Walter Cronkite IV '11 has been spending the past few months dedicated to a government project. This is not simply a school assignment, however; rather it is the labor-intensive product of an internship at the Brookings Institution in Washington D.C that began this past summer. As a contributor to an index that compiles hot-button issues relating to the presidential election, Cronkite plays an important role in providing an information outlet for voters.
This index, called the Candidate Issue Index, is part of Opportunity '08, a Brookings project that has partnered up with ABC News. As described on its website, Opportunity '08 "aims to help presidential candidates and the public focus on critical issues facing the nation, providing ideas, policy forums, and information on a broad range of domestic and foreign policy questions." Brookings remains impartial to any one candidate, however, and urges that voters view a number of sources before making a single decision.
Cronkite's section of the Index, a focus on Iraq, requires that he listen to everything the two primary candidates mention about the war. This means he must watch every major news conference and read every press release in order to keep his section up to date. "It's a lot of time spent on CNN," he says. And though the "Index: Iraq" is headed by Michael O' Hanlon (who himself went to Hamilton for two years before transferring to Princeton), it is Cronkite's sole responsibility as an intern to maintain the section.
The Index: Iraq has several subcategories, including both candidates' view of surge military forces, future troop levels, role in funding the war and their strategy if elected. Each subcategory has attached the most recent quote from both candidates and an option to view more.
When asked why he chose to dedicate himself to such an extensive project, Cronkite responds that though it is a bit of a workload, the subject fascinates him – he is considering majoring in government. And why have the project publicized? "I really wanted to offer a source for Hamilton students," he says. Then, with a joking grin and a shrug: "Oh, and shameless self-promotion."
The Index: Iraq can be found at http://www.brookings.edu/papers/2008/0225_iraq_ohanlon_Opp08.aspx. Click on the link that says "Open the Index" and load the PDF file.
-- by Alex Pure '12
This index, called the Candidate Issue Index, is part of Opportunity '08, a Brookings project that has partnered up with ABC News. As described on its website, Opportunity '08 "aims to help presidential candidates and the public focus on critical issues facing the nation, providing ideas, policy forums, and information on a broad range of domestic and foreign policy questions." Brookings remains impartial to any one candidate, however, and urges that voters view a number of sources before making a single decision.
Cronkite's section of the Index, a focus on Iraq, requires that he listen to everything the two primary candidates mention about the war. This means he must watch every major news conference and read every press release in order to keep his section up to date. "It's a lot of time spent on CNN," he says. And though the "Index: Iraq" is headed by Michael O' Hanlon (who himself went to Hamilton for two years before transferring to Princeton), it is Cronkite's sole responsibility as an intern to maintain the section.
The Index: Iraq has several subcategories, including both candidates' view of surge military forces, future troop levels, role in funding the war and their strategy if elected. Each subcategory has attached the most recent quote from both candidates and an option to view more.
When asked why he chose to dedicate himself to such an extensive project, Cronkite responds that though it is a bit of a workload, the subject fascinates him – he is considering majoring in government. And why have the project publicized? "I really wanted to offer a source for Hamilton students," he says. Then, with a joking grin and a shrug: "Oh, and shameless self-promotion."
The Index: Iraq can be found at http://www.brookings.edu/papers/2008/0225_iraq_ohanlon_Opp08.aspx. Click on the link that says "Open the Index" and load the PDF file.
-- by Alex Pure '12
