Cover Profile
Frank B. Atkinson Behind the Political Scenes of the "Dynamic Dominion"
Frank B. Atkinson is still operating in the corridors of power-the real estate has just changed. Although some might envy his well appointed corporate offices in downtown Richmond, in many ways these nicely furnished spaces do not hold a candle to his former office in the most exclusive piece of real estate in Virginia-the third floor of Jefferson's Capitol. There, during the Allen Administration, he had the coveted role of counsel to the Governor and director of policy. Today he is the chair of McGuireWoods Consulting and a partner with McGuireWoods LLP. His colleagues may be familiar names to you like L.F. Payne, Richard Cullen, and James W. Dyke Jr. L.F. Payne, a former successful businessman, served in Congress from the 5th District from 1988 to 1997. Richard Cullen, who has been with the firm since 1977, has had two tours of public service. One was as the US Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. He was appointed by President George H..W. Bush in 1991. He was Governor George Allen's pick for Attorney General of Virginia, and served from June 1997 until January 1998. Jim Dyke was Governor Doug Wilder's Secretary of Education, as well as serving former Vice President Walter Mondale as domestic policy advisor.
As Frank Atkinson welcomed us into his corner office, we entered another time and place. His work space is both a museum and time capsule for the political history of Virginia. It is the perfect habitat for a lifetime Virginia political devotee and author as he is both. Books, prints, photographs, and mementoes cover almost every square inch. What luck it was for us that Frank Atkinson served as our tourguide through the intricate and interesting story of Virginia politics, and discussed his behind the scenes role in it.
EARLY INSPIRATIONS
He became interested in Virginia politics and government early on- practically from infancy. His father was the school superintendent, coach, and government teacher in his native Caroline County. He recruited young Frank to be part of his history class lesson plan. At age four, Frank was presented to the class, where he passionately recited Patrick Henry's famous "give me liberty or give me death," speech. If a four year old could learn the speech, they could too, seemed to be the general idea.
From the beginning, Frank absorbed anything he could learn about Virginia history, politics, and government. He said he was determined to pursue his interests in these fields, but not to become a local government official himself. His father's school superintendent's office was near the Caroline County Courthouse in Bowling Green, so Frank grew up with local government, in a way as the family business. "If anything, the local government experience probably convinced me to never be in local government," he said with a smile. He doesn't think his father's profession influenced his passion for politics, however. "I think it was just one of those things that struck me at a very early age."
"The first time I volunteered for a campaign was in 1968, and I was eleven," he explained. He remembers throwing himself into the volunteer work, and doing anything they'd let a kid do like passing out material.
People who know him as a conservative Republican might be surprised to learn that Frank was not always on the right politically. "In 1969, I supported the Democratic ticket," he said. "I clearly wasn't thinking in terms of myself as a Republican because there was [Linwood] Holton running with the chance to be the first Republican Governor, and I was supporting Bill Battle in a three way primary, and Sarge Reynolds and Andy Miller. I remember my parents were on different sides of that issue. My father was for the Democrats, and my mother was for the Republicans which was sort of unprecedented." In 1968, he liked Bobby Kennedy, and when he was killed, Frank's interest turned to Richard Nixon. Later on in 1970, he supported Harry Bryd as an Independent, and Bill Scott as a Republican. "So I'd gone from Republicans one year, Democrats the next year, then Independents. In 1971, I went back and supported the Democrats again for Lieutenant Governor, then there was a special election after Sarge Reynolds died. In the 1971 special election, I was for a Democrat. Then, in 1972, I was for a Republican-Nixon [for President] and Bill Scott running for the Senate, then Kenneth Robinson [for Congress]." Needless to say, he was an ardent campaigner and part time political activist long before he could even vote.
By 1974, he'd gotten to know Congressman Kenneth Robinson (R-VA, 7th, 1971-1985), and considered him a mentor. James Kenneth Robinson (1916-1990) was a Republican Congressman from Winchester. Prior to Congress, he'd served in the Virginia Senate beginning in 1965, and was reelected to a four year term in 1967. He was the chair of the Republican delegation in the General Assembly from 1968-69.
