Commentary: Motivating for the Common Good

• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1111/puar.12179
• Date: 01 January 2014
• Published date: 01 January 2014

Motivating for the Common Good 125

Commentary

G. Oliver Koppell is a member of the

New York City Council and a practicing

attorney. He has served as an elected

off‌i cial for 35 years, as a member of the

New York State Legislature (1970–94), as

New York State attorney general (1993),

and as a member of the New York City

Council (2001–13). After graduating from

law school, he spent one year in a Maxwell

School of Syracuse University Public Service

Fellowship in India.

E-mail: okoppell@koppellaw.com

G. Oliver Koppell

New York City Council

As we commemorate the f‌i ftieth anniversary of

the assassination of President John F. Kennedy,

we remember his clarion call to public service

in his inaugural address: “Ask not what your coun-

try can do for you—ask what you can do for your

country.” While Kennedy’s entreaty undoubtedly

motivated many individuals to commit themselves

to a greater degree of public service, we do not have

inspiring f‌i gures like President Kennedy speaking to

young people on a regular basis in order to motivate

citizens, particularly younger Americans, to commit

themselves to careers that assist others and build our

communities and the nation. It is important to create

programs and institutions that will encourage public

service.

Kevin D. Ward has conducted a study titled

“Cultivating Public Service Motivation through

Motivating for the Common Good