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Public Office May Be In Torsella's Future
By Jenny DeHuff, The Bulletin
Philadelphia — As the calendar turns to another year, a man to watch in 2009 is National Constitution Center (NCC) CEO Joseph Torsella.
As he bids adieu to his role as president of the center which houses America’s most important document, Mr. Torsella, in an exclusive interview with The Bulletin, said he looks forward to new endeavors in public policy-making.
In 2004, Mr. Torsella stepped down to pursue a seat in Pennsylvania’s 13th congressional district. He lost to Allyson Schwartz.
Now, Mr. Torsella admitted he might eye public office again “if the fit is right.”
Looking back in reflection of two terms — a decade of service at the NCC, Mr. Torsella expressed gratitude for his experiences and pride with which he helped make the constitution center a cultural, economic and civic anchor in Philadelphia and on the national scale.
In 1996, Mr. Torsella was appointed by then-Mayor Ed Rendell to oversee the development and construction of the NCC. The project was decreed by the Constitution Heritage Act of 1988, signed by former President Ronald Reagan. The act called for a center that would serve as a living testament to the history, fortitude and legacy of the U.S. Constitution.
But plans languished for years until Mr. Torsella stepped in. When Mr. Rendell took over as the center’s chairman of the board of trustees, he named Mr. Torsella as president. The young CEO resuscitated the project’s focus and secured funding through public and private donors, making July 4, 2003 opening day of the NCC.
Asked his most significant accomplishment in his 10-year tenure, Mr. Torsella said opening the doors to the public was a monumental achievement in itself.
“Fundamentally, it was getting the place open and making it happen,” he said.
“It was all about making the projects come about … and building the institution around this building that will last as long as the Constitution. That is emblematic.”
Mr. Torsella left the center at the end of 2003 to pursue his congressional bid. After a failed attempt, he returned in June 2006 with a renewed vision.
He was successful in persuading former President George H.W. Bush to serve as the center’s chairman of the board of trustees. On Jan. 1, at the behest of Mr. Torsella, former President Bill Clinton will take over as chairman.
“I think the [new] beginning is a good time to look for a new CEO,” said Mr. Torsella. “I’ve been through three chairmans, and I didn’t want to do a fourth. I’ll always love this place, but after 10 years, your ability is compromised. The pull is that I’ve wanted to be engaged in public policy for all the time I’ve been here. That is my one misgiving about this job. I’ve heard the call of other challenges.”
Mr. Torsella was instrumental in leading the campaign to present the Liberty Medal. Awarded annually, the medal recognizes leadership in the pursuit of freedom. He presided over the presentations to presidents Bush and Clinton, United National Secretary Kofi Annan, former Secretary of State Colin Powell, U2 lead singer and activist Bono, Russian leader Mikhail Gorbachev and others.
Among his most memorable meetings, Mr. Torsella said his interaction with “Bush 41” stands out most. “He taught me a lot about public service. He saw it as a duty and a mission. For me, being able to cross paths with [Mr. Bush] re-inspired me in that kind of notion of service — the kind of service as something you do your whole life — that is not optional and you do it with joy.”
“Change is always good for an institution like [the NCC],” he added. “When we imagined this place, we told people that it was going to be, in the end, about citizenship, and I hope that is what the place continues to do.”
While the NCC is conducting an extensive national search for the next president and CEO, it has already received scores of inquiries and resumes. But Mr. Torsella would not specify any favorites in particular. The center will appoint a trustee as acting CEO in the interim.
Jenny DeHuff can be reached at jdehuff@thebulletin.us
As he bids adieu to his role as president of the center which houses America’s most important document, Mr. Torsella, in an exclusive interview with The Bulletin, said he looks forward to new endeavors in public policy-making.
In 2004, Mr. Torsella stepped down to pursue a seat in Pennsylvania’s 13th congressional district. He lost to Allyson Schwartz.
Now, Mr. Torsella admitted he might eye public office again “if the fit is right.”
Looking back in reflection of two terms — a decade of service at the NCC, Mr. Torsella expressed gratitude for his experiences and pride with which he helped make the constitution center a cultural, economic and civic anchor in Philadelphia and on the national scale.
In 1996, Mr. Torsella was appointed by then-Mayor Ed Rendell to oversee the development and construction of the NCC. The project was decreed by the Constitution Heritage Act of 1988, signed by former President Ronald Reagan. The act called for a center that would serve as a living testament to the history, fortitude and legacy of the U.S. Constitution.
But plans languished for years until Mr. Torsella stepped in. When Mr. Rendell took over as the center’s chairman of the board of trustees, he named Mr. Torsella as president. The young CEO resuscitated the project’s focus and secured funding through public and private donors, making July 4, 2003 opening day of the NCC.
Asked his most significant accomplishment in his 10-year tenure, Mr. Torsella said opening the doors to the public was a monumental achievement in itself.
“Fundamentally, it was getting the place open and making it happen,” he said.
“It was all about making the projects come about … and building the institution around this building that will last as long as the Constitution. That is emblematic.”
Mr. Torsella left the center at the end of 2003 to pursue his congressional bid. After a failed attempt, he returned in June 2006 with a renewed vision.
He was successful in persuading former President George H.W. Bush to serve as the center’s chairman of the board of trustees. On Jan. 1, at the behest of Mr. Torsella, former President Bill Clinton will take over as chairman.
“I think the [new] beginning is a good time to look for a new CEO,” said Mr. Torsella. “I’ve been through three chairmans, and I didn’t want to do a fourth. I’ll always love this place, but after 10 years, your ability is compromised. The pull is that I’ve wanted to be engaged in public policy for all the time I’ve been here. That is my one misgiving about this job. I’ve heard the call of other challenges.”
Mr. Torsella was instrumental in leading the campaign to present the Liberty Medal. Awarded annually, the medal recognizes leadership in the pursuit of freedom. He presided over the presentations to presidents Bush and Clinton, United National Secretary Kofi Annan, former Secretary of State Colin Powell, U2 lead singer and activist Bono, Russian leader Mikhail Gorbachev and others.
Among his most memorable meetings, Mr. Torsella said his interaction with “Bush 41” stands out most. “He taught me a lot about public service. He saw it as a duty and a mission. For me, being able to cross paths with [Mr. Bush] re-inspired me in that kind of notion of service — the kind of service as something you do your whole life — that is not optional and you do it with joy.”
“Change is always good for an institution like [the NCC],” he added. “When we imagined this place, we told people that it was going to be, in the end, about citizenship, and I hope that is what the place continues to do.”
While the NCC is conducting an extensive national search for the next president and CEO, it has already received scores of inquiries and resumes. But Mr. Torsella would not specify any favorites in particular. The center will appoint a trustee as acting CEO in the interim.
Jenny DeHuff can be reached at jdehuff@thebulletin.us
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