Month: January 2008

Caroline Kennedy’s op-ed endorsement of Barack Obama in today’s New York Times brought me to tears. Her words remind me that I’ve watched several people whom I’ve never even heard talk about politics throw themselves into the race. I’ve gotten phone calls and emails from people I never even knew were democrats, passionately pleading Barack’s case. Her assertion that one of a president’s key responsibilities is empowering and inspiring the young people is compelling to me. I’ve been leaning Barack’s way for a while now, though more out of instinct than out of any particularly educated reasons. I think Caroline Kennedy’s editorial has confirmed that he’ll get my vote.

The most recent Princeton Alumni Weekly has a list of the 25most influential alumni. I find the list fascinating:

1. James Madison 1771
2. Alan Turing *38
3. Woodrow Wilson 1879
4. John Rawls ’43 *50
5. John Bardeen *36
6. George Kennan ’25
7. Benjamin Rush 1760
8. F. Scott Fitzgerland ’17
9. George Shultz ’42
10. John Foster Dulles 1908
11. Gary Becker ’51
12. Jeffrey Moss ’63
13. Wendy Kopp ’89
14. Richard Feynman *42
15. Paul Volcker ’49
16. Nicholas Katzenbach ’43
17. Charles Scribner 1840
18. Laurance Rockefeller ’32
19. Robert Venturi ’47 *50
20. Jeff Bezos ’86
21. Alfred Barr ’22 *23
22. Philip Freneau 1771
23. John Bogle ’51
24. Norman Thomas 1905
25. Ralph Nader ’55
25. Donald Rumsfeld ’54 (tie)

There are several things of interest. The first is the number of engineers and scientists from the first half of the 20th century – Princeton really used to be a powerhouse there, I am realizing. Also the strength in politics and diplomacy. The tie at 25 has some humor in it as well, given how different those two are. I’m delighted to see Rummy at the very bottom, if he has to be on the list at all. Surprised not to see Meg Whitman. Love that the one woman on the list is Wendy Kopp who’s an absolute inspiration (not to mention only 40).

We must not, in trying to think about how we can make a big difference, ignore the small daily differences we can make which, over time, add up to big differences that we often cannot foresee. – Marian Wright-Edelman

Today’s one of those days where big differences seem out of my reach, so am trying to focus on the small ways I can be positive in the lives of others. Taking children to school. Attending Whit’s assembly. Holding my emotional self together. Drinks with Millie who’s in town from SF at 530 is going to be a high point.