Gary Hart, in his book The Courage of our Convictions, A Manifesto for Democrats, takes us back through history to rediscover the roots of the Democratic Party’s core convictions and beliefs. He takes us back to Franklin Roosevelt’s development of a national community based on social justice. He takes us back to Harry Truman’s development of international networks that rebuilt Europe after WWII and defeated communism. He takes us back to John Kennedy’s recapturing the idea of the republic and a sense of civic duty. He takes us back to Lyndon Johnson’s fight for equality for all citizens. This trip through history enables us to see that the principles that have shaped the Democratic Party are still relevant today. Even if some of the programs need to be reinvented for today’s society. Reconnecting with those values will help the Democratic Party articulate a governing philosophy that will result in ethical and competent government.

Gary Hart points out that Franklin Roosevelt “did not enter the White House with the blue prints of the New Deal under his arms. He was willing to try almost any experiment to get the nation back on its feet, discarding those that did nor work and keeping those that did.” However, all of these programs developed out of the immutable principle, “we are one nation, one society, one community.” Even though the era of big government may be over, the principle that the national government has a central and positive role to play in bettering the lives of all Americans is still an ethical principle for competent government.

Harry Truman had a core set of principles to which he held firm. He would not abide any violation of the public trust. When he left the White House, he did not take even a pencil with him, stating that, “It didn’t belong to me. It belonged to the people of the United States. Gary Hart says that, “Truman’s internationalism was alliance based and collaborative, not unilateralist; supportive, not interventionist; and based on containment, not preemption. It relied as much on the United States economic and political strengths as it did on our military dominance.” Adhering to the principle, that a combination of public trust and an interactive cooperative style, will result in competent governance.

John Kennedy revived the idea of a republic. The concept of civic duty was a guiding principle in his presidency. Our country was founded on the idea of a republic. It requires that the citizen participate in self-governance and fulfill their civic duty. Kennedy knew that, “government either belongs to us, the people, or it belongs to the powerful political and financial interests that take what they want from the public larder and then reject any role for that government in addressing the larger interests and concerns of the greater society.” His development of the Peace Corp. program embodied those values of effective, efficient and participatory government. Those values are still relevant today for competent government.

Lyndon Johnson was in the difficult position of implementing Democratic principles at a time when Americans were not in the mood to embrace big government. He did not abandon these principles; he creatively found new ways to implement them. Poverty and racial tension required that resources be devoted to the urban areas of the country. He developed national programs to meet the needs, which were to be administered by state and local governments, thereby avoiding a growing federal bureaucracy. Johnson’s creative and innovative approach shows that Democrats do not need to abandon progressive principles such as economic and social justice when they become unfashionable.

Gary Hart makes the point that Democrats must adhere to their principles even when they are not in fashion. These principles must be who we are and why we exist. Hart states that, “A party of conviction will state its core principles and invite all who share those principles to participate.” The rewards of adhering to these principles is greater than political power its self. He recognizes that adhering to the principles of social justice, international alliance, civic duty and justice will not guarantee political success. However, it does “guarantee a party on which the American people can depend. The restoration of Democratic principles will offer a beacon and promise to the nation.” A beacon that can guide Americans back on path when they tire of the greed and corruption, that from time to time infects our government.