POSITIVE RSVP ONLINE ONLY: http://belfercenter.ksg.harvard.edu/events/graham-talent.html
The Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs will host a Directors' Lunch with Senators Bob Graham and James Talent.
Senators Graham and Talent were appointed to the congressionally mandated Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism in early 2008. In December 2008, the Commission released its report, "World at Risk." The report declared that "unless the world community acts decisively and with great urgency, it is more likely than not a weapon of mass destruction will be used in a terrorist attack somewhere in the world by the end of 2013." In 2009, the Commission was authorized for an additional year of work, to help Congress and the Administration turn its concrete recommendations into actions. The Commission released its "Report Card" of these efforts in January 2010. It concluded that while some progress has been made, over the last year, the "risk has continued to grow." Since then, former Senators Graham and Talent have continued to work to advance the U.S. Government's progress in protecting the United States from weapons of mass destruction proliferation and terrorism.
Senator Bob Graham is the former two-term governor of Florida and served for 18 years in the United States Senate. This is combined with 12 years in the Florida legislature for a total of 38 years of public service. As Governor and Senator, Bob Graham was a centrist, committed to bringing his colleagues together behind programs that served the broadest public interest. He was recognized by the people of Florida when he received an 83% approval ranking as he concluded eight years as Governor. Bob Graham retired from public service in January 2005, following his Presidential campaign in 2004.
Senator Graham is recognized for his leadership on his ten years of service on the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence - including eighteen months as chairman in 2001-2002. Following the release of the Joint Inquiry's final report in July 2003, Senator Graham steadfastly advocated reform of the intelligence community and sponsored legislation to bring about needed changes. In the fall of 2004 Senator Graham authored "Intelligence Matters" based upon his experiences gleaned during the joint inquiry and his analysis of the run up to the Iraq war.
Senator Graham is currently the Chairman of the Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism whose mandate is to build on the work of the 9/11 Commission and complete a critical task: to assess our nation' progress in preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and terrorism, and to provide a roadmap to greater security with concrete recommendations for improvement. The Commission's report, "World at Risk," was published in the Fall of 2008.
Senator Graham was also appointed to serve as a Commissioner on the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission, established by Congress to examine the global and domestic causes of the recent financial crisis. The Commission will provide its findings and conclusions in a final report due to Congress on December 15, 2010.
After retiring from public life, Senator Graham served for a year as a senior fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government where he lectured to undergraduate, graduate and executive management students. His primary focus was on civic education and intelligence, issues which continue to be of great importance to him.
In addition to his commission related activities, Senator Graham is also the author of a new book about civic participation, entitled "America: The Owner's Manual." The goal of the book is to provide ordinary people with the means and motivation to go out and influence decision makers in order to achieve positive change in their neighborhoods and communities.
Senator Graham serves as the chair of the Board of Overseers of the Graham Center for Public Service. This Center, with a home at the University of Florida, commenced programs in the fall of 2007 in the areas of Public Service, Homeland Security, and The Americas, subjects in which he has been deeply involved during his public career.
Senator Talent serves as a Distinguished Fellow at the Washington, DC, based Heritage Foundation, where he specializes in military readiness issues. Senator Talent was appointed Vice Chairman to the congressionally authorized Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism, in early 2008. Recently, Sen. Talent was selected by House Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Howard P. "Buck" McKeon (R-CA) to serve on the Congressionally-mandated Independent Panel created to assess the Department of Defense's Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR). The QDR will assess the threats and challenges the nation faces and re-balance Department of Defense strategies, capabilities and forces to address today's conflicts and tomorrow's threats. The QDR is one of the principal means by which the tenets of the National Defense Strategy are translated into potentially new policies, capabilities and initiatives.
Senator Talent has a long history in public service on behalf of the State of Missouri. In 2002, Missourians elected Jim Talent to the U.S. Senate where he served for four years, from 2002 to 2007. During his tenure in the Senate, he served on four key committees: The Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee; the Senate Armed Services Committee; the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee; and the Senate Aging Committee. Senator Talent served Missouri in the U.S. House for eight years, from 1993 to 2001. Senator Talent served for eight years on the House Armed Services Committee. In that capacity, he waged a long battle to protect America's armed forces from cuts in size and funding. Also as a freshman member of Congress, Senator Talent formed a special congressional committee to address the decline in readiness of America's military.
Jim Talent was elected to the Missouri House of Representatives in 1984, at the age of 28, where he served for eight years and succeeded in passing numerous pieces of legislation, including legislative efforts to build roads, toughen drug laws, secure taxpayer rights and reduce taxes. At the age of 32, Senator Talent was unanimously chosen by his colleagues as the Minority Leader, the highest ranking Republican leadership position in the Missouri House. He served in that capacity until 1992 when he was elected to Congress to represent Missouri's Second District.
Senator Talent graduated from Washington University in St. Louis, where he received the Arnold J. Lien Prize as the most outstanding undergraduate in political science. He graduated Order of the Coif from the University of Chicago Law School in 1981 and clerked for Judge Richard Posner of the United States Court of Appeals from 1982 through 1983.
RSVP REQUIRED! http://belfercenter.ksg.harvard.edu/events/graham-talent.html
As space is limited for this event, RSVPs will be accepted on a first come, first served basis.
Belfer Center Directors' Lunches are strictly off-the-record. By indicating your desire to attend the lunch, you agree that you will comply with the Belfer Center's strict policy against recording or disclosing the contents of the lunch. Your access is conditioned on your compliance with these restrictions. Should you violate these rules, the Center will pursue all available legal options and you will be excluded from all future events.
