Welcome

Kevin P. Gaughan: Founder, A Canal Conversation

Thanks very much, Catherine, and good evening everyone.

Anyone who feels lucky to be alive on this special night, say aye.

Everyone who feels fortunate enough to be an American and blessed enough to be a Western New Yorker, say aye.

And most important, everyone who is grateful, that, unlike these magnificent presenters from around the nation here tonight, they didn’t have to put up with me and my endless visits, phone calls, and e-mails these past months, thank the Lord and say aye.

First and foremost, permit me to introduce the men and women who not only collaborated to craft this modest effort, but in truth, whose heroic efforts made it possible.

The lovely and talented Laurie Dann of Waterfest, Inc.; David Vanini of Niagara Mohawk; Charles Greico of Jaeckle Fleischmann & Mugel; Elaine Cryer of The Baird Foundation; Susie Russ of Leadership Buffalo; James Allen and Kevin Snyder who raised our colors high above Delaware Avenue; and my good pal, and a man enormously committed to the Buffalo-Niagara Region, John Gurtler.

I believe that we have here in Buffalo perhaps the nation’s highest concentration of human capital, from which these leaders spring. We need to recognize these assets, and as great regional thinkers throughout America teach us, make our decision-making tables ever larger and more inclusive so that we avail ourselves of all our human resources.

In addition to all their other skills, these folks put up with me – and I can tell you that’s no mean feat. I mean, think about it. I’m not sure which is more unsettling – Hillary Clinton trying to channel Eleanor Roosevelt, or me trying to converse with the spirit of Dewitt Clinton. One good friend, a wonderful woman who’s been kind enough, or perhaps misguided enough, to spend time these past weeks, turned to me over dinner one night and said, “Kevin, if you’re trying to channel DeWitt, does that make you De-nit-witt? Since then, I’ve signed all correspondence Yours Sincerely, De-nit-witt.

But if, as the Greeks define it, happiness is expending all of your energy and intellect in a worthy cause, then I’m just about the happiest guy around. Because what could be more worthy than our magnificent city and trying to make a small contribution toward creating a future both it and we deserve?

When he first heard of a proposal for a canal connecting the mighty Atlantic with our Great Lakes, Thomas Jefferson called the idea “little short of madness.” I must confess that there were days when I thought Jefferson’s aphorism applied to my modest undertaking as well. When you think of it, though, that was an uncharacteristic response from a man who endlessly embraced human adventure and experiment, indeed, sending his own young White House aide, Meriwether Lewis into a portion of the world unseen by European eyes.

In fact, Jefferson’s view of the radical canal plan was perhaps tainted by his personal feelings about the man who first proposed canals as a way to connect 18th century American life – Alexander Hamilton. So, you see, we’re not the first Americans to have personal and deeply felt feelings about the Erie Canal and its role in our life – and we’re not likely to be the last.

But I like to think that if Jefferson and the other giants of the American experience were here with us this evening, they’d admire our effort to reduce the conflict that lowers public policy, and replace it with a collaboration that lifts it. In that spirit, I think we owe a debt of gratitude to two men who have struggled mightily to bring their respective visions to our waterfront: Tom Blanchard and Tim Tielman.

(back to the top)