Canadian Parliamentary Exchange

Although each part of the fellowship has its fans among the more than 1,900 program alumni, the Canadian Parliamentary Exchange invariably stands out. Since 1973, each crop of APSA Fellows has planned a comprehensive, weeklong introduction to the Congress for 10 Canadian Parliamentary Interns. Their counterparts in Ottawa plan a similar introduction to Parliament for as many as 25 Fellows, albeit with far greater access to the inner reaches of power. For example, while the Fellows are typically able to arrange meetings with benevolent supporters of the program, including leading political scientists, journalists, policy analysts, congressional staffers, and even an occasional Member of Congress (and to CFP's credit, many guest speakers are former Fellows themselves), the Canadians have been able to arrange meetings with high-ranking cabinet members, ministers, chief justices, Members of Parliament, and the Prime Minister's office. In other words, the Canadian equivalents of Donald Rumsfeld, Condoleezza Rice, William Rehnquist, Hillary Clinton, Dennis Hastert, and George W. Bush. The Fellows are often frustrated that they are unable to reciprocate, yet Biggs explains that since the Interns are the only sources of free labor in Parliament, they have much greater access and often know the individuals personally. Thus, even the very act of scheduling teaches about the differences between the two political systems.

The bilateral exchange is funded by the Canadian Department of External Affairs, the U.S. Embassy in Ottawa, the APSA, the CPSA, and alumnus Stephen Wasby (CFP 1965–1966). Without fail, participants walk away from the exchange enriched by a deeper understanding of the two countries. Congressional Fellows often remark that what surprised them was not how similar Canada was to the U.S., but rather how different. Yet by the time the Canadians arrive in Washington for their tour one month later, the two groups seem like old friends.

43 Flavors of Washington

At the time of writing, the following activities had been proposed for the Canadians' weeklong visit in June:

Regardless of the final schedule, the Canadians and Fellows will undoubtedly find themselves with plenty of options.

Wilson Seminar Series

Meanwhile, the Fellows have begun to attend the Wilson Seminars, a lecture series held twice a month in the U.S. Capitol, courtesy of Advisory Committee members Senator Richard Lugar and Representative Ray LaHood. The hour-and-a-half discussions feature various speakers from the support arms of Congress and provide a deeper understanding of the institution than what Fellows would gain from their assignments alone. Appropriately, the first Wilson Seminar took place with the House Parliamentarian, the Honorable John V. Sullivan, on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives. As Fellows sat in leathered seats normally occupied by elected members of Congress, they took in both the grandeur and the history of the chamber. Mr. Sullivan also encouraged them to ask as many questions as needed on esoteric points of procedure, which proved especially enlightening for the political scientists of the group.

The second seminar took place with Jerry Gallegos, superintendent of the House Daily Press Gallery, Tina Tate, director of the House Radio-Television Gallery, and Robert Zatkowski, director of the House Periodical Press Gallery. With more than 50 years of institutional knowledge in the room, the conversation quickly grew candid. Fellows were treated to off-the-record comments on how the press galleries had changed over the years, which journalists had been reprimanded for unprofessional behavior, and how Members of Congress sometimes attempted to avoid interviews. For many Fellows, it was eye-opening to learn how much diplomacy and organization went into balancing the interests of the Speaker's office, which paid their salaries, and the press organizations, which hired them.

Additional Wilson Seminar speakers include Bill Hoagland of the office of Senate Majority Leader William Frist; Melissa Merson of the Congressional Budget Office; Martha Joynt Kumar of the White House 2001 Project; Paul Teller of the Republican Study Committee; Helen Hsing and Gloria Jarmon of the Government Accountability Office; Chris Sands of the Center for Strategic and International Studies; Joan Claybrook of Public Citizen (CFP 1965–1966); David Broder of the Washington Post; Michael Canning of the Hill Rag (CFP 1971–1972), and others. As always, in lieu of the $300 to $500 standard honorarium, speakers are happy to accept the treasured CFP mug for their troubles.

The New Web Site

CFP is proud to announce the launch of its new web site (www.cfpnet.org), part of APSA's recent online makeover. While we are still in the process of updating pages, we would very much appreciate hearing from former Fellows who suspect their contact information is out of date. We are also happy to accept information—news, whereabouts, publications, promotions—about other Fellows, which we will soon begin posting in a special “Alumni” section.

As in the past, contributions of $50 or more will land you a 50^th Anniversary mug, which orientation speakers have commented as being very handsome. In addition you will also receive a complimentary copy of A Congress of Fellows: Fifty Years of the American Political Science Association Congressional Fellowship Program. The 200-page chronicle, written by Jeff Biggs, draws heavily on little-known anecdotes provided by a number of long-time supporters. Since printing was rushed for distribution at the 2003 Annual Meeting, the history should be considered a “work in progress” and will be edited for a later edition.

The Congressional Fellowship Program continues to benefit from the generosity of MCI, Congressional Quarterly, Inc., the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, the William E. Steiger trust, and the annual contributions of program alumni.

2004–2005 Congressional Office Assignments

Senate

Thad Cochran (R-MS)

Tim Cunningham, National Reconnaissance Office

Susan Collins (R-ME)

Chris McShane, State Department

Kent Conrad (D-ND)

Jennifer Nicholl Victor, University of Pittsburgh

Hilary Clinton (D-NY)

Costas Panagopoulos, New York University

Bill Frist (R-TN)

Nancy Short, Duke University School of Nursing

Carl Levin (D-MI)

Malina Brown, Inside Washington Publishers Kathleen Trainor, Central Intelligence Agency

Joseph Lieberman (D-CT)

Al Payne, Central Intelligence Agency

Patty Murray (D-WA)

Amena Saiyid, AIR Daily/Argus Media

Jack Reed (D-RI)

Tanya Weinberg, South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Olympia Snowe (R-ME)

Chris Krafft, Department of State

Ron Wyden (D-OR)

Aimee Curl, Daily Journal of Commerce, OR Amy Steigerwalt, University of New Orleans

Finance Committee—Max Baucus (DMT)

Richard Litsey, Social Security Administration

Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee—Ted Kennedy (D-MA)

Danny McCormick, Harvard Medical School