Friday Keynote Speaker: Senator Chris Coons
Chris Coons (DE ‘83) | U.S. Senator (D-DE) After five years leading Delaware’s largest county, Chris Coons earned a reputation for fiscal responsibility by making the tough choices necessary to cut millions in wasteful spending from New Castle County government while protecting vital services. Chris led the fight to preserve open space, improve public safety, and fought for an independent ethics commission. Before entering public service, Chris worked with one of Delaware’s most innovative companies, W.L. Gore & Associates, and with several non-profit organizations including the Council for the Homeless and the “I Have a Dream” Foundation. Raised in Hockessin, Chris now lives in Wilmington with his wife, Annie, and their three children, Michael, Jack and Maggie. He holds degrees in chemistry and political science from Amherst College, and graduate degrees in law and divinity from Yale University.
Saturday Morning Keynote Speaker: the Honorable Madeleine K. Albright
Dr. Albright was the 64th Secretary of State of the United States. In 1997, she was named the first female Secretary of State and became, at that time, the highest ranking woman in the history of the U.S. government. As Secretary of State, Dr. Albright reinforced America’s alliances, advocated democracy and human rights, and promoted American trade and business, labor, and environmental standards abroad. From 1993 to 1997, Dr. Albright served as the U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations and as a member of the President’s Cabinet. From 1989 to 1992, she served as President of the Center for National Policy. Previously she was a member of President Jimmy Carter’s National Security Council and White House staff from 1978 to 1981, and from 1976 to 1978, she served as Chief Legislative Assistant to U.S. Senator Edmund S. Muskie.
Dr. Albright is a Professor in the Practice of Diplomacy at the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service. She chairs both the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs, the Pew Global Attitudes Project and serves as president of the Truman Scholarship Foundation. Dr. Albright serves on the Board of Directors of the Council on Foreign Relations and the Board of Trustees for the Aspen Institute. In 2009, Dr. Albright was asked by NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen to Chair a Group of Experts on NATO’s New Strategic Concept.
Dr. Albright received a B.A. with Honors from Wellesley College, and Master’s and Doctorate degrees from Columbia University’s Department of Public Law and Government, as well as a Certificate from its Russian Institute. Dr. Albright is the author of four New York Times best-sellers. Her autobiography, Madam Secretary: A Memoir, was published in 2003. In 2006, Dr. Albright published The Mighty and the Almighty: Reflections on America, God, and World Affairs. Memo to the President: How We Can Restore America’s Reputation and Leadership was published in 2008. Her latest book, Read My Pins: Stories from a Diplomat’s Jewel Box was published in 2009
Saturday Lunch Keynote Speaker: Ambassador Michelle Gavin
Michelle Gavin (AZ ’85) Ambassador Gavin most recently served as a Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Africa on the National Security Staff. Prior to joining the Obama Administration, Ms. Gavin was an Adjunct Fellow for Africa and an International Affairs Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR). Before joining CFR, Ms. Gavin served as legislative director to U.S. Senator Ken Salazar (D-CO). She had previously spent six years serving as the primary foreign policy adviser to Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI), where she worked on a broad range of initiatives, including the creation of the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction and the reform of U.S. policy relating to HIV/AIDS treatment abroad. She has also served as the staff director of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee’s Subcommittee on African Affairs. Ms. Gavin earned an MPhil in International Relations from Oxford University, where she was a Rhodes Scholar, and a B.A. from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service.
Sunday Keynote Speaker: Author Clifton Truman Daniel
Clifton Truman Daniel is the oldest grandson of former US President Harry S. Truman and son of the late E. Clifton Daniel Jr., former managing editor of the New York Times, and best-selling mystery writer Margaret Truman. He is currently Director of Public Relations for Harry S Truman College, one of the seven City Colleges of Chicago. Prior to that, he worked as a feature writer and editor for the Morning Star and Sunday Star-News, a New York Times paper in Wilmington, North Carolina. Mr. Daniel is the honorary chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Harry S. Truman Library Institute in Independence, Missouri. He is a frequent speaker and fundraiser and the author of the 1995 book, Growing Up With My Grandfather: Memories of Harry S. Truman. His new book, Dear Harry, Love Bess: Bess Truman’s Letters to Harry Truman, 1919-1843, on his grandmother’s previously unpublished letters, is just out from Truman State University Press.
Sunday Keynote Speaker: The Honorable Ken Hechler, Special Assistant to President Truman
Ken Hechler received a Ph.D. in political science from Columbia University and taught at Columbia College and Barnard College. He was drafted into the army infantry in 1942, and following officer candidates school, was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army during World War II and, after service in the European Theater of Operations, rose to the rank of major. He assisted President Roosevelt in the preparation of the thirteen-volume Public Papers and Addresses of Franklin D. Roosevelt. Hechler taught political science at Princeton, and later he accepted the post of special assistant in charge of research for President Truman. He was a U.S. Representative (D-WV) from 1959 to 1977 and the West Virginia Secretary of State from1985 to 2001. He is the noted author of many books and articles including, Working With Truman: A Personal Memoir of the White House Years published by Putnam Putnam Publishing.
White House Tour