Constitution Center chair seeks Rome example, US cash
"There were a lot of similarities between the way the Romans thought of their government, and the way the U.S. citizen thinks of our government"
I asked lawyer William R. Sasso, new chairman of the National Constitution Center corporate council, if the Independence Mall landmark is likely to attempt more would-be crowd-pleasers like last year's Princess Diana show.
"I'm not familiar with the rationale for brininging that exhibit to the center," said Sasso, whose day job is running corporate law and lobby firm Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young. He succeeds his client Gerry Cuddy, chief at Beneficial Bank, as council chairman.
Forget Lady Di. Sasso finds the center's current exhibit on the Roman republic "fascinating" and right in line with his view of its role: "When you were a Roman citizen, it really meant something. There were a lot of similarities between the way the Romans thought of their government, and the way the U.S. citizen thinks of our government, who should govern, the concept of 'We the People,' there are some parallels there. This program has been very successful.
"The whole concept of 'We the People' endures with us; this country is based on that phrase. We can take a lesson from ancient Rome, and the collapse of the Roman Republic," which accompanied the exile and assassination of state critics. "We should cherish the diversity of viewpoints. Our nation is strong because of its tolerance of diverse views. We're not just the people of 1776, when white males ran the whole show. We're a country that's been enriched by immigration, by the ending of slavery, the granting of full civil rights to all people of color, and bringing the vote to women."
I noted the center has attracted demonstrators from Tea Party to gay rights. "We should encourage people of all viewpoints to use the Center to express their views," Sasso said. "President Obama picked it for his seminal speech on race relations. The great debate beteen Hilary Clinton and President Obama took place here. Why not have the Constitution Center be a daily place for discussion in the town square?"
What's he hope to achieve as chairman? The center has a budget of $18-20 million a year, mostly from private and corporate sources. He wants to draw in more national corporate sponsors - "we have something special in Philadelphia that should resonate with anyone who cherishes the elements on which our way of living is based" - but also to bring in more government support: While Gov. Rendell and Sens. Specter and Santorum helped fund Center construction, less than 10 percent of the operating budget, Sasso says, is taxpayer-funded.
Since "my practice has always been involved with government affairs, interfacing with politicians" at all levels, "I have to think one of the reasons I was asked to serve in this capacity was to utilize some of the relationships I have, to bring the National Constitution Center to the support of our legislators."
So, a public-private capital campaign? "That will be the subject of future discussion."