Gates, in full robert michael gates, born september 25, 1943, wichita, kansas, u. Gates in april 2011 on a visit to irbil, iraq, as secretary of defense. I spent hours two and three of thursdays show with former secretary of defense robert gates talking about his new memoir duty. His father came from a germanamerican family that had emigrated in the 1870s from weyhe in lower saxony, 8 9 10. Headed by a man mostly forgotten to history, brehon somervell, with a large personality and even larger plans for the building.
The former head of the pentagon will discuss how he. As bob woodward told it in his 2008 book the war within, gates and the. Youve been very generous with your time, but national security stuff is complicated. A history, author steve vogel overviews a history of the building itself. Former president of the national eagle scout association, 2007. Gates says jon stewarts response has been best so far. Gates, front, stands with president barack obama as they listen to the u. Gates stayed under obama to rescue the failing war in afghanistan. Gates makes triumphant return to the pentagon the line of hundreds of troops and civilians to have robert gates sign a copy of his new book, duty, snaked through stanchions at the pentagon and. Gates has much to teach about the practical idealism that.
Sign in or create your guardian account to join the discussion. Robert gates served as the 22nd secretary of defense between 2006 and 2011, considered the best at his job in the post world war ii era is generally seen as a straightshooter who plays. Pleased to welcome now secretary robert gates, former secretary of defense, and of course, from 2006 to 2011. Vann will be conducting book signings at the andrews air force base, base exchange bx during fathera s day weekend. Secretary of defense robert gates addresses airmen at seymour johnson air force base, in goldsboro, n. Sign up for news about books, authors, and more from penguin random house. Robert gates was at the pentagon thursday signing his new memoir for a line of several hundred military members and civilian workers that snaked out of the food court into the courtyard. Robert gates served as the 22nd secretary of defense between 2006 and 2011, considered the best at his job in the post world war ii era is.
Jan 11, 2010 defense secretary robert gates announced recently that he will stay on at least another year. Gates arrives in that hour and squeezes in a morning huddle with rangel, who keeps the secretary. But curbing the pentagon s appetite for expensive new weapons could be his biggest challenge yet by mark thompson thursday, feb. Bushs defense policy, from iraq to afghanistan to iran. Defense secretary robert gates listens to opening statements before testifying on the defense budget before a senate armed services committee at the dirksen senate. Time magazine named gates as one of the most influential people, 2008. But so it went in washington in midjanuary, when erstwhile defense secretary robert gates came to the pentagon to sign copies of his blistering account of his time in the obama administration. Here are a few items from the book that may surprise readers. Brendan smialowskiafpgetty images washington bob gates book may have caused waves througho. Gates is the author of duty, and a passion for leadership. Robert gates has begun signing copies of his book for the hundreds of pentagon employees whove shown up today. Lecture and book signing with former secretary of defense robert gates.
Republican robert m gatess account of his years in the bush and obama. The books muchpublicised attacks on obamas senior advisers do reveal. Secretary of defense robert gates held a pentagon september 11 memorial observance for family members of those who perished in the september 11, 2001, attack on the pentagon. Gates, age 70, is wearing a neck brace after fracturing a vertebrae during a new years day. Former defense secretary robert gates on how to tell the.
If a 600page book about how doesnt quite get at why, then a twohour conversation in his study. Reprogramming the pentagon for a new age, foreign affairs, januaryfebruary 2009. Lessons on change and reform from fifty years of public service, which examines how leaders at all levels in. The white house is bristling over former defense secretary robert gates new memoir accusing president barack obama of showing too little enthusiasm for the u. Bush and barack obama during the wars in iraq and afghanistan. Army old guard fife and drum corps during an armed forces farewell tribute in honor of. Jan 19, 2016 gates appeared on the show to promote his new book, a passion for leadership. From 20002007, griffin provided live coverage of the palestinian intifada. Even before former secretary of defense bob gatess book duty.
June 30, 2011 robert gates and president obama salute during a farewell ceremony for gates as outgoing defense secretary. This was a kick in the teeth, but mckiernan took it extraordinarily well, a senior pentagon official said. Gates is hardly the first official to engage in such a doublecross, but its a surprise because hes always conducted himself with class. January 14, 2014, a strikingly candid, vividly written account of his experience serving presidents george w.
Ambivalent obamas right war san antonio expressnews. Former defense secretary robert gates signs copies of his new book, duty. Former defense secretary robert gates to speak at amherst. Gates was here to discuss and sign copies of his new memoir, duty. Gates, a former cia director who served as pentagon chief under both obama and his republican predecessor george w. Memoirs of a secretary of war signed by former defense secretary robert gates at the pentagon slate. Gates especially felt a great responsibility signing orders for troops to. Secretary of defense robert gates speaks at his final press. Im talking with former secretary of defense, robert gates, whose brand new book, a pasion for leadership, is out, and hes on a book tour, and im very grateful for the time hes given us today to talk about this. Robert gates official portrait ceremony goes on despite. Memoirs of a secretary at wara strikingly candid account of his experience serving as secretary of defense under both president george w.
