Bernie Kerik's Series of Unfortunate Events

By Henry J. Stern
December 21, 2004

Eight days ago we commented on the Bernard Kerik case with regret, expressing sorrow that a talented executive could not serve his country because of certain indiscretions which appeared minor but nonetheless disqualified him.  Our headline, "Kerik's Withdrawal Was Inevitable in the Face of Multiple Allegations," reflected what we knew of the situation at that time.
 
We did not know, however, just how multiple the allegations were, or the variety of improper acts of which the former police commissioner was subsequently accused.  Officials have gotten in trouble for sexual misconduct, abusing their authority, personal bankruptcy, failure to file documents, waste of public funds, receiving substantial unrecorded gifts, and association with organized crime figures.  It is rare for anyone to be under fire on all seven of the above issues.
 
The focus of the investigations inevitably shift from his personal conduct to the question of how the authorities, city and federal, in charge of vetting candidates for appointed office could have approved such a flawed figure for such a high position.  That is partly due to the nominee's failure to disclose information which would have disqualified him, but one cannot rely with confidence on office-seekers to incriminate themselves.  If they did wrong, why would they tell you?  We also have amply-staffed official agencies charged with watching out for wrongdoers.
 
No one person is responsible for this farce, except perhaps the nominee himself, but he seems to have had no awareness of the cumulative seriousness of his acts of misconduct.  Sadly, he wasn't just careless, he lacked the moral judgment which people who hold public positions, high or low, are supposed to exercise.

His charm towards his superiors proved to be a very effective means of self-advancement.   He built the kind of relationships which might have been helpful on the job.   As President Lincoln is supposed to have said when told that General Grant was a drinking man, "Find out what liquor he likes best, so I can provide it for my other generals." 
 
There is room for flawed heroes in public office, but their talent has to outweigh their limitations.  President Bush may have wanted a cabinet member who never graduated from high school, but that deficiency, if it be one, should be accompanied by frontier virtues of honesty, courage and leadership, which do not appear abundant in the designee's resume.
 
It is noteworthy that Kerik appeared to be a success in business, having earned more than a million dollars in the last year.  It was in wanting to serve his country (or himself) at a much lower salary that the searchlight of public scrutiny deconstructed his career.  One must feel a certain sadness at the outcome, even though it was probably in the best interests of the United States.   We await the president's next nominee, whom we assume will be thoroughly vetted.
 
Garth Brooks sang, "Some of God's greatest gifts are unanswered prayers."  If Mr. Kerik's prayer for the president to nominate him had not been requited, none of the negatives would have come to light, and he could have continued, without incident, his remunerative work in the private sector.  Garth had it right.