This week calls for reflection as we pause to remember the 2,997 people who died in the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, and the thousands of Americans killed and wounded in military service to our country since that horrific day.
Seventeen years later, we also honor the heroic actions of two American statesmen, former New Jersey Gov. Thomas Kean and former U.S. Rep. Lee Hamilton of Indiana. They led the eight members of the 9/11 Commission — four Democrats and four Republicans — in an unprecedented, bipartisan effort to understand one of the worst tragedies in American history and to provide the government with a path forward to ensure it never happens again.
We have come to accept the idea that our nation comes together in times of crisis. But collaboration in crises is neither easy nor inevitable. The commission's work took place during the run-up to the 2004 presidential election, and amid fierce and divisive debates about the Iraq war.
Under different leadership, the commission could have easily devolved into partisan finger-pointing focused on blame instead of solutions. Instead, Kean and Hamilton understood that success depended upon building trust among commission members, recruiting an expert staff, building a strong factual record, listening to all relevant viewpoints and always presenting a united front. In short, they knew then what too many are forgetting now.
That's how the 9/11 Commission produced a unanimous report with broad bipartisan credibility. Since then, nearly all its 41 recommendations have been adopted into law, making the government far better prepared than it was before 9/11. Thanks to the vigilance and determination of those involved in protecting our country, there has not been another catastrophic attack on that scale on our soil.
The dedication of Kean and Hamilton to public service was evident well before their work on the 9/11 Commission.
Kean served two terms as governor of New Jersey from 1982 to 1990. A leader in education reform, advocacy for the arts, and environmental protection, he also presided over the first measure enacted by any state to divest from apartheid South Africa. "The best thing about being governor, and the only thing I really miss about it, is that I didn't go home any night without feeling I had done something for somebody," Kean said.
President George W. Bush, in appointing him to lead the 9/11 Commission, said: "Tom Kean is a leader respected for his integrity, fairness, and good judgment. I am confident he will work to make the commission's investigation thorough."
