Joseph, professor of the practice in public policy, was recently named to head the Louisiana Disaster Recovery Foundation. TV's Tiffany Webber caught up with the former ambassador to South Africa who has served under four presidents.
What was it like being in South Africa with Nelson Mandela?
Well, actually, I served three years when Nelson Mandela was president, and it was an extraordinary opportunity to know and work with an extraordinary statesman. I sometimes say that I am pleased to have worked in the 20th century because I got an opportunity to work with Nelson Mandela.
How would you describe being selected director of the LDRF?
What have I gotten myself into? [Laughs.] Actually it was one of elation with the opportunity to serve my home state. But I also recognize that Louisiana is a complex state where everything is political, and so I also began immediately to think of the challenges that I had just taken on.
Are there any past experiences to keep you going?
Well, the truth of the matter is that I agreed to do this because much of my professional career has been spent developing, managing or representing foundations. But as I said, because the state is so political I know that I have to be in touch with the major political actors and to understand the dynamics of what's going on in the state.
What do you consider one of your life's defining moments?
I think I've had a lot of defining moments, but I was in a plane crash in the South Pacific when I was in the Carter Administration. I was rescued in a life raft after four hours on the water waiting to be rescued. That gave me a lot of opportunity to reflect on my life and reflect on the future.
I was always optimistic during that period that I would be saved; it never occurred to me that I might not survive. I don't think I've had anything quite as defining as the moment on the life raft.
There's talk of turning sections of New Orleans into gaming districts. What do you say to that?
I am not going to be involved in the public policy dimensions of recovery. There's another entity of the government that's doing that.
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