Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush Named Visiting Fellow at Institute of Politics

Former Florida Governor John E. “Jeb” Bush will serve as a Visiting Fellow at the Institute of Politics from Nov. 15 to 19, the IOP announced yesterday.

The IOP approached Bush near the end of last semester, according to IOP Fellows and Study Groups Coordinator Eric R. Andersen.

According to Andersen, Bush—the younger brother of former President George W. Bush and the son of former President George H.W. Bush—has always been “a name of interest” in responses to the surveys the IOP sends to students and affiliated campus organizations.

“I think he is somebody who has been on our radar screen for a while as someone who is interesting and who has been a big player both in Florida and on the national stage,” IOP President P. Kenzie Bok ’11 said.

Harvard Republican Club President Mark A. Isaacson ’11 said he was “thrilled” to hear of Bush’s upcoming visit.

“I’m sure our club will be excited to have the opportunity to interact and learn from him,” Isaacson said.

Bush was the first Republican governor of Florida to have served two full four-year terms. As governor from 1999 to 2007, Bush focused on education reform in the state.

His “A+ Plan” made standardized testing mandatory, implemented a stricter class advancement policy, and funded schools based on the statewide Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test grading system.

“He was very dedicated to education reform in Florida, and he certainly has a great mind for policy,” Isaacson said.

Although the schedule for his week-long visit is still tentative, like all IOP Visiting Fellows, Bush is slated to participate in off-the-record discussions with student groups and meet with several students, Andersen said.

According to Andersen, Bush has expressed interest in discussing an array of subjects, though education reform is a topic of interest.

“He has a great deal to offer the student body, to everyone—not just our club,” Isaacson said.

—Staff writer Monika L.S. Robbins can be reached at mrobbins@college.harvard.edu.