By Gary Fields | Associated Press
A call for a renewed commitment to the fundamental principles of U.S. democracy has been issued by the entities supporting 13 presidential libraries, including those dating back to Herbert Hoover. This joint statement, released by the libraries for the first time, emphasizes the importance of upholding the rule of law and respecting a diversity of beliefs to address concerns stemming from deep national polarization.
The statement, released on Thursday, highlights the significance of supporting democratic movements and human rights worldwide, as it contributes to the security and prosperity of the United States. However, it underscores that this interest is compromised when the world witnesses internal disarray.
Presidential centers, foundations, and institutes joined forces in this message, stressing the need for compassion, tolerance, and pluralism. They urge Americans to preserve democratic institutions and ensure secure and accessible elections.
While acknowledging the value of debate and disagreement in democracy, the statement also recognizes the coarsening of public discourse, particularly during a time when officials and their families face death threats.
“Civility and respect in political discourse, whether in an election year or otherwise, are essential,” the statement states.
This declaration comes as most living former presidents have been cautious in expressing their opinions on the state of the nation. Polls indicate that a significant number of Republicans still believe in the misinformation perpetuated by former President Donald Trump and his allies regarding the 2020 presidential election. As Trump faces criminal cases, including those related to his attempts to overturn election results, he has criticized the justice system. In this context, Thursday’s statement represents a significant acknowledgment of the concerns held by people associated with the country’s former presidents.
“I think there’s great concern about the state of our democracy at this time,” said Mark Updegrove, president and CEO of the LBJ Foundation, which supports the LBJ Presidential Library in Austin, Texas. “We don’t have to go much farther than January 6 to realize that we are in a perilous state.”
The LBJ Foundation has a special interest in efforts to suppress or weaken voter turnout, given that President Lyndon Johnson considered the Voting Rights Act his proudest legislative accomplishment.
The joint statement was signed by the Hoover Presidential Foundation, the Roosevelt Institute, the Truman Library Institute, the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation, the LBJ Foundation, the Richard Nixon Foundation, the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation, the Carter Center, the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute, the George & Barbara Bush Foundation, the Clinton Foundation, the George W. Bush Presidential Center, and the Obama Foundation. These organizations support presidential libraries established under the Presidential Library Act of 1955, along with the Eisenhower Foundation.
Notably, the Eisenhower Foundation declined to sign the statement, stating that there had been no collective discussion about it among the presidential centers and foundations. Each presidential entity has its own democracy-related programs.
The effort to create a joint statement was initiated by David Kramer, executive director of the George W. Bush Institute. Kramer confirmed that former President George W. Bush had reviewed and approved the statement. The intention behind this effort is to send a positive message that reminds Americans of their national identity and the international perception of the country when it is in unity or disarray. It aims to emphasize the importance of not taking democracy for granted.
The Bush Institute has previously hosted events on elections as part of a joint initiative called More Perfect, featuring Bill Gates. Gates, a member of the board of supervisors in Arizona’s Maricopa County, which has faced repeated attacks from election conspiracy theorists, has been subjected to threats along with his family.
“We wanted to remind people that those who oversee our elections are our fellow citizens,” Kramer said. “Some of them told stories that are almost heartbreaking about the threats they faced.” However, he acknowledged the challenges of generating broad support for the joint statement in today’s polarized climate.
Melissa Giller, chief marketing officer at the Ronald Reagan Foundation and Institute, stated that the decision to sign on was made swiftly. The foundation had recently launched its Center on Public Civility in Washington, D.C., and Giller believes that the joint statement aligns with the center’s values.
“We need to help put an end to the serious discord and division in our society,” Giller expressed. “America is experiencing a decline in trust, social cohesion, and personal interaction.”
Valerie Jarrett, senior adviser to former President Barack Obama and the CEO of the Obama Foundation, confirmed that Obama supported the joint statement. She emphasized the need to restore faith in the institutions that are the pillars of society and combat disinformation.
“This is a moment where we could all come together and show that democracy is not about partisan politics,” Jarrett stated. “It’s about making our country strong, making our country more decent, more kind, more humane.”
Jarrett further noted that the Obama Foundation has prioritized efforts to rebuild trust in democracy through initiatives like democracy forums, with another planned for later this year in Chicago.
“I think part of it is recognizing that we are very fragile right now,” Jarrett added, acknowledging the lack of a smooth and orderly transition of power in the last election, as well as the public’s skepticism of the court system and elected officials. She metaphorically described the current state of democracy as having “wheels… feel a little wobbly right now.”
This story has been corrected to reflect that the first name of the Bush Institute’s executive director is David, not Daniel, and that the name of former President Barack Obama’s organization that supports his presidential library is the Obama Foundation, not the Obama Presidential Center.
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