On Tuesday, April 7, Michael Steele, former Lt. Governor of Maryland and chair of the Republican National Committee, delivered the annual Beal Lecture.
The lecture was established in 1983 by John Shedd Reed ’35 in honor of Ted Beal ’35. It aims to introduce students to national and global issues and allow them to engage with leaders shaping essential contemporary conversations.
Mr. Keith Moon, instructor in history, who helped organize the lecture, said, “I am always on the lookout for prominent commentators who live in the world of contemporary politics—regardless of their party affiliation—and I felt that Mr. Steele would provide a voice and angle that we don’t hear from so often.”
Mr. Steele earned a B.A. in international relations from Johns Hopkins and a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center. In 1999, he founded the Steele Group, a business and legal consulting firm. From 2003 to 2007, he served as the Lt. Governor of Maryland, making him the first African American elected to that office. During this time, Mr. Steele helped reform the Minority Business Enterprise, a program designed to increase business opportunities and participation for minority groups. His election marked a significant milestone in Maryland’s political history.
Mr. Steele led the Republican National Committee from 2009 to 2011, as the first African American chair. In the 2010 congressional cycle, Mr. Steele raised over $198 million for the midterm election. He also launched the Fire Pelosi Bus Tour, a campaign across 48 states, which helped Republicans win 63 House seats.
Mr. Steele is currently a political analyist for MSNBC, where he co- hosts The Weeknight, an evening program.
In his speech, Mr. Steele reminded the audience that everyone plays an important role in American society and should participate in politics. He said, “It is not so much the action that is important; it’s the silence. The fear of saying no. The fear of saying stop. I pray you never have that fear: that you are so afraid to stop the abuse of justice, the abuse to human dignity.”
The timing of the lecture also added to its significance. Mr. Moon said, “The November mid-term elections promise to be a very big deal, especially since it will be the first time we will see a national reaction to the re-election of Donald Trump. Approximately 30% of the audience will be in a position to vote in November and nearly everyone will be eligible to do so in November 2028, when the next presidential election comes along. I always want students to think about their role in democracy. I hope students will take the same approach Mr. Steele did to deciding what he wanted to do politically when he prepared to vote for the first time: he did a lot of research, weighed all his options, and then made a commitment that he has stuck with. There is a lot to admire in his recognition that every vote matters and his willingness to take such care in making sure he understood himself and the choices he had to make.”
Isabella Deng ’27 said, “Mr. Steele was very engaging. As someone who holds a different political view from Steele, it was really interesting to hear his opinions on the Republican Party, especially considering recent events.”
Mr. Steele ended his speech on a hopeful note. He said, “Take this education that you’ve gotten, that your parents have sacrificed for, and don’t take that for granted.”
