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54th Speaker of U.S. House of Representatives Paul Ryan claps as dignitaries are introduced during the 2024 Presidential Speakers Series dinner, Wednesday, March 27, 2024, at the Oklahoma Memorial Union. (Kyle Phillips / The Transcript)
54th Speaker of U.S. House of Representatives Paul Ryan claps as dignitaries are introduced during the 2024 Presidential Speakers Series dinner, Wednesday, March 27, 2024, at the Oklahoma Memorial Union.
54th Speaker of U.S. House of Representatives Paul Ryan claps as dignitaries are introduced during the 2024 Presidential Speakers Series dinner, Wednesday, March 27, 2024, at the Oklahoma Memorial Union. (Kyle Phillips / The Transcript)
54th Speaker of U.S. House of Representatives Paul Ryan claps as dignitaries are introduced during the 2024 Presidential Speakers Series dinner, Wednesday, March 27, 2024, at the Oklahoma Memorial Union.
Former Speaker of the House and 2012 Vice President Nominee Paul Ryan told Norman residents that the U.S. needs more civility in politics as the keynote speaker for the University of Oklahoma’s Presidential Speakers Series.
Ryan told The Transcript that Oklahoma holds a special place in his heart since he married his wife, Janna, who is from Madill.
“I come to Oklahoma a lot because my wife is from Madill and their family ranch is there. I come to Oklahoma every year to hunt and fish in Madill, and I’ve been going to OU games for the last 20 years,” Ryan said.
A few years ago, he attended the Bedlam football game with OU President Joseph Harroz Jr. and his wife Ashley Harroz, where he was extended an invitation to speak at OU
Ryan served Wisconsin House District No. 1 from 1999-2019 and as House Speaker from 2015-2019.
“I have a lot of roots to OU through marriage,” Ryan said. “We have bird dogs, and I naturally wanted to name them Bucky and Badger, but we ended up calling them Boomer and Sooner. It just tells who makes the decision in our family.”
He said his biggest concern for young people is that they are witnessing an unprecedented tone as far as political dialogue.
“I think it’s really important that young people, particularly college students, get a sense that politics and political discussion is not just about anger and personality destruction,” Ryan said. “There are bigger issues to talk about, and there are civil discussions to be had.
Ryan has previously criticized members of both parties for implementing divisive rhetoric, including former president Donald Trump.
“I think younger Americans get fed this content 24/7 via social media algorithms that often play on the emotions of anger and fear, and they push people further into illogical corners that dumbs down policy and ratchets up partisanship,” Ryan said.
He said he would like to see people look up to mentors and leaders who look for middle ground, and that many members of Congress exemplify moderation required to push positive policy and bring people together.
He said other members of Congress have fallen short by not bringing people together.
“With your thumbs on social media, and even on cable, you can become a household name quickly if you just shock and awe. Marjorie Taylor Greene is a perfect example. She hasn’t passed a single piece of legislation that I know of,” Ryan said.
Harroz told attendees that it is important to heed Ryan’s advice about listening to others.
“We have an obligation. We need to make sure we have citizen leaders who can listen and engage in civil discourse that advances us forward,” Harroz said. “Discounting individuals as not worthy of being heard based on party … Those are the seeds of the destruction of our democracy.”
John Kirchhoefer, an OU law student from Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, attended the event and had the chance to visit with Ryan prior to the lecture. He previously worked in Ryan’s office.
“I got my start in politics, working for Speaker Ryan, in the First District,” Kirchhoefer said. “He’s been consistent in his views and his ideology, and his views don’t sway within the political landscape, and I appreciate that.”
He said he was touched by Ryan’s message about listening to those who you may not agree with.
“Paul always says, you have one mouth and two ears, and you should use them in that proportion,” Ryan said. “I agree with that, and I think it’s about respect and seeing dignity and appreciating people who come from different backgrounds and have different perspectives.”
Quinn Weimer, a first-year law student at OU, said it is important for leaders to meet with students to impart their knowledge and tell about their experiences.
“It means a lot that the former Speaker of the House has come to speak to us,” Weimer said. “It was nice to hear from someone who was involved in Congress for so long and to hear it and to learn about the problems that are facing us and how he sees the legislature moving in the future.”
Ryan currently serves on the faculty of the University of Notre Dame in political science and economics, as well as the board of Shine Medical Technologies.
Brian King covers education and politics for The Transcript. Reach him at bking@normantranscript.com.
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