to walk another four hours to get to their polling place in order to cast their vote. To boast of a sixty percent voter turnout is not something to be proud of, and we need to listen to the public and get them involved.” After morning meeting broke and students worked their way to their next class, several stayed behind to continue the conversation with Ms. Whitman. One student was overheard saying, “She is so down to earth, intelligent, and very funny. I am so glad I met her.” © 2005 The Pingry School