Election 2K Presidential Profile

Bill Bradley - Democrat - updated
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Bradley goes on record as a proponent of high-tech innovation, online privacy, and strong encryption. But don't expect the Internet to remain indefinitly tax-free should a Bradley Administration occupy the White House.

by Patricia Fusco ISP-Planet Managing Editor [March 3, 2000]

Vital stats
Bill Bradley was born on July 28, 1943, in Crystal City, Missouri, the only child of Warren and Susan Bradley. From his middle-class Missouri beginnings, Bradley transformed himself into a three-time basketball All-American at Princeton, a Rhodes Scholar, and a gentleman Senator.

Bradley opted out of a full athletic scholarship to Duke University in favor of attending Princeton While at Princeton, Bradley won the Sullivan Award as the country's outstanding amateur athlete. He went on to receive a gold-medal at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics as a part of the U.S. Basketball team.

As Bradley's amateur basketball career came to a close, the National Basketball Association counted on him. But Bradley once again opted out of sports in favor of academics. He went to England to attend Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar, and put the New York Knicks on hold.

From Oxford to NBA
Upon returning from the U.K., Bradley played for the Knicks for ten years, during which New York won two championships. Bradley also served in the Air Force Reserve from 1967 to 1973, while playing for the Knicks.

Elected to the Senate from New Jersey in 1978, 1984, and 1990, Bradley has authored extensive legislation, including the Tax Reform Act of 1986. Senator Bradley served on the Senate Finance Committee, the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and the Special Committee on Aging.

He also authored Life on the Run and The Fair Tax, and has written for The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and other major publications. He is married to the former Ernestine Schlant, a German-born professor of comparative literature, and together they have a daughter, Theresa Anne.

Senatorial demeanor
In the Senate, Bradley approached his role as a legislator with dignity. Bradley believes that a person who authors legislation is a leader shaping national opinion. As a staunch advocate waging a fight against bureaucracy, Bradley championed the rights of minorities, the environment, and fair taxation.

As a policymaker, Senator Bradley focused on "the big picture." Bradley contends that structural solutions build solid remedies. Anything else is just a Band-Aid masking the real problem.

Bradley on the Internet
When it comes to high-tech issues and the Internet, Bradley believes the power new technologies is the driving force behind economic growth and productivity. A former resident of Silicon Valley while teaching at Stanford University, Bradley witnessed how the local economy was rejuvenated by technological innovation.

Bradley wants to improve computer access for all Americans. He wants to make sure that poor, minority and rural Americans share in the benefits of technological change. Should he become president, Bradley said he would push to improve computer access in public schools and libraries and support community centers to help span the "Digital Divide."

Bradley supports the three-year moratorium on taxation of electronic commerce. However, he also supports the Commission on Electronic Commerce's efforts to develop a tax policy that levels the playing field between virtual and brick-and-mortar stores.

Bradley believes consumers and businesses should not be denied access to the strong encryption they need to ensure privacy and security during online transactions. He also believes that efforts to restrict encryption export and coerce the private sector into using escrow systems like the Clipper chip have failed.

Bradley said that the lack of strong encryption products available in the market have raised civil rights concerns for privacy and hindered the competitiveness of American companies overseas. He added that recent adjustments to U.S. encryption policy are a step in the right direction, but not enough to ensure both national security and civil liberties.

Compassionate liberalism
When asked why he chose politics as his occupation, Bradley said it was because he cared.

"I'm in politics because I care about things," Bradley said. "Because, I care about making America a better place in a safer world. Because I care about kids, and because I want to clean up the environment. I'm in politics to get things done."

In the two years since he left the Senate, Bradley has continued to show how much he cares about our economy, democracy, and our role in the world. In addition to working at J.P. Morgan & Co., Bradley has served as chair of the National Civic League. He has also produced essays on American life for the CBS Evening News and hosted a program highlighting Uncommon Americans on A&E.

Team player
What Bill Bradley values the most is team play. In his book, Life on the Run, Bradley insists that his greatest achievements were produce by those around him.

"The great player is one who makes the worst player on his team good. And he does that by the way he molds the team together. For me, team play was the peak of the game."

More statesmen that politician, Bradley's character appears beyond reproach. It's disheartening that when it comes to presidential elections, nice guys seem to finish last. Perhaps if the indicators set by the New Hampshire primary are borne out, and Bradley doesn't manage to capture the Democratic nomination, this gentle giant might opt to elevate his party's ticket by partnering-up with Al Gore to build an electoral dream team all their own.

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