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Robert Gates with moderator James Bennet
The Samuel J. Heyman Memorial Lecture
From pentagon war rooms to corporate board rooms, Robert Gates has brought a depth and breadth of expertise, bold vision, and geopolitical insight to his numerous leadership roles. Recognized as a consummate leader and dedicated patriot, he has served eight U.S. Presidents and influenced decades of U.S. intelligence and defense policies. Gates is the only Secretary of Defense to serve both Republican and Democratic Administrations; he oversaw a pivotal shift in the United States’ strategic in waging war — from large, conventional conflicts to anti-terror tactics that have defined America’s defense capabilities and long-term strategies. In his visit to the Four Arts, he will pose the question: “Is War Inevitable?”
James Bennet is the weekly Lexington columnist at The Economist. He was previously the editorial page editor of The New York Times, where he oversaw the digital transformation of the paper’s opinion department and led it to two Pulitzer Prizes. Before joining The Times, Mr. Bennet was the editor in chief and co-president of The Atlantic. Under Mr. Bennet, who was named editor in 2006, The Atlantic substantially increased its audience and editorial impact while returning to profitability for the first time in many years. Adweek and Ad Age named Mr. Bennet editor of the year in 2012 and 2009 respectively, and the magazine was honored with the National Magazine Award four times during his tenure, including Magazine of the Year and best website. He is a past president of the American Society of Magazine Editors and past member of the board of the Columbia Journalism Review. Before joining The Atlantic, Mr. Bennet worked for The Times for 15 years in several reporting roles, including Jerusalem bureau chief, White House correspondent and Detroit bureau chief. He also served as staff writer for the Sunday Magazine. Before joining the Times, Mr. Bennet was an editor with The Washington Monthly. He and his wife have two sons.
Samuel J. Heyman was educated at the Wooster School, Yale College and Harvard Law School. After government service as the Chief Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, his business career began as a real estate developer in 1969. In 1982 he took over the board of GAF Corporation, today the largest manufacturer of residential roofing in the United States. Mr. Heyman was widely known for his philanthropy and interest in improving the quality of Federal Public Service. In 2008, President George W. Bush awarded Mr. Heyman the Presidential Citizens Medal at the White House for his contributions. The Samuel J. Heyman Memorial Lecture was established in 2017 by Ronnie Heyman in honor of her husband.