Frank desperately wanted to work in Washington, DC for Kenneth Robinson's congressional office. However, he was only in high school then, and they hired mostly older- read that, "adult" staffers. Here's where writing a nice note helps you land the job you want. "They had accepted a college kid and turned me down," he recalled. Frank was crushed, but still,"I was runner up, and I wrote a nice thank you letter saying 'thank you for thinking of me, and I still want to help with your campaign-maybe I can do it later.' So when the guy they picked said he couldn't do it for some reason, then they said, 'Well, that was such a nice letter, let's get that guy.' They almost never let high school kids [work as aides] but I got to go to Washington and work that summer of 1974."
He worked and lived through those tumultuous summer days when everywhere you went, televisions were on, covering the latest in the Watergate saga. "I got to be in the courtroom when United States v. Nixon was heard in the Supreme Court. It was the first time I ever stood in line and got to be in the [Supreme Court] courtroom to see part of that historic argument, so that was neat . . . It was an unfortunate time to be in Washington-it was a sad time. But it was fascinating, and looking back on it, I wouldn't trade anything for being able to be in the Supreme Court when they argued US v. Nixon. You were seeing history."
Closer to home, Frank's other early exciting experiences including serving as a Senate Page in the Virginia General Assembly in 1972. Even today, all these years later, walking around the Virginia Capitol with Frank is an educational experience. From his earliest memories of exploring the Capitol basement to dome, he memorized the paintings, portraits, and sculptures. He can still tell you in full detail about each portrait's subject, with some delightful back stories as well. They seem like old friends to him.
POLITICAL LEADERSHIP
As someone who has worked in campaigns since age eleven, and been an essential part of success for countless of those campaigns, we asked Frank Atkinson what contributes to modern political leadership here in the Commonwealth.
"Well, from a political leadership, governmental leadership standpoint, I think there are a number of key character traits," he said. "I've seen various leadership styles work. People accomplish things because of different strengths even though they have other weaknesses.
"But I would say the common denominator I think of effective leaders is first of all, people who are honest. And that's really important because clarity of communication about what they stand for and what's the underlying integrity to it, they are acting on a set of beliefs or goals or priorities.
"To me, in the political context, I place a good deal of emphasis on the connection between what you say at election time, and what you do in office. I think our representative democracy inherently requires a bond of trust between the people who elect, and the people who serve. So I think that leaders, first and foremost in the political context are people who are candid about where they stand and afford the political process an opportunity to work by saying what they believe in, and then following through once they are in office."
We asked about politicians who are up for election or reelection, and tout what legislation they voted for or sponsored as a reason to return them to office.
He said, "There are plenty of examples where people have 'gotten things passed,' even though it's contrary to what they stood for when they ran. I don't think the measure of good leadership is 'getting things passed.' I think the measure of good leadership is getting things done. And in general, in a democracy, the closer the connection between what people believe they are getting when they vote, and what they get in office is an important thing.
"At the same time, it's always important I think to note that the job of an elected leader is to exercise his judgement and conscience and not just be there to parrot polls and so forth. So I don't think that every time the wind blows and public opinion changes, you ought to change your views. But I do think it is very important that when you are standing for office, or if it's an appointed position and you are being interviewed for it, that there be a candor and integrity that runs through that.
"I think then several things flow from that. It gives a leader a clear sense of what they want to accomplish. And one of the biggest failures of leadership in the public policy or public arena I think is that people come into office wanting to win the office but are not necessarily committed to a certain set of policy goals or accomplishments. So this clarity that hopefully begins before the campaign and runs through the service of public office is important because it defines the objectives and the mission if you [win, or] once you get into office."
He said he's thought a lot about and written about political leadership, as have others, but he thinks "the core requirement is the honesty and integrity that runs through, and in particular, the clear and honest delineation of objectives and the aligning of your efforts with those objectives is where I come from."
