Perspective: Former Vice President Mike Pence Visits Georgetown University

GU Politics

ZOEY ZHANG: On Oct. 19, Georgetown University’s Institute of Politics and Public Service welcomed former Vice President Mike Pence to campus for a discussion on the future of the conservative movement. Prior to the event, student activists mobilized a student walkout and protest, rebuking Pence’s anti-abortion, anti-LGBTQ+ views. In the line, hours before the event began, tensions were high as word of the protest became widespread among attendees.

The event began with a brief remark by Mo Elleithee, Executive Director of GU Politics, on the importance of bridging the gap between dissenting political opinions. Pence was then introduced on stage in Gaston Hall by Grace Xu, co-chair of GU Politics’ Student Advisory Board.

Vice President Mike Pence started his speech by sharing his story of identifying as a young Democrat and switching to the Republican party, inspired by the ideals of President Ronald Reagan. As he shifted from his life story to his message of the current state of America – specifically that America is in crisis with border issues, inflation, crime, and freedom under attack– several small crowds of people began walking out after a clap by an unknown individual. Simultaneously, a pro-choice and pro-LGBTQ+ banner was unveiled on the second floor of the hall. Mike Pence managed to respond to this “emergency” by adding a segment to his speech: “It seems to me that, having served many years in Washington, leaders in the Capitol have never been more out of touch… They have become more intent on imposing their agenda or walking out on people that hold a different point of view.” This line was followed by a round of clapping from the audience.

Pence continued by emphasizing the triumphs achieved during the Trump-Pence administration: great economic freedom, making the U.S. a net energy exporter, the most secure border, and the strongest military in the world.

As a closing remark, Mike Pence urged students to reflect on the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, the framework for the freest and most prosperous nation in the world, and to prepare their minds for action because “they might be the last line of defense of the Constitution.” Shedding light on God’s given right of freedom, Mike Pence encouraged Georgetown students to use their time to develop the inner man and inner woman to be at service, to grow their own hearts and minds, and to show the grace of God. 

“We do not get rights from charters; rather, the rights are endowed by our creator, the light of liberty—never forget the foundation (of America) is freedom and faith. The greatest nation on earth is yet to come.” — Mike Pence at Georgetown University on Oct. 19, 2022

In the final Q&A session, Elleithee asked how two polarized sides can come together when they both believed they were belittled by the other side. Mike Pence responded by suggesting that we treat others how we want to be treated. However, he confessed that he had not been living up to his standards when it came to treating people.

A Georgetown student then asked why Pence hadn’t extended the bravery (of his past political movements) to oppose the Jan. 6 event. Remarking that Jan. 6 was a tragedy, Pence stressed that he immediately reconvened Congress the very same day and condemned the violence, which was incompatible with freedom. In the end, he added, it was a triumph for freedom.

Another question was asked about immigration policy. Pence gave a positive response by suggesting modernizing the immigration policy in a way that reflects the time when his migrant father came to the U.S. in 1923. With the quota system, immigrants were required to specify their professions when they came to the state, so his father trained himself to be a tailor. This kind of restrictive immigration policy is what Pence hopes to bring back to America. Additionally, Pence criticized the current immigration policy, especially the “linkage immigration policy,” as it “does not think about the current state of America.” 

At the conclusion of the event, I managed to stop an attendee, Mateo Landolt, from the rushing crowd and asked his opinions of Mike Pence’s remarks that night. He said that “He [ Pence] is this experienced politician that manages to drop some catchy phrases that make the audience laugh. But when it comes to actually answering good, straightforward questions from students, he helps himself by elaborating about his political CV.”

Leaving Gaston Hall, it became clear where the rushing crowd was headed to a pro-LGBTQ+, pro-choice protest that had been going on on the steps of Healy while Pence was giving his remarks. The banner pulled up during the event, saying “LGBTQ+, Reproductive Rights are Human Rights,” was also seen at the protest. Though not much was said about the substantive plan for the future of the conservative movement, Pence made it clear that he would continue to be part of it. 

Zoey Zhang is a staff writer for On the Record. She is currently a junior in the College studying Political Economy with a minor in History.