LETTER: Lamar Alexander has experience, ability to lead GOP in next elections

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by Allen Lewis

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With the Republican primary campaign now in full swing, Senator Bob Dole's (R-Kan.) once "insurmountable" lead has dwindled down to a few meager percentage points.

At the Presidency III Republican straw poll held recently at the Florida party convention, former Tennessee governor and Reagan cabinet member Lamar Alexander showed the nation that he is a force to be reckoned with in the Republican Party.

Some of us have believed that all along.

Alexander is running for president based on sound, conservative fiscal principles and a reputation as one of the most successful state governors in recent memory.

As governor of Tennessee from 1979 to 1987, Alexander put into effect many of the reforms presently being discussed in Washington.

He cut taxes, shrunk the size of government and bolstered his state's economy.

In his eight years as governor, Lamar Alexander balanced his state's budget eight times.

Tennessee went from last to third in the nation in new automobile production, from 48th to 36th in family income and created new jobs at twice the national average.

Under his guidance, Tennessee enacted the $1 billion Clean Water Program, had the nation's fifth lowest overall tax rate and earned a AAA bond rating.

As president of the University of Tennessee, Alexander established the university's first full-year scholarship program and appointed its first black and female vice-presidents.

Finally, as secretary of education under Ronald Reagan, Lamar Alexander developed and implemented the original AMERICA 2000.

AMERICA 2000 encouraged high academic standards, made schools accountable for their performance and made school choice for parents a top priority. President Clinton's GOALS 2000 is nothing more than a federal program that is only concerned with how much money is spent on education.

Alexander also challenged the use of diversity criteria by higher education accrediting boards and prohibited the use of race-based scholarships.

Perhaps Senator Dole should be a little more concerned about Lamar Alexander.

Dole has dropped to a mere 34 percent in the key states of Iowa and New Hampshire, and he has the luxury of universal name recognition.

This means that almost two-thirds of the voters want someone other than Bob Dole.

"In Florida, Republican activists delivered a message to Iowa, New Hampshire and the nation: It's now a three-man race, with two Washington senators and me," said Alexander.

"If I were Bob Dole, I'd be worried about the friendly tortoise in the red-and-black shirt catching up with me by the time we get to Iowa and New Hampshire."

As more Americans realize what a great leader Lamar Alexander is, more become convinced that he is the man to lead this nation into the 21st century.

The Republican campaign is not a race to see which of Alexander, Dole and Gramm is the most conservative; it is about who is the best man to guide the country into the next century.

Bill Clinton has failed the people of America, and we now have the chance to choose between one of two inside-the-beltway Washington senators or a bright, successful governor with the experience to make good executive decisions.

The country can choose from the politics of Washington (Dole), the politics of anger (Gramm) or the politics of optimism and personal integrity.

Close inspection reveals that Lamar Alexander has already withstood the scrutiny of two gubernatorial campaigns and Senate confirmation hearings in 1991 when nominated for secretary of education.

His character has been tested both in and outside Washington, and he has passed with flying colors each time.

Bill Clinton, no beacon of virtue himself, is one of the greatest political campaigners of the past 50 years, and he is licking his chops at the chance to run against one of the insider Washington senators.

There is but one clear choice among the present field of presidential candidates, and it is Lamar Alexander.

Allen Lewis

Lamar Alexander for President

Rice University Student Co-Chair

Lovett '97

This item appeared in the Opinion section of the December 8, 1995 issue.

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