Former White House staff member addresses students

Former Special Assistant to George W. Bush Tim Goeglein addressed a group of more than 90 Liberty University students at the Helms School of Government Dec. 1.

In addition to his speech, Goeglein also took time to speak with students and sign his recent book “The Man in the Middle.” In the book he addresses his time spent in the White House and his experience with the grace and mercy shown by President Bush. Goeglein refers to his book as “an inside account of faith and politics.”

Associate Dean Ron Miller was pleased with the large number of students who attended the event.

“It’s a great opportunity for them to get a first account of what it’s like to work in the inner circle of the White House,” Miller said.

Goeglein began his speech by acknowledging the introduction that was given by Dean Miller stating that he was not only the former special assistant to Bush, but that he is also vice president of External Relations for Focus on the Family. He then went on to make a clarification to those statements.

“My most important title is follower of Jesus Christ,” Goeglein said.

Before addressing the topic of his work in the White House, Goeglein took the time to encourage students who are unsure of their future. He assured them that, for Christians, unpredictability is a blessing.

“Stand by, because I promise you, God is going to do something extraordinary in your life,” Goeglein said.

He explained that God is in control, no matter the situation.

“Once you reach the end of your rope, Jesus Christ is there,” Goeglein said.

Throughout the event Goeglein gave the students an inside look at the White House and a perspective completely different from those given by the media on Bush.

“I do not believe that we could have had a man of higher character or caliber server our country in those eight years,” Goeglein said.

He referred to President Bush as the “most pro-life, pro-marriage and pro-religious president of the Contemporary Era.”

Goeglein said that working as the president’s special assistant was a dream job and that he could not believe that he was being paid to do it.

He warned the students to be on their guard against pride, because it will seep in when it is least expected. He explained that pride takes different avenues for some people and that his pride was in wanting to be the clever one.

“I was writing columns for my hometown paper,” Goeglein said. “I began plagiarizing some of those columns.”

Goeglein recounted the events of the day when his plagiarism was discovered and exposed.

“Because of my own pride and vanity, I inflicted pain and embarrassment on the President of the United States, my family…,” Goeglein said.

Goeglein emphasized the fact that pride goes before the fall and encouraged the students to learn from his mistake.

Goeglein went on to tell the students how he resigned from his position at the White House and how Bush requested that he meet with him.

He said that as soon as he arrived at the Oval Office he began to apologize to the President for his actions.

“I barely got a few words out, and he said to me, ‘You are forgiven,’” Goeglein said.

Goeglein said that Bush explained to him that he had experienced grace and mercy in his own life and was, in turn, extending it to him now.

Goeglein said that he has seen him many times since that day and the president has never mentioned it again.

He ended his speech by encouraging the students to go into the world to make a difference.

“Go out and make your mark,” Goeglein said.

He said that the biggest threat to the country is not employment, the economy or terrorists, though all of those are prominent threats.

The biggest threat to the country is the historic and moral decay, according to Goeglein.

“I spend a great deal of time with young people — they give me great hope and confidence that our future is bright,” Goeglein said.

He said that 25 years ago he promised himself that he would do whatever it took to speak to young people. He now speaks at colleges such as Harvard, Yale and Princeton on a regular basis.

The evening concluded with a question and answer session in which Goeglein addressed topics such as the pro-life movement, what it was like in the White House on Sept. 11 and the lack of respect people have toward President Obama.