COLUMBUS -- Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel said many issues will be facing whomever is elected the next president of the United States.
The problems vary from Social Security reform to immigration and the country’s involvement in wars, but he said all of the problems can be fixed.
Hagel was at the Columbus Public Library on Saturday promoting his new book, “America: Our Next Chapter.” Hagel said he highlights in the book many of what he thinks are issues for America and possible solutions to those problems.
Hagel said the reason why he wrote the book is because there is “a transformational shift of geopolitical influences in the world,” and that economics of the world is changing.
“With the world, as it is unfolding as it is today in this, I believe, a historic unprecedented way, it seems to me that we, the United States, have to understand that every challenge that faces our country is not a United States challenge. It is a global challenge,” he said.
Hagel said the current government has not dealt with the problems, and because of that American people have lost trust in their leaders.
The next president will “inherit an inventory of problems as large as or maybe larger than Franklin Roosevelt,” Hagel said, “but I think with this comes tremendous opportunity for the American people.”
Hagel said it will take a leader who will “put together wise people, a wise bipartisan cabinet, reach out to the congress, reach to the American people, reach to the world and start rebuilding alliances, strengthen those alliances like Eisenhower did.”
When asked if he would be open to serving a role under the next president, whether that be vice president or secretary of state, Hagel said he doesn’t expect to be asked, but he would consider it.
“Anyone who cares about their country and who has been involved in government and politics in different ways like I have over the years would have to consider a serious offer from a presidential candidate or a president on any of these positions. That doesn’t mean you do it necessarily, but you have to consider it,” he said.
Hagel is currently serving his second term in the United States Senate.
About 90 people attended the event at the library. Copies of Hagel’s book were available there for purchase.
All of the books sold out.
To order copies of the book, call the Columbus Public Library at 564-7116 or Diane Klug, vice president of the Friends of the Library, at 564-8468.
Print This Story
Email This Story
