{"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>Scheduled months ago, U.S. Sen. Susan Collins&#8217; talk at Bates 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>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>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>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 Bates. 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>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>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>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>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>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>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>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>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>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>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>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>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>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>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>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,"_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}]}}