Whitman, the only female governor in New Jersey's history, focused her lecture on state governments' role in relation to the national government and commented on the state of "Rockefeller Republicanism" in America today. Rockefeller Republicanism is historically more moderate than mainstream Republicanism.
"I am a Rockefeller Republican," Whitman said, referring to Rockefeller as a "giant" in 20th century politics. "I share his views about what the role of government should be in America."
Rockefeller did not receive significant support for his advocacy of state-based government during his lifetime, Whitman said, but she emphasized that many states are now taking initiative by acting as "laboratories" to test solutions to social problems. If the federal government used states in this manner before implementing policies there would be fewer national policy failures, she said.
Whitman cited Arnold Schwarzenegger as a governor with policies similar to Rockefeller's, citing Schwarzenegger's leadership on environmental issues. Governors "don't want to wait for Washington to act," she said.
She also compared Rockefeller and Schwarzenegger's charisma.
"Rockefeller's charisma didn't need the big screen because he was larger than life," Whitman said.
Rockefeller Republicanism may be more widespread than people realize, Whitman said.
"There are Rockefeller Republicans who may not even know that they are Rockefeller Republicans," she said.
She likened Rockefeller to President Theodore Roosevelt, saying that, like Rockefeller, Roosevelt was a "strong believer in the muscular force of power."
"[Rockefeller] was a man of action," Whitman said. "He believed there was little sense in having power if you weren't prepared to use it."
Whitman acknowledged that many Republicans use the term "Rockefeller Republicans" negatively, but said she remains committed to her views.
"It's a legacy that he has bequeathed to me, if no one else," she said.
The Rockefeller Center invited Whitman to its celebration of the centennial of Rockefeller's birth of because of her personal and political ties to Rockefeller, said Sadhana Hall, associate director of student and public programs at the Rockefeller Center and an organizer of the event. Hall explained that Whitman's experience and beliefs "resonate with Nelson Rockefeller's beliefs."
Whitman first met Rockefeller at a fundraiser held at her grandmother's house in 1960 and worked for Rockefeller's 1968 presidential campaign as her first job after graduating from college.
"My family's long association with him is not, however, what made me a Rockefeller Republican," Whitman said, noting that common views on policy most influenced her beliefs.
Before speaking, Whitman met with students and discussed her political background. Whitman highlighted her work as governor and leader of the Environmental Protection Agency in an interview with The Dartmouth.
She said she could not pinpoint her biggest accomplishment as governor because her job was multifaceted. One of her major achievements at the EPA was establishing the current report card system that tracks if and how policy changes were influencing the environment, she said.
Whitman emphasized that many individuals can decrease their carbon footprints drastically without changing their lifestyle through actions such as, buying Energy Star products and unplugging unused iPod chargers.
Although she cited climate change as a major environmental problem that future generations will face, Whitman said she believes water quantity and quality may be a larger problem.
Whitman also discussed being the only female governor of New Jersey, maintaining that gender issues are still prevalent in politics today, referencing Sen. Hillary Clinton's, D-N.Y., presidential campaign.
Whitman was governor from 1994 to 2000. She resigned her post in 2000 when President George W. Bush appointed her as the head of the EPA and resigned from that post in 2003. She is now president of the Whitman Strategy Group.
