No Mistakes Allowed

My idea of a bad day at the office would be receiving a telephone call from former President Clinton to tell me that I should look forward and learn from my mistakes, and recognize the opportunities that they provide.

Now maybe this is not exactly how the conversation went between former President Bill Clinton and Lawrence H. Summers, Harvard’s embattled president. Perhaps it was not a telephone call, but a face to face meeting over coffee. What ever the means was for delivering the message, I can only wonder how Lawrence Summers felt after receiving such advice from the former President.

I read an article this morning in the New York Times that suggests that Dr. Summers has been spending his days lately pondering his style. The writers opine that Summers, the 27th president of Harvard since its founding is “trying to become a new kind of man.” Of course Dr. Summers need for a makeover has come about not because of the latest trend in male cosmetic surgery, but rather because of a really stupid remark he made at a conference in January. The Times reporters tell us that Summers is surrounded by the best minds of Harvard and has turned to some of them for guidance. He has been counseled by the former President, is reading books about leadership, and he has recently taken his children to see the new Will Smith movie “Hitch.” For those that don’t know “Hitch” is a movie about a man who teaches other men to improve their skills at relating to women so that they can fall in love. One of the writers of the Times article actually asked Dr. Summers whether he could draw any parallels between the character played by Will Smith’s clients in the movie and himself. I guess that not only does Lawrence Summers make dumb statements, but the folks over at the Times can ask some stupid questions.

Everyone is talking about Dr. Summers remarks. There is an outcry for his resignation from Harvard. The school also appears likely to lose staff members over the remarks. But the really big question surrounding Dr. Summers is whether or not his continued leadership would hurt Harvard’s next big capital campaign which hopes to raise a record $4 billion. I just wonder if that issue is really the central issue for all of the good thinking people of Harvard. It seems to me that Dr. Summers is prone to remarks that suggest his views on discrimination do not agree with those of minorities and women in this country. I think that this time Dr. Summers simply spoke out a bit too candidly before a group that took him to task for his remarks. But I doubt seriously that these good people are shocked or surprised. They might however be fed up.

Will Dr. Summers resign as president of Harvard? Should he be forced to resign with a vote of no confidence next month? Will Dr. Summers be successful in his makeover attempts? I am sure that the answers to these questions will be played out in newspapers and television news over the next several weeks. My question is much more fundamental and simplistic. Are we all subject to losing our jobs if we hold opinions that do not agree with a particular segment of our society? I personally do not agree with Dr. Summers views on discrimination. I am unmoved by the feeble attempts to rephrase the content and context of his comments. Yet, I am also deeply troubled that we live in a society where we wait for evidence of mistakes (not crimes or moral misdeeds) of leaders and then call for their heads. Maybe Summers should resign. A great leader thinks first of their institution and their people. If Summers continued leadership is not in the best interest of Harvard then he should hand in his resignation. There must be one or two competent minds available to take his place (but can those minds raise the money). Let’s just see how he leads himself through this crisis. At the same time however let’s take a really close look at the screams and cries of the good people that want his head. Maybe there is something else at work here.

Maybe Lawrence Summers has a number of problems as the president of Harvard. Maybe he isn’t the right man for the job. But then again, maybe we have gone too far as a society where we seek out the flaws of anyone and everyone in high places and when found, it’s off with their heads. And we wonder why there are no real leaders anymore. I guess I could be wrong, but I can’t get fired for just a thought.

By the way, good luck with that makeover Larry.