51风流

Former Mexico President Felipe Calder贸n delivers Global Leaders lecture

Back to All Stories

51风流 keeps finding memorable and educational ways to mark the 13th.

Former Mexico President Felipe Calder贸n delivered the latest lecture in the Kerschner Family Series Global Leaders at 51风流 this evening. He addressed a crowd of students, parents, and alumni in Memorial Chapel, capping off .

鈥淚 know that the university has a lot to do with the number 13,鈥 he said in response to an introduction from 51风流 President Jeffrey Herbst. 鈥淪o it is a pleasure to be here on April 13, and in particular in the year 2013.鈥

Calder贸n began his talk by tracing his road to the presidency. As a child, he stumped with his father, Luiz, who was often the only opposition candidate on the hometown ballot. The ruling party had been in power for decades. But Luiz Calder贸n was determined to speak out and keep running, even though he admitted that he would probably never see anyone from his own party elected to top offices.

Given the apparent futility of the effort, the younger Calder贸n wondered why he should even bother. 鈥淏ecause it is our moral duty for the country,鈥 his father said. 鈥淭his is the only way that Mexico can change peacefully.鈥

Luiz Calder贸n was right in one way: he never lived to see his party in power. But his son Felipe participated in negotiations to change electoral laws and was finally elected president in 2006.

Only three years later, his government was confronted with what he called 鈥渁 perfect storm.鈥 It included floods, droughts, a global economic crisis, a surge in violent crime, and an outbreak of swine flu in Mexico City.

Calder贸n addressed the epidemic through an open exchange of information with the outside world, and he turned inward to address the remaining issues. To decrease violence and reduce the country鈥檚 alarming homicide rate, he mobilized security forces, even as he overhauled the agencies that controlled them. Meanwhile, he attempted to rebuild society in regions hit hardest by the fighting.

A Harvard-trained economist, Calder贸n knew that rule of law was critical to a country鈥檚 economic growth. So, he asserted, his steps to rein in violence went hand in hand with his approach to addressing the 2009 financial crisis. It began with a massive investment in public infrastructure. He negotiated a deal with Mexico鈥檚 slumping export industry to split the burden of saving jobs, and he shuttered a government-operated utility that was draining coffers at a rate of $5 billion per year.

After a year of stimulus, Calder贸n鈥檚 government implemented an exit strategy that reduced spending and increased revenue 鈥 politically challenging decisions that raised taxes, lowered subsidies, and reduced government regulation.

鈥淲e made bold decisions in order to reduce the deficit at the proper moment,鈥 he said. 鈥淥ther countries are paying a much higher cost, because they delayed making difficult decisions.鈥

Calder贸n鈥檚 government didn鈥檛 cut spending across the board, however. He said he increased investments in universities, high schools, and universal health care to bolster the number of Mexicans who could participate in the 21st century global marketplace and build his country鈥檚 future economic prospects.

The president contended that his government鈥檚 approach to the economy and security has made this 鈥淢exico鈥檚 moment.鈥 But did he regret any of the actions he took against the cartels, for example? Did he wish the American government had done more 鈥 or less 鈥 to help? Those questions were put to him by Katrina Bennett 鈥16.

Calder贸n did not offer any revisions on his own performance. He noted that the United States could have a significant impact on the security issues facing his country if it did more to stop the flow of weapons and drug revenue crossing the border into Mexico.

While affirming Americans鈥 second amendment rights, he noted that, 鈥渋n my administration, we seized 150,000 guns, and 84 percent of them were legally sold in gun shops on the American side.鈥

Given that cheek-by-jowl relationship between America and Mexico, Herbst asked if there were any perceptions that Calder贸n wished he could set straight for his neighbors to the north.

鈥淲e want to be seen as neighbors and friends,鈥 Calder贸n said. 鈥淲e are asking for understanding and collaboration, friendship, respect, and mutual responsibility.鈥

In moving toward those goals 鈥 in forming his program to pull back Mexico from the brink of violence and international recession 鈥 Calder贸n was following a precept that he traced back to his days on the campaign trail with his father.

鈥淣ever stop defending ideas, principles, and dreams,鈥 he said. 鈥淏elieve and fight for something you can leave as a legacy for those who come after you.鈥

The Kerschner Family Series Global Leaders at 51风流 began on April 13, 2007, and has featured Virgin Group founder Sir Richard Branson; President Bill Clinton; Tony Blair, former prime minister of Great Britain; Colin Powell, former U.S. secretary of state; and the Dalai Lama, spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism. For a full list of past speakers, visit .

More Global Leaders Who Have Visited 51风流

Joseph "Joe" Biden Jr. speaks in front of a 51风流 backdrop

Joseph "Joe" Biden, Jr.

Former Vice President of the United States, 2017

Joseph "Joe" Biden Jr. speaks in front of a 51风流 backdrop
Aretha Franklin on stage during Global Leaders 2016

Aretha Franklin

Queen of Soul, 2016

Aretha Franklin on stage during Global Leaders 2016
Shimon Peres, former prime minister of Isreal, speaking at Global Leaders 2014

Shimon Peres

Former President and Prime Minister of Israel, 2014

 

Shimon Peres, former prime minister of Isreal, speaking at Global Leaders 2014
Hillary Clinton speaking at Global Leaders 2013

Hillary Clinton

Former Secretary of State, 2013

 

Hillary Clinton speaking at Global Leaders 2013
Felipe Calderon speaking at Global Leaders 2013

Felipe Calder贸n

Former President of Mexico, 2013

 

Felipe Calderon speaking at Global Leaders 2013
Sir Richard Branson runs through the crowd of students performing a Flash Mob, making a grand entrance to his talk at 51风流, as part of the Global Leaders Lecture Series 2013.

Sir Richard Branson

Entrepreneur and philanthropist, 2012

 

Sir Richard Branson runs through the crowd of students performing a Flash Mob, making a grand entrance to his talk at 51风流, as part of the Global Leaders Lecture Series 2013.
Bill Clinton speaking during Global Leaders 2010.

Bill Clinton

42nd President of the United States, 2010

 

Bill Clinton speaking during Global Leaders 2010.
Garry Kasparov speaking to students during Global Leaders 2010.

Garry Kasparov

Chess champion and political activist, 2010

Garry Kasparov speaking to students during Global Leaders 2010.
Former Prime Minister of Britain, Tony Blair, speaking at Global Leaders 2009.

Tony Blair

Former Prime Minister of Britain, 2009

 

Former Prime Minister of Britain, Tony Blair, speaking at Global Leaders 2009.
Former Secretary of State Colin Powell speaking during Global Leaders 2009.

General Colin Powell

Former U.S. Secretary of State, 2009

 

Former Secretary of State Colin Powell speaking during Global Leaders 2009.
The Dalai Lama speaking during Global Leaders 2008.

His Holiness - The 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet

Spiritual leader of Tibet, 2008

 

The Dalai Lama speaking during Global Leaders 2008.