Earlham College | News from Public Affairs

Lee H. Hamilton, the co-chairman of the Iraq Study Group and the vice-chairman of the 9/11 Commission, presents "War on Terrorism," on Thursday, Sept. 27, 2007, at 7:00 p.m. in Goddard Auditorium.

RICHMOND, Ind. — One of America's leading voices on foreign policy and terrorism is coming to Earlham College as a part of its Artist and Lecture Series. Lee H. Hamilton, the co-chairman of the Iraq Study Group and the vice-chairman of the 9/11 Commission, presents "War on Terrorism," on Thursday, Sept. 27, 2007, at 7:00 p.m. in Goddard Auditorium.

Hamilton is the director of the Center on Congress at Indiana University, a non-partisan educational institution seeking to improve the public's understanding of Congress and to encourage civic engagement. It developed out of Hamilton's 34 years in Congress as a Representative from Indiana. Hamilton also serves as president and director of the Woodrow Wilson Center for Scholars in Washington, D.C., the nation's official memorial to President Wilson.

One of the country's most important voices on international relations and national security, Hamilton's impressive resume includes significant calls from leaders for advice and counsel. Hamilton is a member of the President's Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board and the President's Homeland Security Advisory Council. In May 2006, he was named as the Democratic co-chairman (along with Republican James H. Baker) of the bipartisan Iraq Study Group. Facilitated by the United States Institute of Peace, the group made its recommendations public in December 2006.

Previously, Hamilton had been appointed as vice-chairman of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States (the 9/11 Commission) and subsequently co-chaired with former New Jersey Governor Thomas H. Kean the 9/11 Public Discourse Project to monitor implementation of the 9/11 Commission's recommendations.

Hamilton comes to Earlham just two weeks after Gen. David H. Petraeus, commander of the U.S. forces in Iraq, and Ryan C. Crocker, U.S. ambassador to Iraq gave mandated testimony about the military, political and economic situations in Iraq before Congress. Petraeus reported modest, and occasionally disputed, military gains in portions of Iraq since the implementation of President Bush's troop surge plan several months ago. The surge was at odds with the recommendations of Hamilton's Iraq Study Group.

"We're very eager to have Lee Hamilton speak to us on the Earlham campus this month and give us his assessment of the global war on terror," said Earlham President Douglas C. Bennett. "Terrorism, wars, and our national responses remind us of the importance we place on the Quaker values of peaceful conflict resolution and respect for others and of the importance of listening to learned voices, such as Lee Hamilton, who has so much to teach us about international events."

Goddard Auditorium is located in Carpenter Hall on the Earlham College campus, 801 National Road West, Richmond, Indiana 47374. This Artist and Lecture Series event is free and open to the public. No tickets are required.

Contact:
Mark Blackmon, director of media relations
765/983-1256 — E-Mail Mark