Frist '74 reflects on years in Senate

In his first major address at the University since leaving the Senate, former majority leader William Frist '74 (R-Tenn.) talked about his experiences in medicine and politics to a crowd in Robertson Hall last night.

Frist began his talk by discussing his much-touted dualism as both a surgeon and senator. His life, he said, is the "strange story of a person who has taken two oaths ... first to medicine ... the Hippocratic Oath, which ties into the second oath, which is to the Constitution of the United States of America."

After graduating from the University, Frist went directly to Harvard Medical School. Though he majored in the Wilson School, Frist said he "didn't think anything about public policy then, and I did not vote during that period of time ... and it's haunted me ever since."

But Frist said he saw problems with the world that he wanted to address, including decreasing opportunities for young people, the government's infringement on liberties and freedoms, and high taxes.

In 1993 he decided to run for the Senate "because in my heart ... I honestly felt that if I was elected ... I could make a difference," he said. "It was time to act, to participate, to become part of the solution."

Before the 1994 election that brought him to office, Frist decided to serve only two terms — a total of 12 years — if reelected. The time limit on his Washington career forced him to act quickly and in the best interest of his constituents, he said.

By limiting his own term, Frist was able to realize, "You're not going to be there forever, so if you're going to accomplish anything, do it now." So, he went to the Senate with a "mission to accomplish and not a career to protect," which allowed him to work for what he believed in, not necessarily what would get him reelected, he said.

Frist was the first practicing physician to be elected to the Senate since 1928, which meant that he had no mentor of the same background, he said. On his first day of work on the Hill, Frist said that he arrived at 7 a.m. to find the dogs still sniffing for bombs. No one arrived until 8:30 a.m.

After major Republican victories in the 2002 election, Frist became Senate majority leader. One big adjustment, he said, was the constant presence of security guards. He spoke of introducing Washington to the Southern tradition of hunting late at night for raccoons. "All of a sudden, I had my security brought in ... and within three hours we had them up in the hills in their suits, huffing and puffing, hunting," he said. "They knew there was something different about this majority leader."

Frist said that some of his experiences as a surgeon helped him in his job as majority leader. "A doctor focuses on the individual ... makes a diagnosis ... makes an action plan ... and is held accountable," he explained. "Surgeons don't do a lot of talking. They cut, they fix, they act."

In the coming years, Frist said, the biggest challenges for government will be the rise of terrorism, energy independence and healthcare costs.

But, he added, he believes the country lacks inspirational candidates in the 2008 presidential race. "America is hungry for somebody who can rise above partisanship," he said.