Senator Phil Gramm (R-TX) at PEP Event

Today, everyone acts the same. Sure, there are some weirdos, but that is less because they do not want to conform and more because they literally can’t. If you hear someone say “y’all” or speak with a southern accent, you think of them as an idiot. Perhaps in aggregate terms this is a useful prejudice. But sometimes southerners have a lot to offer.

Take former U.S. Senator Phil Gramm (R-TX), a solidly built 80 year old who looks much like my grandfather. At his talk with the PEP on November 2, Senator Gramm reminded me of an entertaining type of non-conformist personality that I have not seen in a long time, perhaps since my childhood in Georgia: that of the charismatic southerner.

Gramm evoked a typically southern attitude in his emphasis on politicians’ personalities. Responding to a question about moderation in contemporary politics, Gramm reminisced about Joe Biden and Strom Thurmond passing Bill Clinton’s crime bill. They were “Old Strom” and “Joe” to him. Strom was exceedingly old but would not leave the Senate floor until the bill was passed. Gramm got Biden to say he was feeling ill, and to ask Strom to go home as well, thus trading a Republican for a Democratic vote. When Strom heard that Biden was sick, he said, “anything for your Joe!” and headed right home. One cannot imagine something like that happening today.

Gramm spoke longingly of working out with Biden and of how he knew everything about Biden’s children (I wonder if the crack cocaine was included). Gramm said Biden thought one of his kids would become very important but perhaps switch his party affiliation, while he worried that the other would go off the rails. It is unknown what would have happened to Beau Biden were he still alive. Joe was, however, spot-on when it came to Hunter. From what Gramm said, it would seem Joe had foreknowledge of Hunter Biden’s degeneracy. 

Like a true southerner, Gramm had definite opinions on aesthetics. He brought up AOC, of whom he was skeptical but nonetheless remarked “I think she is pretty.” This got a chuckle from everyone—the first time, perhaps, for people to have laughed in a talk ostensibly about economic policy.  

Gramm took the issues of today and added a witty line to deal with them. When discussing people leaving the labor force, he quipped: “I wouldn’t be happy taking dope and playing video games.” The standard economist would have talked of those disincentivized to work. Gramm’s point was much better and far more entertaining.

The talk itself was sparsely attended due to two timing conflicts: 2As and a talk from our national glutton, Chris Christie. But those who attended seemed excited to be present. Each audience member was gifted a copy of Gramm’s book, which he graciously signed. 

The central idea of Gramm’s book, and therefore of his talk, was a critique of the way in which the Bureau of Labor Statistics and Census Bureau have manipulated measures of inequality and why we have thus been deceived into thinking that there is much more inequality than there really is. Despite his advanced age, Gramm was an exciting speaker—just as much so as I am sure he was in his prime. 

The topic which he addressed is a far more technical subject than what most former senators undertake. I am not sure what to make of it. Gramm worked as an economist prior to his governmental career and therefore has been familiar with such concepts for a long time. To be sure, at the talk, Gramm knew his stuff. He spoke precisely about the economics luminaries of today, Piketty and Saez, and where they went wrong. Yet the specificity of the talk and its focus on economic statistics was odd to behold.

But ultimately, the experience of hearing Phil Gramm on November 11 was indeed inspiring in the way that only listening to southerners can be. This was my takeaway: not greater knowledge of economics statistics but a desire to talk to more southerners.