Then secretary of defense robert gates said in january that the army would cut its active duty force by 27,000 soldiers as part of what gates called efficiency savings. Former defense secretary robert gates new memoir ruffles. Throughout my tenure at the pentagon, under both president george w. While most of official washington came to a standstill monday because of hurricane sandy, a small room of vips gathered at the pentagon to honor former defense secretary robert gates. Former defense secretary robert gates is playing hurt as he plans his book tour for later this month. Gates, a cold war veteran selected to remain as defense secretary, has won bipartisan praise for his pragmatism and handling of the pentagon amid two. Commander in chief from those who know him sbs news.
Commander in chief from those who know him a soldier waits to have his copy of duty. Gates takes aim at pentagon spending the new york times. Oct 16, 2019 tv host and author of the new book the way i heard it mike rowe crunches the numbers on democrats economic agenda. Knopf while his rivals at the white house, the state department and the pentagon loudly staked out their positions, gates held back. Full of towering historical figures debating whether and how the pentagon was going to be built, making it happen despite and in part because of the attack on pearl harbor, and in a country where it can take 5 years to put together a 2bedroom house getting it all done excellently within a. Bush but was retained for service by president barack obama. Gates gives us a forthright, impassioned, sometimes conflicted account of his four and a half years as defense secretary in his fascinating new memoir duty, a book that is highly revealing about decision making in both the obama and bush white houseshis writing is informed not only by a keen sense of historical context, but also by a longtime washington veterans understanding. Momentum from the andrews afb, book signing will undoubtedly carry over to the pentagon, thus he is encouraging people to purchase living on higher ground because it will make a great fathera s day gift. Defense secretary robert gates will not attend next months nato summit with president obama in order to focus on the defense budget, according to pentagon officials. Gates responded in an interview on the pentagon channel, saying, now look, you know i think personal opinion really doesnt have a place here. Gates has been asked by president barack obama to continue as defense secretary, in an unusual step of continuity between republican and democratic administrations. The reading, remarks, and questionanswer begins at 6.
Former secretary of defense robert gates discusses his book a passion for leadership, which examines the failures of large institutions and how smart leadership can improve them. That will help him shepherd some of his pentagon reforms and perhaps start new ones. Jan 07, 2014 robert gates new book is starting to leak out, and it may give president obama and his aides some heartburn. Robert gates retires from pentagon, warns america by john barry on 61911 at 10. Feb 12, 2009 in his two years as defense secretary, robert gates has earned high marks for candor and common sense. What can robert gates achieve in extra year at pentagon. She has also traveled on multiple trips overseas with former defense secretary robert gates from 20072011.
He wears his duty, though, like a millstone around his neck. Robert gates criticizes obamawhite house pentagon relations. In his book, duty, gates describes his war on the pentagon to deliver the uparmored, mineresistant, ambush protected mrap vehicles to troops overseas, jumping through bureaucratic hoops to. Lessons on change and reform from 50 years of public service. Ultimate insider changed the pentagon like no other. Whistleblower punches a hole in memoir from robert gates. Forthright and unsparing, duty is gatess behindthescenes account of his nearly. Gates challenged some sacrosanct pentagon spending practices in a speech on saturday, directing both military and civilian officials to find cuts in. Dec 06, 2006 the 952 vote was a victory for bush, who named gates to replace donald h.
The line of hundreds of troops and civilians to have robert gates sign a copy of his new book, duty, snaked through stanchions at the pentagon and wound itself outside on to the sunsoaked. He was known as a savvy manager of the bureaucracy and a ruthlessly efficient defense secretary. He was also frustrated by the bureaucracy of the pentagon. Line out the door at pentagon for robert gates book that. Typically, rangel gathers the pentagons civilian leaders for a staff meeting at 7. The former defense secretary says that obama eventually lost faith in the troop. The pentagon has to do more than modernize its conventional forces. Bush brought robert gates into his administration in november 2006 to rescue a failing war effort in iraq. Im going to come back to acquisition in a second, secretary gates, but you brought up north korea. Robert gates will hang around for at least another year. Bob gates a very popular draw at pentagon book signing. Such widely quoted bits of the book now being dissected on tv give the. While gates leaves the pentagon at a time of uncertainty in afghanistan and now libya, he is credited with overseeing the conclusion of the iraq war. Gates gives us a forthright, impassioned, sometimes conflicted account of his four and a half years as defense secretary in his fascinating new memoir duty, a book that is highly revealing about decision making in both the obama and bush white houseshis writing is informed not only by a keen sense of historical context, but also by a longtime washington veterans understanding of how the levers of government work or fail to work.
