By Jake Markowitz
A member of the U.S. Office of Parliamentarian of the House paid a visit to the University of Iowa, his alma mater, to share his experiences on Sept. 16.
Former UI student, Thomas J. Wickham Jr., serves as the parliamentarian of the U.S. House of Representatives.
“It’s the formal way to say I’m the rules guy,” Wickham said. “I umpire on a day-to-day basis. It allows the House to act in a predictable manner.”
Reflecting on his college experience in the Old Capitol before an audience, Wickham described how those UI experiences shaped the rest of his life.
“This is where you create relationships,” he said. “You don’t get that in the classroom.You don’t get that studying. You get it from living college life.”
Wickham said this ability to form relationships is just as important in politics.
“Seeing the human elements is the most rewarding part of being the parliamentarian,” he said. “I know every member of the House by face and state. We all develop close personal relationships with each other.”
Wickham also noted how valuable his studies were at the UI.
Recalling on when he learned about John F. Kennedy’s famous “We choose to go to the Moon” speech in his Constitutional Law class, Wickham said, “It lit a fire for me. It made me realize kids and adults take pride in achieving difficult things.”
Wickham had a positive message for students attending the UI.
“When I look at résumés for internships, I’m looking for strong education and a strong work ethic,” he said. “The University of Iowa checks both of those boxes.”
Wickham’s talk had an impression on some locals in the crowd.
“He tries to be fair to both sides,” Iowa City resident Chris Jones said. “It’s a good thing we have people like that in our government. It keeps the institution functioning.”
Beyond affecting residents, Wickham also had an effect on students who attended the event.
“Like me, Wickham came to school as an open major before becoming a law major,” UI junior Lucas Wewerka said. “Hearing that from someone who is successful as him reassured me that I’m heading down the right path.”
An audience member asked Wickham about the most challenging part of his job. He responded by describing a serious problem he has noticed in the House.
“We need to keep a balance between campaigning and governing,” Wickham said. “I wish the governing end was held a little higher.”
To wrap up his speech, he detailed the most important lesson he learned at the UI.
“Be an optimist. If you work hard, be professional, and use common sense, good things will usually happen,” he said. “The optimism I learned at the University of Iowa motivated and sustained me in Washington, D.C.”