Audio clip
David Abshire
Whoever occupies the Oval Office next should craft a “bipartisan grand strategy” within four months of taking office to fix domestic and international issues facing the nation, former U.S. ambassador to NATO and Chattanooga native David Abshire said.
“I have never seen a time in my 50 years of unparalleled challenges at home and abroad and where we have lost so much of our strategic freedom of action, financial and budgetary freedom of action and our standing in the world at the same time — without unity at home,” Dr. Abshire said.
This “net assessment” could involve bipartisan Congressional input and evaluate issues such as the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, education, health care and fiscal soundness, he said.
“This is last call,” he said in an interview last week. “If this president can’t move in and … do this on (a) unified basis, this country is going to move into decline, and we’re at the tipping point.”
Dr. Abshire, who leads the Washington, D.C.-based Center for the Study of the Presidency, will discuss this topic during a “fireside chat” at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga’s University Center Wednesday at noon.
Tom Griscom, publisher and executive editor of the Chattanooga Times Free Press, will moderate the discussion between Dr. Abshire and UTC Chancellor Dr. Roger Brown. Dr. Abshire also will speak at the Baylor School and the Rotary Club of Chattanooga on Thursday.
Dr. Abshire said his recently published book, his seventh, titled “A Call to Greatness: Challenging the Next President,” includes his pitch for a bipartisan effort to solve problems. He said the center now is sponsoring a dozen various issue groups to look at solutions to these problems.
Dr. Brown said Dr. Abshire is making a “timely visit” in light of the current race for the White House. He said Dr. Abshire also can speak with expertise on military and presidential issues.
“He has a wonderful ability to look across several administrations and draw out lessons about what works and what doesn’t work,” Dr. Brown said.
IF YOU GO
* What: Fireside chat with Dr. David Abshire, former U.S. ambassador to NATO
* When: Wednesday at noon
* Where: University of Tennessee at Chattanooga’s University Center
* For more info: Call 425-4363
