This post is a little off-topic from South Dakota history, but it’s a continuation of my experimentation with ChatGPT.
In the days since a successful motion to vacate led to the removal of Kevin McCarthy as Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, House members have struggled to find a candidate for speaker who can win the support of the majority of the body.
The predicament caused me to compare the U.S. House to the British House of Commons. In the UK, the Speaker of the House of Commons is nonpartisan, nonpolitical role. MPs elect a Speaker from amongst their number, but once chosen, the Speaker resigns from his or her party and focuses on operating the House in a fair and nonpartisan manner. The current Speaker, Sir Lindsey Hoyle, is a former member of the Labour Party, but was chosen to be Speaker by a House controlled by the Conservative Party.
I wondered if such a model could, even temporarily, deliver the U.S. House from its current gridlock. Could they elect a purely nonpartisan speaker, who would simply administer the House while the partisan majority and minority leaders handle the politics?
That begs the question, of course: who could do this job? I was unable to think of anyone whose reputation would be such that he or she could overcome the divisiveness in the present U.S. House to win election to this imagined role.
That’s where ChatGPT came in. Using ChatGPT 4.0, I posed the following question: “Who is a person in the United States respected across the political spectrum for competence and fairness?”
The first answer? General Colin Powell.
Not a bad thought, other than the obvious drawback that is he no longer living. That’s my fault – I hadn’t been specific in my question. So I replied: “Can you suggest another one? General Powell died in October 2021. I would like you to suggest a person who is still alive.”
The second answer? Sandra Day O’Connor, retired associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court (and the first woman to hold that role).
That’s another pretty good answer, but sadly O’Connor, who is 93, has dementia and has withdrawn from public life. So I replied: “Justice O’Connor is afflicted with dementia. Can you make another suggestion, of someone who is alive and in good health?”
And that’s where ChatGPT threw a bit of a curveball. It replied:
One such individual who, as of my last update in 2022, has been widely respected for her competence and fairness is Dolly Parton. While primarily known as a country music icon, Dolly Parton’s philanthropy, especially in the areas of education and health, has transcended political lines. Her Imagination Library program has provided millions of free books to children, and she made a significant donation towards COVID-19 vaccine research, which played a role in the development of the Moderna vaccine.
Parton has remained largely apolitical throughout her career, and her genuine kindness, combined with her significant contributions to various causes, has made her a beloved figure across the political spectrum. While she’s not a political figure, her wide-reaching positive influence and the respect she garners from various groups make her a notable mention.
Again, the landscape of respect and admiration can change quickly, so it’s always a good idea to keep an eye on the contemporary scene for figures who might be emerging as widely respected across different sectors and political lines.
So there you have it. Dolly may be the perfect answer to the House’s intractable problem, in the unlikely even she’s willing to sign up for the “nine to five” of being Speaker of the House.
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