Would a classically trained operations researcher make a good United States president?
The closest we ever had that I can remember was this (Jimmy) Carter fellow. He had some scientific training. On the other hand, the president who had the least education was the most successful in my way of thinking, and that would be Harry Truman. He barely made it out of high school. How would the country be different with an operations researcher living in the White House? I think you would see a more serious effort to solve problems. For example, I work on planning under uncertainty. However, most of the solutions to problems that I see out there don’t take uncertainty into account properly, or they make short shrift of it. They’re always locking the barn door after the horse is gone; they’re always making some effort to make houses a little more earthquake-proof after the earthquake. They don’t do a complete job, so you get hit again. What’s the best advice you ever received? You mean, how to play the stock market? No, I’m thinking in terms of your career. Let me see. I guess it c
