{"id":104424,"date":"2016-11-16T12:29:47","date_gmt":"2016-11-16T17:29:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/?p=104424"},"modified":"2026-02-05T16:17:33","modified_gmt":"2026-02-05T21:17:33","slug":"senator-susan-collins-video-post-election","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/2016\/11\/16\/senator-susan-collins-video-post-election\/","title":{"rendered":"U.S. Sen. Susan Collins on the election, a Watergate lesson, and the glass ceiling in politics"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Scheduled months ago, U.S. Sen. Susan Collins&#8217; talk at ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ came just hours after Donald Trump&#8217;s victory speech and Hillary Clinton&#8217;s concession. Talk about timing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Maine&#8217;s senior senator, Republican Collins spoke on Nov. 9 about post-election unity and&nbsp;gave advice to Clinton supporters who now feel isolated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She spoke of the glass ceiling for women seeking executive office in politics. And she talked about a lesson in courage she learned from the Watergate era.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Collins was interviewed by Maine state Rep. Peggy Rotundo, D-Lewiston, who is director of strategic and policy initiatives with the Harward Center for Community Partnerships at ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½. Held in the Olin Arts Center Concert Hall, the talk was part of the Purposeful Work Unplugged speaker series.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/vimeo.com\/191550479\">Full video<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Post-election unity<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After listening to Trump&#8217;s and Clinton&#8217;s post-election speeches, Collins said, &#8220;What I was struck by is how each of them stressed the need to unify our country.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video wp-embed-aspect-16-9\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t<lite-vimeo videoid=\"191822689\" autoload><\/lite-vimeo>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Get involved<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Getting involved is an antidote for anyone feeling isolated after their candidate lost the 2016 election. You should &#8220;not feel alienated from our country,&#8221; Collins said.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video wp-embed-aspect-16-9\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t<lite-vimeo videoid=\"191822724\" autoload><\/lite-vimeo>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Debate without rancor<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Students can help elevate the quality of political debate, said Collins.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video wp-embed-aspect-16-9\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t<lite-vimeo videoid=\"191823384\" autoload><\/lite-vimeo>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Glass ceiling in politics<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Recalling a story from her unsuccessful run for Maine governor in 1994, when a man told her he couldn&#8217;t imagine a woman as governor, Collins says there still is a glass ceiling in politics today.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video wp-embed-aspect-16-9\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t<lite-vimeo videoid=\"191822906\" autoload><\/lite-vimeo>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Self-doubt among aspiring women politicians<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In her experience recruiting women and men to run for elected office, Collins says that women invariably harbor doubts about their readiness. Men never do.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video wp-embed-aspect-16-9\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t<lite-vimeo videoid=\"191823130\" autoload><\/lite-vimeo>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Overcoming setbacks defines who you are<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">How you deal with setbacks in life, Collins said, &#8220;shapes how people perceive you&#8221; and sets the stage for opportunities later.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video wp-embed-aspect-16-9\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t<lite-vimeo videoid=\"192000401\" autoload><\/lite-vimeo>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Taking a risk means no regrets later<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In deciding to run for U.S. Senate in 1996 after losing a three-way election for governor in 1994, Collins said she didn&#8217;t want to look back someday with regrets.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video wp-embed-aspect-16-9\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t<lite-vimeo videoid=\"191826096\" autoload><\/lite-vimeo>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The last compromiser?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Collins, often rated <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thelugarcenter.org\/ourwork-Bipartisan-Index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">as the most bipartisan U.S. senator<\/a>, believes both parties &#8220;can have good ideas.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video wp-embed-aspect-16-9\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t<lite-vimeo videoid=\"191823225\" autoload><\/lite-vimeo>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Problem with primaries<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Primaries tend to create polarizing candidates, Collins said, because many moderates aren&#8217;t enrolled in parties.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video wp-embed-aspect-16-9\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t<lite-vimeo videoid=\"191823304\" autoload><\/lite-vimeo>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Women and collaboration<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are exceptions, but Collins believes that women in Congress tend to be more collaborative than men.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video wp-embed-aspect-16-9\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t<lite-vimeo videoid=\"191823035\" autoload><\/lite-vimeo>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What unites women in the Senate<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Collins offers an idea of what might unite the 22 women in the U.S. Senate. And it&#8217;s not ideology.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video wp-embed-aspect-16-9\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t<lite-vimeo videoid=\"191822963\" autoload><\/lite-vimeo>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Lesson from Watergate<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In college, Collins worked for then-U.S. Rep. Bill Cohen during the summer of the Watergate crisis. From Cohen, a Maine Republican who would go on to become senator and secretary of defense, Collins learned a valuable life lesson.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video wp-embed-aspect-16-9\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t<lite-vimeo videoid=\"191822843\" autoload><\/lite-vimeo>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Picking potatoes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When she was growing up in Caribou, Maine, a defining moment of community-building came during the potato harvest.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video wp-embed-aspect-16-9\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t<lite-vimeo videoid=\"191822799\" autoload><\/lite-vimeo>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Advising her past self<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Collins offers advice that she would have given to her college-age self.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video wp-embed-aspect-16-9\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t<lite-vimeo videoid=\"191822877\" autoload><\/lite-vimeo>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Public service<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lessons in public service came from her family, said Collins.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video wp-embed-aspect-16-9\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t<lite-vimeo videoid=\"191822762\" autoload><\/lite-vimeo>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A day after the election, Collins spoke of unity, gave advice to students feeling isolated, and talked about the glass ceiling for women in politics.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":148,"featured_media":104460,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_hide_ai_chatbot":false,"_ai_chatbot_style":"","associated_faculty":[],"_Page_Specific_Css":"","_bates_restrict_mod":false,"bates_author_byline_override":"","_estimated-read-time":"","_post-template":"\/usr\/local\/webserver\/webpve\/htdocs\/new-www.bates.edu\/wp-content\/themes\/b\/news\/single-big-header-image.php","_header-color":"#1a1e26","_photo-credit":"Phyllis Graber Jensen","_header-effect":"parallax","override_related_with_tag":"","_table_of_contents_display":false,"_table_of_contents_location":"","_table_of_contents_disableSticky":false,"_is_featured":false,"footnotes":"","_bates_seo_meta_description":"","_bates_seo_block_robots":false,"_bates_seo_sharing_image_id":0,"_bates_seo_sharing_image_twitter_id":0,"_bates_seo_share_title":"","_bates_seo_canonical_overwrite":"","_bates_seo_twitter_template":""},"categories":[30,195],"tags":[11297,12356,10664,8314],"class_list":["post-104424","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-civic-engagement","category-news-politics","tag-campus-talk","tag-center-for-purposeful-work","tag-purposeful-work-unplugged","tag-susan-collins"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/104424","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/148"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=104424"}],"version-history":[{"count":33,"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/104424\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":171863,"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/104424\/revisions\/171863"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/104460"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=104424"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=104424"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=104424"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}