The First Amendment guarantees the right “to petition the government for redress of grievances,” a right vital to a free society. But I believe that the right to petition — the right to lobby – is more than a right – it is a fundamental responsibility and duty, in particular for the business community. Good public policy cannot exist without vigorous engagement by stakeholders, especially those from corporate America. Yet we can all agree that this right is under attack and is poorly understood by the American public. These attitudes go hand in hand with the public’s growing distrust of its political institutions. So what is to be done to protect the right to petition and to protect the business community’s right to affect public policy? The best way is to ensure that future generations of lobbyists are trained in the values of Bryce Harlow. The BHF takes on this challenge directly by providing scholarships to young professionals who are working full-time in advocacy and going to graduate school at night (as did Bryce Harlow) in order to earn the credentials to be the next generation of leaders who will carry this profession in the future. Along the way we expose them to best-in-class practitioners and teach them the importance of honesty, ethics, and integrity in the profession. BH fellows receive a mentor from our Board who transfers years of experience and practical advice to help them manage their careers. They understand that the best way to be successful in advocacy is to follow the example and values of Bryce Harlow’s storied career.
Former BHF Board member David Rehr, a Professor at the GW Graduate School of Political Management, last year published some ground-breaking research, based on 3,000 surveys, of attitudes of Congressional staffers and lobbyists. The research confirms that the two things that are most valued on Capitol Hill by staff and Members of Congress are 1) the quality and honesty of the information, and 2) the integrity of the person providing it. Honesty and integrity still have more influence than what often passes as “power” in DC. This is very good news, because these are the principles on which the BHF was founded.
