Where I Stand — Mike O’Callaghan: Quiet man comes to town

Friday, June 22, 2001 | 9:23 a.m.

Mike O'Callaghan is the Las Vegas Sun executive editor.

THE LAST DAY OF MAY former Secretary of State Warren Christopher and his wife, Marie, came to Nevada at the request of Ron Boeddeker and Henry Gluck of Lake Las Vegas Resort. In that very special setting Christopher sat down in front of a luncheon gathering to answer the questions of popular television personality and news reporter Gwen Castaldi. The combination of Castaldi, now president of Eyespeakmedia Inc., and Christopher gave the guests a good look at top professionals in their chosen fields.

The former adviser for presidents Lyndon Johnson, Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton never ducked a tough assignment. I first remember his activity during the 1965 Watts riots in Los Angeles. Although he recalls his work as being but a blip on the measurement of his many years of public service, he was both effective and fearless during those hot summer days.

In his most recent book, "Chances of A Lifetime," he tells of the source of strength he brought with him from a small North Dakota town. He was raised in the farmland so heavily hit during those years of the Great Depression. His Dad, the town banker, felt the pain of those farmers who were losing their homes and land. "The human scenes I witnessed in the flat, dry North Dakota plains while at my father's side may account more than anything else for the tilt of my social and political concerns in the direction of the unfortunate," he wrote. Upon the early death of his father he saw the strength of his mother take over under very difficult conditions.

Another facet of Christopher's personality was shaped when he experienced open racial hatred when serving in the Navy at Mobile, Ala., in 1945-46. His sensitivity to the hurts felt by black Americans during those years made him an invaluable team member and leader when seeking answers to civil unrest in our country. He told us that life for minorities has improved and he sees it improving even more during the coming years.

Looking back he recalls our nation teetering on the brink of improving or not surviving during the Vietnam War years of 1967-68. The demonstrations and riots in our cities were triggered by an unfair military draft and racial inequities. It was, according to Christopher, a combination of strong institutions and the character shown by LBJ when refusing to run again in 1968 that pulled our nation through those perilous times.

During his long years of public service, the former Cabinet member learned that listening is more empowering than talking. This belief became obvious at our table during lunch but Castaldi, in her own gentle way, pressed him for direct answers. For example, she wanted to know who was the most fascinating and extraordinary person he has met during his service. That was a tough question for a man who has met so many strong individuals on the world scene. He answered that it had to be the late Yitzhak Rabin of Israel who sounded gruff on the phone but was an honest man of strength. Very simply, other world leaders couldn't measure up to Rabin.

The exchange at our table and later the questioning by Castaldi showed us that we were in the presence of a truly great American. From his role in the recent Florida presidential election back to his days in North Dakota, the quiet man displayed his strengths with honest answers.

The next day I purchased a copy of his "Chances of A Lifetime" and found it exciting and loaded with answers to questions that many Americans have had about both foreign and domestic problems since 1945.

I would have called Christopher's book "A Lifetime of Chances." This small-town boy has served his nation well by listening, learning and then showing the needed courage to take chances. He told the Lake Las Vegas Resort hosts and guests that as Americans "every day we should give thanks for where we are." Yes, and we should be thankful that we have public servants like Warren Christopher.