Chris Lauzen State Senator

March 10, 2006

"All the World's a Stage..."

By Senator Chris Lauzen

Four hundred years ago, William Shakespeare wrote one of the most famous studies of authority and leadership in Western Culture. This series of plays is called the "Henriad Tetrology" and includes Richard II, Henry IV Parts One and Two, and Henry V. The characters in the four plays include the incompetent and insane Richard II, the talented and ambitious Henry Bolingbroke, courageous but rash Sir Harry Percy (Hotspur), lazy and cowardly Falstaff, and Prince Hal who would become the hero of Agincourt (the original "we band of brothers") and eventually the virtuous King Henry V.

The more I watch the campaign for Illinois governor, the more I'm reminded of these stories-their lessons, the drama, and the interesting contrasts of characters. I guess that the more things change, the more they stay the same.

History represents a study of the evolution of man and society; central to this study is the catalytic concept of leadership, including the qualities and responsibilities of a virtuous executive, the conflicts inherent to succession of authority, and the consequences of the presence and absence of leadership. In the Henriad, Shakespeare provides a picture of the character evolution of a great national leader. The distinction between private morals and public struggles separates Shakespearean tragedy and history plays. These four histories build upon the classical and medieval traditions of the "principis institutio", or the training of the prince.

Briefly, Richard II is a weak monarch propped up by his "divine right" to inherited regal authority. Bolingbroke is a strong, competent leader who usurps the throne becoming Henry IV. The struggle over the true source of authority was between blood lineage (heredity) versus merit.

Fast forward 400 years and narrow the geographic scope to Illinois state politics and you have the struggle between Rod Blagojevich placed in high office by his Democrat father-in-law. However, despite the efforts of many people to the contrary, his incompetence creates an asylum of irrationality and scandal during his four year administration.

Enter from Republican stage left, the professionally and financially powerful Ron Gidwitz as a modern Henry Bolingbroke who has demonstrated his talent and strength in assignments as diverse as growing a company into a Fortune 500 success story (click here for "Who is Ron Gidwitz?" for testimonials from people who have worked with him and know him "up close and personally"), establishing standards to measure our public school children's academic progress when he volunteered to serve as Chairman of the Illinois State Board of Education, and standing firmly in the face of a City Colleges strike in the mid-1990's when he was appointed to be President.

Incompetent incumbent vs. accomplished challenger! In the end, Richard goes mad and dies in London Tower. The rest of the stories are about the newly crowned (Bolingbroke) Henry IV's son Prince Hal, also known as Prince Harry.

The next lessons of leadership are really painted in mostly negative contrast. Henry IV Part 1 is a study of courage on the battlefield, while Henry IV Part 2 explores the intricate maneuvers of court politics. On the battlefield, the character Falstaff, in all of his plump and empty swagger, provides instruction through comic relief. Although they engage in bawdy riot as drinking buddies in Harry's impressionable youth, Falstaff contrasts the Prince with his cowardice and vanity. The more subtle lesson of courage is taught by the contrast between the two young lords, Prince Hal and Sir Lord Percy, known on the field and in the play as "Hotspur".

Enter from Republican stage right, Senator Bill Brady playing the part of Harry and successful businessman Jim Oberweis filling the role of powerful but doomed Lord Percy, Sir Harry Hotspur. The display of executive leadership in the plays divides with naturally pleasing symmetry...on the battlefield, virtues are fortitude and temperance, while in the king's court, competence is shown by justice and wisdom. Both young lords are surpassingly courageous leaders in the face of danger as I imagine Oberweis and Brady are; however, the essential difference between Hotspur and Prince Hal is that Hotspur is brave without temperance while Prince Harry exhibits the virtue of decorum, an appreciation of what is fit and appropriate.

Jim Oberweis is a friend and neighbor whom I deeply respect as a person. Whether it's the unintended misinterpretation of his observation regarding the Taliban and his pro-life position, or the fear and anger generated by his commercial about illegal immigration despite his proper diagnosis of the magnitude of the problem, or even the recent unnecessary editing of headlines from prominent newspapers which again will injure his credibility in challenging the "incompetent incumbent" if he wins the Primary, he almost seems doomed by rushing headstrong and in excess into battle. Senator Brady seems to present similar political views but receives less intense media criticism.

In Henry IV Part 1, Shakespeare contrasts these variations in courage by even showing the differences of the two leaders' equestrian traits. In contrast to Hotspur's horse that bears him "like a thunderbolt" to his death suggesting an unbridled and irrational energy that must at last destroy itself, Harry's "noble horsemanship" which bridles even a "fiery Pegasus" allows the Prince to "turn and wind", impressive dressage cavalry skills of control and maneuver. Here is bravery in martial conflict under control, within the classic platonic mean.

The corpulent Falstaff is the coward who can only operate behind the scene. He grabs his booty and runs when he's needed in battle. I've probably criticized Bob Kjellander enough to again ask, "Sound familiar, Bob?" Aristotle during an earlier time, summarized, "For the man who flies from and fears everything...becomes a coward, and the man who fears nothing at all but goes out to meet every danger becomes rash." Falstaff runs away at Gadshill and Hotspur rushes to his death at Harry's hand at Shrewsbury.

So, there they are...four hundred year later: Blagojevich as Richard II, Ron Gidwitz as Henry Bolingbroke (who becomes King Henry IV), Bob Kjellander as Falstaff, Jim Oberweis as Lord Percy "Hotspur", and Bill Brady as Prince Hal.

In the end, Shakespeare's drama suggests that it is virtue which truly makes a king and establishes the legitimate authority of the executive. The "true king" obeys natural law in the tradition of Plato through Jean Bodin. He fears God and shows mercy to the afflicted, is wise in council, brave in action, modest in prosperity, constant in adversity, a scourge to evil-doers, and is just to all men and women. These are the authentic marks of legitimate authority. We could use a little of that in Illinois, couldn't we?

I invite you to join us at www.Lauzen.com/blog on Monday, March 13, 2006 at 5pm to discuss the Republican Primary for Illinois Governor.