He also said he believes "You have government because people will surrender a little bit of their natural freedom in order to live in an ordered society where freedoms are protected and people can pursue their goals. Government, representative democracy, really depends on it being representative. And it can't be representative if there isn't some degree of connection between what the people believe they are getting when they express themselves at election time and what a leader does once in office. That to me is the core issue of leadership. And too often these days, I think, it's not fashionable to do that. What's fashionable is to get in office and then to say, 'I'm a statesman, I'm above worrying about what the people think, and I'm going to do what's best.' And you ought to do what's best, but you ought to also have enough integrity that you didn't say one thing to get elected, and then come in and think somehow that's noble. To me, what is noble is being honest with people and following through once you get into office."
POLITICS-THE ART OF THE POSSIBLE
Many believe that the best political job in Virginia is that of Governor. Still others have said the closest job to the top is the Governor's legal counsel. From 1994 until 1996, Frank B. Atkinson had that job. He actually had a historic version of that job when Governor George Allen appointed him to not only be his legal counselor and director of policy, a double title, but he also elevated that position to the Governor's Cabinet.
We asked him what advice if any he would give to anyone reading this who might consider running for public office in Virginia.
"I think politics is a good and honorable thing for people to be involved in, and we need people to run for office. We need people to be involved who don't run for office but who participate in other ways.
"The most important things I try to tell people who think about running for office is to have a clear understanding about what you stand for. Try to develop that. You weren't born with it. It's a process of growth and education. Understand the principles and goals and values that you stand for. Then also understand that politics is a particularly seductive arena. It's a place where you can accomplish a lot so it can be very constructive, but it's also very seductive in terms of sort of substituting self aggrandizements for larger purposes.
"It's very important for young people to understand that as they go into it-or new people into the process, to sort of have a conscious thought about what they won't do as well as what they will do. The lines that they will not cross so that-of course, I'm talking about basic honesty in government as part of it. But also, [they need to think about] the extent to which they will compromise their beliefs to get elected.
"Politics is the art of the possible, so you can't elevate everything to a matter of principle and be an absolutist or you won't succeed. At the same time, if nothing is absolute, and everything is relative, then you're just basically letting your beliefs be molded by what it takes to get elected rather than core convictions, then you don't really have much to contribute. Then you are essentially a ship out to sea without a rudder that's just going to blow along whichever direction the winds gust. And that's not going to provide any leadership. It may provide the individual involved with a successful career, but at the end of the day, they are very unlikely to have very much to show for it because the constructive side of politics is the ability to get from point A to point B for some larger purpose that benefits society, whether it's a policy goal or the articulation of objectives, whatever it is. You can't move from point A to point B and bring others with you unless you have a clear sense of where you want to go."
So, while it may look exciting and seductive, he counseled young people and those new to the political process not to get caught up in the alluring aspects of it. "The accolades they get, and being the center of attention all of the time, [they take the chance of losing] sight of the broader purposes they are trying to pursue."
He said there is no doubt that politics can take a toll on a candidate's personal life. "Politics is not an activity for the faint hearted, there's no question about that. But it is the opportunity for somebody who is well motivated to have a real impact on the quality of life of your fellow citizens. So if you have a desire to serve, and a willingness to sacrifice, because it is [a sacrifice] . . . people who have selfish motives in politics, there's not much sacrifice because they are in it for the attention . . . but there is a degree of sacrifice associated with taking on the goal of serving other people through public service. And it's frankly a higher barrier than any of us would prefer to have. I've seen the toll that politics has taken on candidates' families, and that it takes on their business pursuits."
So, if politics is the art of the possible, is it possible to see him in politics in the future? Frank B. Atkinson said that early on he decided local government was not for him, but what about on the state or federal level? He smiled and said, "From my standpoint, I've obviously decided that the ways I can contribute are through advising rather than running, and writing as opposed to some of the other ways. I feel very good about the different ways that I'm able to contribute. I think that's what it's about. We need to give back something, and need to be doing things to strengthen the system.
"So, I've got an ongoing fascination with politics and public policy that won't change, and I've been able to have a significant impact on events from a nonelectoral position. I'm happy to continue that."
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