RI PowerPlayer: James Morone
Wednesday, March 11, 2015
Every week, GoLocalProv shines the spotlight on one individual who is making an impact on Rhode Island. This week, GoLocalProv sat down with James Morone, the John Hazen White Professor of Public Policy, Professor of Political Science and Urban Studies, and Director of Public Policy at the Taubman Center at Brown University.
Tell us about your current work at the Taubman Center for Public Policy at Brown University.
Sure. I’ve been asked to rethink what public policy should mean at Brown University in the twenty first century. So many of our students’ dream about making a difference – in Providence, in Rhode Island, in the US, around the world. Our job is to combine idealism and skill. It’s important to make students politically savvy – while not making them cynical.
We’re also getting more ambitious. We want to expand our footprint in Rhode Island – getting more involved in policy issues. While at the same time we’re keen to open up to Brown’s global strength. So, all in all a very exciting time as we brainstorm about ways to have an impact and improve policy. Bottom line: Watch this space for lots of exciting new developments.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTWhat led you to this academic role?
I’ve been very involved in health care policy – I’ve testified before Congress a bunch of times and, according to highly unreliable sources, President Obama read one of my books at Camp David and mentioned it in a cabinet meeting. (The Heart of Power, on presidents and health care reform over the years). That got me thinking: How could I bring the lessons I’ve learned in my years of research, writing, and talkin g to policy makers to the Brown Public Policy experience. When President Paxson asked me to take charge of the program –with a brief to think big—it seemed like a fabulous opportunity.
As an academic in the political science field, what are your concerns about the Rhode Island political scene?
You know, that’s a fascinating question. In our last poll, we asked people if they thought RI government was better or worse than the government of surrounding states. Seventy four percent –that’s an amazing number—said worse. Really? Worse than Massachusetts? But here’s the thing. When you talk to Rhode Islanders they really love the state. So there is a striking love – hate thing going on that we’ll be polling on and addressing in the future. It’s a very important issue because it becomes a self fulfilling prophecy if people are always running down their own political scene.
During the last elections in Rhode Island, you oversaw political data polling. There was some controversy over how the surveys were conducted. Can you speak to this issue?
Oh yes. I was very proud of how well our polls ended up performing, and doing and debating the polls was great fun.
When the first poll results came in they showed former Mayor Cianci losing by 10 points. This was a shocker since he was ahead in the other polls that had been taken. And his internal polls had him comfortably in the lead. I was so surprised, that I immediately commissioned a second poll using an even stricter method and it also came out almost exactly the same. In the end, our polls were dead on the money. Dan Yorke gave us an air bow for getting it right – after being highly dubious. But Buddy Cianci believes that our poll may have influenced the outcome – this is always a danger in polling. I don’t think it’s true in this case – since our poll showed that the East Side were breaking intensely for Jorge Elorza in the last stages of the campaign – exactly what happened on election-day.
We also ran two polls of the governor’s race and people wondered why the results differed. One showed Gina Raimondo comfortably ahead and the other showed her neck and neck. I think that reflected an incredibly volatile race. Why was it volatile? Because there were a lot of undecided votes – all up for grabs in the last two weeks. In the end –especially after the last debate—the undecideds broke big for Healey. Boy, that was a wild and fascinating race – and the polls captured the drama of the last two weeks.
What is a normal day in your life like?
The great thing about my life is that every day is different. Some days are all about teaching, others about writing, most are about running the Taubman Center, and (as I represent the faculty this year) I also meet regularly with the senior administration. When I finish a book, I spend a lot of time travelling and talking. Whether I’m writing or teaching or meeting, however, I’m constantly doing the same thing: Trying to help a group think out of the box, go for the big blue sky; and at the same time, thinking about who’s going to dot the I’s.
The most wonderful thing about being at Brown University –and in Rhode Island-- is that I’m constantly meeting the most interesting people. Most days I have lunch with someone who is telling me things I absolutely did not know. Or host a speaker that has something fascinating to say – this week we had the highest ranking woman in the navy, the two lawyers who argued cases like Bush v Gore and same sex marriage before the supreme court, and a fascinating historian who is challenging the way historians think. I keep thinking that I have a dream job: I get to learn new things every day.
I do have a house up in New Hampshire. So sometimes I just escape up there and look at the stars and go for long runs and (hard to believe as I write this in a snow storm) think about planting hot peppers and tomatoes.
As a New York native, what is your favorite thing about Rhode Island?
I grew up in Brazil and moved to New York when I was nine. I’ve since lived in Vermont, Chicago, and Boston. They’re all great places, but I love the way Rhode Island has everything. A vibrant city so focused on the arts – full of universities and students that keep it young. One of the great coastlines. Beautiful beaches. A deep and fascinating history – from colonial times to the present.
And I love the feistiness. Do you know that Rhode Island is the only state in which the people (and not just a handful of leaders) voted on the Constitution after it was drafted? And we voted it down! The other states had gotten together, elected George Washington as President, and started the first administration, before Rhode Islanders relented and joined the union. President Washington got on his horse and rode on up to visit. Exhausted from the journey, he went to be only to learn that the Brown students were standing in front of their university building (there was only one at the time) holding candles and singing patriotic songs. Washington got out of bed and walked up the hill to join the celebration.
Anyway, the people were feisty and independent then– and I think that’s still true today.
Your favorite restaurant in Providence?
How could you possibly pick just one? I love Gracies. But I also really like North. And New Rivers is also really good. And, of course, Nick’s on Broadway. But if I’m just going for a drink, it’s got to be XO. Or Jacky's.
What is the last book you read?
I like to read a stack of books at the same time. So right now, I’m reading Ira Katznelson’s Fear Itself on the New Deal. Two novels: All the Light We Cannot See (on World War II in France) and David Mitchell’s Bone Clocks (slow starting but when it gets going it gets going). Finally, you must read Mary Oliver’s Blue Horses, which has the most marvelous ode to being reckless – If I wanted a Boat. And can I plug the book I just published? The Devils We Know: Us and Them in America’s Raucous Political Culture.
Related Slideshow: Top New England Colleges According to Business Insider
Related Articles
- RI PowerPlayer: Trinity Rep’s Michael Gennaro
- RI PowerPlayer: Arnold Robinson
- RI PowerPlayer: Ken Block
- RI PowerPlayer: Marcel Valois
- RI PowerPlayer: Evan Granoff
- RI Powerplayer: U.S. Senator Jack Reed
- RI Powerplayer: Senator Louis P. DiPalma
- RI PowerPlayer: Angus Davis
- RI PowerPlayer: CFO Consulting’s Brett Smiley
- RI PowerPlayer: Shea Principal Donald Miller
- RI PowerPlayer: Christopher Plante
- RI PowerPlayer: Karen Jessup
- RI PowerPlayer: Rick Simone
- RI PowerPlayer: Chace Baptista
- RI PowerPlayer: Dr. Michael Fine
- Providence PowerPlayer: Brown Athletic Director Jack Hayes
- Providence PowerPlayer: Fred Ordoñez
- RI PowerPlayer: Seth Price
- RI PowerPlayer: Melissa Withers
- RI PowerPlayer: Keith Oliveira
- RI PowerPlayer: Mary McElroy
- RI PowerPlayer: Leah Williams Metts
- RI PowerPlayer: Rebecca Fisher
- RI PowerPlayer: Ray Watson
- RI PowerPlayer: Jared Moffat