Former secretary of defense robert gates to speak at. Robert gates failure of duty carnegie endowment for. Apr 12, 2018 former secretary of defense robert gates to speak at vanderbilt april 24 by kara furlong apr. But he was known in the pentagon, where i worked at the time, for his understatement. Robert gates served as the united states secretary of defense under both presidents bush and obama. Apr 30, 2011 shortly after replacing donald rumsfeld in the pentagon s ering office suite, gates was confronted with a scandal at walter reed army medical center, the military hospital in washington in which. Book signings at the pentagon are approved by the washington headquarters service, which is the administrative office for defense department facilities in the washington, d. Memoirs of a secretary at war critics say former defense secretary robert gates new book takes shots at president obama and other members of his cabinet. Subscribe whistleblower punches a hole in memoir from robert gates by jeff stein february 27, 2014 3. Robert michael gates born september 25, 1943 is an american statesman, scholar, intelligence analyst, and university president who served as the 22nd united states secretary of defense from 2006 to 2011. Lessons on change and reform from fifty years of public service, which examines how leaders at all levels in both the. Secretary of defense and 2011 liberty medal recipient robert m.
Secretary of defense robert gates hosted a remembrance event for the september 11, 2001, terrorist attacks at the pentagon memorial to honor the. Why the pentagon axed its afghanistan warlord time. Robert gates confirmed as secretary of defense politics. United states its not often that a top administration official dumps on the president and vice president on his way out of town and a thousand. Top pentagon leaders accused service officials of focusing more on buying fighter jets built to fight the soviet union than the ongoing wars in iraq and. But the democratic nominee for president, if elected, might very well keep. Signing the deployment orders, visiting hospitals, writing the. For a book about a really big building project, this was incredibly gripping, even suspenseful. This was why i could not sign onto vice president bidens preferred strategy of.
Secretary gates told the pentagon s own television channel most of the attacks on u. Bob gates transforms the pentagon business insider. Bushs decision to replace defense secretary donald ru. Gates appeared on the show to promote his new book, a passion for leadership. Often the last to comment in meetings of top officials where national security decisions were made, he saved his fire until he had heard where his colleagues came down. Especially toward the end of his tenure, gates would let fly with an occasional caustic remark. For the first time, everyone involved in the process had to sign a. Bush presidency, robert gates offers unique perspectives on the soviet unions demise, the gulf war, removing noriega from power in panama, the impact of the cold wars end on eastern europe and latin america, and the political crisis in the philippines. At first glance, the appropriate reaction to george w. Secretary gates will remain in washington to keep working on what is being called a very difficult budget, this year, pentagon spokesman bryan whitman said. Defense secretary robert gates, the highest profile republican in the obama administration, plans to remain in his post for at least another year, the pentagon said today. Gates served in that position under obama and president george w.
Former secretary of defense robert gates on his new book. Defense secretary, robert gates, took office monday, with a private swearingin at the white house and a public ceremony later at the pentagon. David rodriguez, being greeted by soldiers from task force. May 12, 2009 gates took pains on monday to avoid criticizing mckiernan. Gates returns to the national constitution center to unveil his latest book, duty. In relating his personal journey as secretary, gates draws us into the innermost sanctums of government and military power during the height of the iraq and afghanistan wars, illuminating iconic figures, vital negotiations, and critical situations in revealing, intimate detail. Mike rowe talks 2020 dems wealth tax plans, new book youtube. To judge from the pages of his book, many of his expressions of outrage were indeed motivated by selfserving bureaucrats or members of congress who. Defense secretary robert gates delivers remarks to soldiers from the 4th advise and assist brigade, 1st calvalry division out of fort hood, texas, while visiting camp. Talking duty with former secretary of defense robert gates. Bush to succeed donald rumsfeld as pentagon chief after heavy republican party losses in. Pentagon hosts book signing event for author, paul. Gates, defense secretary council on foreign relations. Bush and as secretary of defense 200611 in the administrations of presidents george w.
He told the fourstar general that his army career was effectively over during a facetoface meeting in afghanistan last week. Dec 23, 2010 music channel selects robert gates as its man of the year. How could obama send troops on mission he didnt believe. Watermark books will host former secretary of defense, robert m. Gates plans book tour while in neck brace usa today. Donald henry rumsfeld was born on july 9, 1932, in chicago, illinois, the son of jeannette kearsley nee husted and george donald rumsfeld. Barack obama has blasted nearly every element of george w. Robert gates served as secretary of defense during the pivotal war years of 2006 through mid 2011. His new memoir covers his service under presidents bush and obama. The armys civilian job cuts may just be the beginning for the pentagon. Typically, rangel gathers the pentagon s civilian leaders for a staff meeting at 7. Exdefense secretary robert gates new memoir has eyeopening revelations in. His powerful memoir is insightful, tendentious, angry, elucidating, contradictory, and honest. Im talking with robert gates, former secretary of defense.
Its very difficult to communicate with the public about, secretary gates. In duty, recently retired defense secretary robert gates gives readers an inside look at some of the most. The event is located offsite at the miller concert hall in the duerksen fine arts building on wsus campus. Jun 29, 2011 june 30, 2011 defense secretary robert gates could likely see from his office this morning the military bands and honor guards gathered on a parade field to practice the pomp and circumstance.
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