A Rare Test of Character

During Mitt Romney's years as the president of Bain Capital, he undoubtedly had many tests of his character, but one particular time his reaction to a rare situation spoke volumes about the type of person he really is.

***

In 1996, Mitt Romney's business partner at Bain Capital, Robert Gay, became extremely distraught when his 14-year-old daughter went missing after attending a party in New York City.  It had been three days and no one had heard from her--truly a family's worst nightmare.

Upon hearing the news, Mitt Romney saw his friend suddenly a panic-stricken, helpless and desperate father and rather than simply offer support and condolences, he did more.  He immediately shut down the Boston office and called all 30 Bain partners and employees into action and arranged for them to fly to New York City in order to facilitate a massive search.

Romney set up a command center in the heart of Manhattan, hired private detectives, established a toll free tip line number and successfully distributed thousands of "Missing" fliers throughout the heavily populated city.  He even rallied his company's NYC law firm and accounting firm Pricewaterhousecooper's to help with the massive undertaking.

Word was getting out.  Business executives were seen combing the streets.  It caught the attention of local media stations.  They tirelessly worked through the night and their efforts were not in vain.  The next day a young teenage boy called to ask if there was a reward for information about the girl.  He immediately hung up, but the police were able to trace the call to a home in New Jersey where the 14-year-old girl was found in a basement suffering from a life threatening dose of ecstasy.

***

A Super PAC supporting Romney released this video depicting these events. (Click here for link).

Defining moments.  Character matters.

As I have mentioned before here, it has long been said that "Character is what defines us when no one is looking."  Character is an indicator for how we will act under difficult circumstances.  Character is who we really are.

When no one was watching, Mitt Romney was different.  He instinctively acted.  He was instinctively compassionate.  He instinctively offered his time to help a desperate friend rescue a helpless girl and this instinctive leadership probably saved her life.

I have no doubt that this is who Mitt Romney really is and that these same instincts will guide his presidency.