William Kristol
March 31, 2005

One of the nations leading conservative voices, William Kristol, spoke to an audience of more than 500 Thursday, March 31, as part of Marietta Colleges Point of View speaker series.

Kristol, editor of the influential Washington-based political magazine, The Weekly Standard, spent most of the hour talking about President Bushs foreign policy. However, Kristol also answered questions from the crowd at Fenton Court.

Kristol, who also attended a post-event gathering in the Trustee Room, spoke positively about the Bush Administration and used many comparisons to past presidents especially President Harry Truman. He reminded the crowd to remember how much and quickly things have changed in the U.S. and the world since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in 2001.

The most important thing to understand in the current era is to understand we live in a different era. 9-11 was a watershed moment, said Kristol, who regularly appears on FOX News Sunday and FOX News Channel. Were now in a new era of international politics. Were only three years into it, so its very fluid.

Kristol spoke briefly about Bushs proposed Social Security changes after a question from an audience member, but the majority of his talk dealt with foreign policy and how historians will view Bush.

Kristol, who is widely recognized as one of the nations leading political analysts and commentators, was named The Hottest Pundit in Town by Washingtonian magazine, he has pushed forward the debate on American foreign policy since the 9/11 terrorist attacks and continues to drive the conversation as co-author of New York Times best seller The War Over Iraq: Saddams Tyranny and Americas Mission.

Before starting The Weekly Standard in 1995, Kristol led the Project for the Republican Future, where he helped shape the strategy that produced the 1994 Republican congressional victory. Prior to that, he served as chief of staff to vice president Dan Quayle during the first Bush administration; and to Secretary of Education William Bennett under President Ronald Reagan. Before coming to Washington in 1985, Kristol taught politics at the University of Pennsylvania and Harvards Kennedy School of Government.

Kristol was the second speaker in the Point of View series, which began with the 2003-04 school year, with the nationally recognized pro-family movement leader, Phyllis Schlafly.