Former White House Counsel Ed Siskel Visits Parker

Parker students heard from a notable civil servant at Morning Ex this week when members of Model UN held a Q&A session with former White House Counsel for the Biden Administration Ed Siskel. Siskel’s storied career in civics also includes time under President Obama and former Mayor of Chicago Rahm Emanuel.

The presentation began with a clip from the political television drama The West Wing featuring President Bartlett and his counsel. While clearly fiction, the scene offered insight into Siskel’s responsibilities for President Biden. Siskel explained that his job was to advise the president and senior leadership on legal issues facing the executive agenda. He led a team of 40 lawyers who worked in smaller groups to address issues such as ethics and compliance, congressional investigation oversight and national security.

Siskel spoke about his experience in the West Wing and what it was like to spend time in the Situation Room, the different crises he was involved in and his proudest moments, which included his team’s success in setting the record for most federal judge confirmations (235 total). Siskel also discussed the difference between city and federal work, including the pace at which real change can happen and that one can feel closer to the impact at a more local level.

Siskel’s commitment to making a difference in his community started with participating in Model UN in high school. His four years in the club taught him valuable lessons that he continues to employ to this day, including public speaking, advocacy and, most importantly, conducting quality research to back up an issue. He connected this last point to the current issue of people agreeing on basic facts for shared understanding of an issue.

Upper School History teacher and Model UN Advisor Jeanne Barr asked for suggestions on maintaining optimism about the current state of affairs and ways to protect democracy, to which Siskel said, “This school’s commitment to civics makes me optimistic. Issues can feel overwhelming and daunting, and it can be hard to feel heard, but the truth is, you are able to make an impact through direct service to the community.”

Parker’s mission is to ensure students become engaged citizens. Through intentional civics programming, such as Civic Lab, Parker Partners and guest speakers such as Siskel, students can see the community in action and understand their roles as informed members of a diverse democracy.

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