Central Kentucky is heavily represented at the table. There’s Ben, myself, and Suzanne Wells ’81, another Centre grad. That makes three Kentuckians, three congressmen, two possible prime ministers, plus some embassy staff. If the conversation turns to basketball, we’ll dominate.

Ben heads a congressional delegation that’s here to further the Free Trade Agreement between the United States and Australia. No junket, this. Today the U.S. has a Free Trade Agreement with exactly one other country. Australia will be the second. It’s a big deal Down Under.

Personally, I’m only here to get inside info about U.S. politics. Because I’m a dual Australian/U.S. citizen, Australian media ask me to explain the American electorate. Other than sounding American and studying government at Centre, my qualifications are slim. Plus I’m a Democrat, so what do I know? The Democrats just lost every seat but the toilet.

Still, I need answers. So over appetizers I cut to the chase: “Hey, fellas,” I ask, “what’s on America’s mind?”

Not the economy or foreign policy, came the reply. In the recent election, says Ben, Americans voted against their economic interests.

Adds Mike from Arkansas, “Every 60 seconds the U.S. spends $1 million more than it takes in but nobody wants to discuss it.”

One congressman was advised by a top political consultant to talk “only about your church, your wife, your kids, and your love of hunting. If time remains, mention the economy.”

“So I did,” he said, “and received standing ovations and got re-elected.” He grimaces. “It could make you cynical.”

Let’s be frank: the world does not understand Americans. Around the globe Americans are seen as parochial, insular, and led by a president who doesn’t get out of the house much. “Some congressmen,” laments Mike, “brag about not having a passport.”

Not these dudes. Take Ben. He’s the grandson of Kentucky Governor “Happy” Chandler (who, incidentally, saved the football from Centre’s 1921 football victory over Harvard) and is no stranger to the world. He is widely read in world history, once worked for a member of the British Parliament, and has represented the U.S. in Pakistan and now Australia. Pretty good for a Bluegrass boy.

All four Congressmen know that on Sept 12, 2001, the U.S. possessed enormous goodwill across the planet and has now blown it. They know the U.S. is vilified overseas. “When so many people abroad view us as the Great Satan,” says Ben, “that’s scary.”

“The world is absolutely tiny,” he adds. “To defeat terrorism, we need the rest of the world on our side.”

Congressmen may represent small towns but these four grasp the big picture.

Personally, I love these guys. They’re smart (Jim Cooper from Tennessee is a Rhodes Scholar), sincere, and professional. They sacrificed family time to learn more about the world. If these four are the future of U.S. politics, I’m feeling good.

It’s ironic. Ben and the Australians sitting on either side of him are here today only because they lost elections. The Australians failed to become prime minister; Ben failed to become governor.

The Australians went on to become ambassador to the U.S., date Shirley McLaine, and head the American Chamber of Commerce in Australia. Ben became a congressman. See, losing is not so tragic. (Okay. Listening to Shirley McLaine is tragic. But the rest is good.)

Ben fails to become governor of Kentucky but now sits on the House committees for International Affairs and Homeland Security. Wrestle with the state legislature or represent the U.S. abroad and dine with diplomats? Easy choice. Hey, look who’s happy now.

As a Kentuckian abroad, it makes me happy too.

Duff Watkins ’77 is a governor of the American Chamber of Commerce and runs an executive search firm in Sydney, Australia. His e-mail address is dw@execsearch.com.au. The United States-Australia Free Trade Agreement began Jan. 1, 2005.

The Congressional delegation to Australia

Ben Chandler (D-Ky.), U.S. House of Representatives

Jim Cooper (D-Tenn.), U.S. House of Representatives

Jim Matheson (D-Utah), U.S. House of Representatives

Mike Ross (D-Ark.), U.S. House of Representatives


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