William S. Cohen, former U.S. Secretary of Defense, to Discuss "Public Policy in a Political Era," at 21st Annual Rev. Thomas J. Furphy Lecture, Thurs., Oct. 14
The Honorable William S. Cohen, distinguished U.S. statesman and former U.S. Secretary of Defense, 1997 to 2001, will deliver the 21st Annual Rev. Thomas J. Furphy Lecture at 7:30 p.m., Thurs., October 14, in Billera Hall. Secretary Cohen will speak on "Public Policy in a Political Era." The public lecture will include a Q & A session. Admission is free, but tickets are required. For ticket reservations, call (610) 282-4604.
Earlier in the day, Secretary Cohen will take part in a discussion session with approximately 20 students to be held at 4 p.m. in the White Board Room of McShea Center.
Secretary Cohen, an expert on defense and international issues, health care, and government procurement, rose to the highest levels of government, during a career in public service that spans more than 31 years. In 1997, he was appointed the 20th U.S. Secretary of Defense by President Clinton, and served from January 1997 to January 2001. His appointment marked the first time in modern U.S. history that a President chose an elected official from the other party to be a member of his cabinet.
During his term as Secretary of Defense, he reversed a decade-and-a-half of continuous decline in the defense budget and the defense procurement budget, which was increased by nearly 50 percent. Secretary Cohen also was responsible for the largest military pay raise in a generation. In addition, he adopted the use of electronic commerce and other best business practices in the defense department, the largest business enterprise in the world.
His public service included three terms as United States Senator, 1979 to 1997, during which he was a recognized expert on defense and international issues, health care, and government procurement. He also served in the U.S. House of Representatives for three terms, 1973 to 1979, and as mayor of Bangor, Maine, 1971 to 1972. He was first elected to public office in 1969, when he served on the Bangor City Council from 1969 to 1972.
While in Congress, Secretary Cohen served on numerous committees. Two of them propelled him into the center of major constitutional crises. In 1974, as a freshman member of Congress, he served on the House Judiciary Committee, during the impeachment proceedings against President Richard Nixon. In 1987, during President Ronald Reagan's second term, he served on the Iran-Contra Committee investigating the sale of weapons to Iran and the funneling of the proceeds to the resistance movement in Nicaragua.
Presently, Secretary Cohen is chairman and chief executive officer with The Cohen Group, a strategic business consulting firm based in Washington, D.C., which assists multinational clients from all sectors of the economy to develop and implement strategic plans, identify and pursue business opportunities, identify and manage risks, and overcome problems in quickly changing markets around the world. The Cohen Group has a strategic alliance with Piper Rudnick LLP, a national business law firm.
Secretary Cohen serves on numerous corporate boards, including Viacom, AIG, Cendant, Head Sports and IDT, and on the advisory boards of Barrick Gold International, BrazilInvest, and Intel Corp. He also serves as chairman of the United States-Taiwan Business Council and co-director at Empower America, a prominent public policy advocacy group. He is a senior counselor at the Center for Strategic and International Studies and a CNN International World Affairs Contributor.
Born in Bangor, Maine, he earned a B.A. in Latin from Bowdoin College and a law degree from Boston University Law School. He has written or co-authored nine books, including four non-fiction works, three novels, and two books of poetry.
For more information, please contact Penny Savakis, director of public relations at DeSales University, at (610) 282-1100, ext. 1477.
Press Release: William S. Cohen, former U.S. Secretary of Defense, to Discuss "Public Policy in a Political Era," at 21st Annual Rev. Thomas J. Furphy Lecture | Posted on: 10/12/2004
For more info:
Tom McNamara, Executive Director of Communications
DeSales University | 2255 Station Avenue | Center Valley, PA 18034
610.282.1100 x1219 | Tom.McNamara@desales.edu |
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