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Ted Dowgiert
Chairman, NU College Republicans.
By Ken Gornstein
Ted Dowgiert, a nineteen-year-old sophomore from Salem, New Hampshire, is chairman of the NU College Republicans, which boasts about fifty-five members. Here, he talks about his political philosophy, his plans for the future, and what it’s like being a Republican on a heavily Democratic campus.
Q. “College Republican”: Isn’t that an oxymoron?A. I don’t think so. There’s an old adage that everyone eventually becomes a Republican. But there’s also a lot of young people on college campuses these days that have these [Republican] ideals.
Q. One of your recruitment fliers around campus asks, “Are you a closet Republican?” Do you feel like an oppressed minority at Northeastern?
A. Definitely. That slogan was a takeoff of the gay notion of being in the closet. So what we were saying was, “Come out of the closet—it’s okay to be a Republican on campus.”
Q. How many of you are out there?
A. More than people think. Though Northeastern sometimes feels like the most liberal campus in America, the more we get out there, the more calls and e-mails we receive from people saying, “I’m a Republican. I share your views. I’d like to join your group.”
Q. What’s your definition of a Republican?
A. Someone who believes in smaller government, not big government; someone who believes in necessary taxation, not overtaxation; and someone who believes in individual rights and responsibilities. All of these are opposed by people on the other side.
Q. If you walked into a student party at Northeastern, what’s the quickest way to distinguish the Democrats from the Republicans?
A. The Republicans drink more. People may not know it, but Republicans can party like no one else.
Q. Do you come from a family of Republicans?
A. Not really. My father is a small business owner and a staunch Republican. My mother is really more of an independent. The rest of my family is pretty much split.
Q. Do you remember that first time you said to yourself, “I’m a Republican, and not just because my father is”?
A. I don’t remember a particular moment like that. But growing up, I always identified more with Republican candidates. I liked Reagan; I liked Bush. Eventually, I came to the realization that I agree with the Republican ideals, and that’s what I am.
Q. How do people react when you tell them you’re the head of the College Republicans?
A. My family and friends are impressed, and they’re proud of me. But pretty much everyone else in Massachusetts gets a disgusted look on their face. It baffles me.
Q. Who are some of your heroes?
A. I admire Colin Powell—I think he’s a great man. And I think Ronald Reagan was a great president.
Q. Are there any Democrats whom you admire?
A. I admire [Wisconsin senator] Russ Feingold, particularly for the way he conducted himself during the [John] Ashcroft nomination [for attorney general]. He’s his own man. He does what he thinks is right. Ted Kennedy, on the other hand, was up there trying to destroy Ashcroft’s reputation. That’s not right.
Q. If no one else were around, and I promised to keep this conversation just between the two of us, would you concede Bill Clinton was good for this country?
A. [Laughs] Well, let me say this: I don’t believe Clinton did a bad job. But I was sickened by all the scandalous things he and his wife did. To be honest, I think some of it was criminal and immoral.
Q. What’s the best hangout around campus for Republicans?
A. Pretty much nowhere.
Q. What advice do you have for President Bush?
A. Try not to get caught up in partisan politics. If you can stay above the fray, you’ll do all right.
Q. Do you want to be a politician someday?
A. My immediate plans after graduating from Northeastern are to go to law school, and then go into a good law firm—probably corporate law. After that, I’d love to get elected to office. My dream would be to become governor or senator from New Hampshire. My parents tell me that when I was growing up and people asked me what I wanted to be, I’d say, “President.”