The last time Nancy Kassebaum walked through Angell Hall, students didn't communicate by e-mail, the Media Union didn't exist on a forested North Campus and candidates didn't spend millions of dollars on television advertising.
When she returned yesterday as a retiring three-term U.S. senator from Kansas with a legacy as a leader in health care reform, she walked past Angell Hall computing center and into a room filled with students who asked questions about campaign finance reform and the future of Social Security.
Students in Prof. Richard Hall's Political Science 417 class said Kassebaum, as their guest speaker, proved to be an exception to the typical stereotype of politicians.
"Being that this is a political science class and we keep learning about how dirty and rotten politicians are - she was very honest," said LSA senior Rebecca Moatz.
Constituents don't always trust their representatives, or like what they say or how they vote, Kassebaum said.
"You don't hear from people who support your vote, it's usually people who are opposed," Kassebaum said.
"There are a lot of times you vote and you wish you could vote 'maybe' - but you don't have that luxury."
Kassebaum said that while she welcomes input from constituents, there are some issues on which she is willing to vote her own conscience. Her support of the federal ban on assault weapons resulted in angry phone calls, irate constituents and a tearful receptionist.
"I started answering the phones," Kassebaum said. "Many times they wouldn't say the same things to me that they'd say to a receptionist, but many times they would."
A lot has changed in Washington and Ann Arbor since Kassebaum was on campus in the 1950s to complete her master's degree. Kassebaum returned to teach Hall's class yesterday as a result of a Distinguished Legislator award the University bestowed upon her last semester.
University alum Bertram Askwith, who sponsored the award and Kassebaum's visit, said her lecture was an attempt to call attention to "an outstanding political science department" and "an outstanding legislator."
"There's so much 'anti' feeling about legislators in general," he said.
The high cost - in money and privacy - of running a campaign discourages qualified candidates from tossing their hats in the ring, Kassebaum said.
"We're not going to be able to draw some of the best people into the process," said Kassebaum, who favors full disclosure in campaign finance.
Even without official legislation from Congress, candidates can and should limit their own campaign spending and contributions, she said. Kassebaum said she limited her PAC contributions to $1,000 and her spending to $360,000 in her 1990 re-election bid.
Once members reach the Senate floor, the real money problems start. Congress will have to re-think the issue of entitlements and the shrinking base of workers supporting retired persons, she said.
"(By 2020) all of the tax money raised will go to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid unless we make some changes today," she said.
Fiscal realities may force more Medicare recipients to use managed care instead of "fee-for-service" plans, she said.
"We've put off talking about something that's going to hit your age at the most vulnerable point," Kassebaum said to the class of undergraduates.
JOE WESTRATE/Daily
Sen. Nancy Kassenbaum (R-Kan.) speaks to a political science class yesterday in Mason Hall.