The Robert Strauss Center: Recent Episodes
The Robert Strauss Center
The Robert Strauss Center for International Security and Law integrates expertise from across the University of Texas at Austin, as well as from the private and public sectors, in pursuit of practical solutions to emerging international challenges. Towards that end, the Center sponsors a wide array of research programs and educational initiatives, which are described in detail here: https://www.strausscenter.org/programs. Follow us on Twitter @strausscenter.
David Heyman, former Assistant Secretary for Policy at the Department of Homeland Security
Lt General Ken Eickmann, USAF (Ret.), and Rear Admiral Neil Morisetti, British Royal Navy (Ret.)
Dr. Brantly Womack, C.K. Yen Professor of Politics at the Miller Center at the University of Virginia
Admiral William McRaven, (ret.) Introduced by William Powers, Jr, UT-Austin President
It has been a decade since the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 ushered in a sweeping reorganization of the U.S. intelligence community, creating the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and the National Counterterrorism Center. Partnering with the Intelligence and National Security Alliance, the University of Texas at Austin's Clements Center and Strauss Center hosted a multi-day gathering on "Intelligence Reform and Counterterrorism after a Decade: Are We Smarter and Safer?" from October 16-18, 2014.
Opening Remarks: Admiral Bobby Inman (ret.), former National Security Director Moderator: Michael Allen, Beacon Global Strategies Managing Director James Clapper, Director of National Intelligence Vice Admiral Michael McConnell, former Director of National Intelligence David Shedd, Defense Intelligence Agency Director (Acting)
It has been a decade since the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 ushered in a sweeping reorganization of the U.S. intelligence community, creating the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and the National Counterterrorism Center. Partnering with the Intelligence and National Security Alliance, the University of Texas at Austin's Clements Center and Strauss Center hosted a multi-day gathering on "Intelligence Reform and Counterterrorism after a Decade: Are We Smarter and Safer?" from October 16-18, 2014.
James Clapper, Director of National Intelligence
It has been a decade since the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 ushered in a sweeping reorganization of the U.S. intelligence community, creating the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and the National Counterterrorism Center. Partnering with the Intelligence and National Security Alliance, the University of Texas at Austin's Clements Center and Strauss Center hosted a multi-day gathering on "Intelligence Reform and Counterterrorism after a Decade: Are We Smarter and Safer?" from October 16-18, 2014.
Moderator: Paul Pope, UT-Austin CIA Officer in Residence Stephen Cambone, former Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence Lt Gen Frank Kisner (ret.), former NATO Special Operations Commander Jim Langdon, former Chair of the President's Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board Steve Slick, former National Security Council Senior Director
It has been a decade since the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 ushered in a sweeping reorganization of the U.S. intelligence community, creating the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and the National Counterterrorism Center. Partnering with the Intelligence and National Security Alliance, the University of Texas at Austin's Clements Center and Strauss Center hosted a multi-day gathering on "Intelligence Reform and Counterterrorism after a Decade: Are We Smarter and Safer?" from October 16-18, 2014.
Moderator: Robert Chesney, Strauss Center Director Michael Allen, Former House Intelligence Committee Staff Director Matt Olsen, former National Counterterrorism Center Director Juan Zarate, former Deputy National Security Advisor
It has been a decade since the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 ushered in a sweeping reorganization of the U.S. intelligence community, creating the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and the National Counterterrorism Center. Partnering with the Intelligence and National Security Alliance, the University of Texas at Austin's Clements Center and Strauss Center hosted a multi-day gathering on "Intelligence Reform and Counterterrorism after a Decade: Are We Smarter and Safer?" from October 16-18, 2014.
Steve Hadley, former National Security Advisor
It has been a decade since the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 ushered in a sweeping reorganization of the U.S. intelligence community, creating the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and the National Counterterrorism Center. Partnering with the Intelligence and National Security Alliance, the University of Texas at Austin's Clements Center and Strauss Center hosted a multi-day gathering on "Intelligence Reform and Counterterrorism after a Decade: Are We Smarter and Safer?" from October 16-18, 2014.
Moderator: Paul D. Miller, Clements Center Associate Director Mary Habeck, former National Security Council Special Advisor Marcel Lettre, Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence John McLaughlin, former CIA Director (Acting) Quintan Wiktorowicz, former National Security Council Senior Director
It has been a decade since the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 ushered in a sweeping reorganization of the U.S. intelligence community, creating the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and the National Counterterrorism Center. Partnering with the Intelligence and National Security Alliance, the University of Texas at Austin's Clements Center and Strauss Center hosted a multi-day gathering on "Intelligence Reform and Counterterrorism after a Decade: Are We Smarter and Safer?" from October 16-18, 2014.
U.S. Representative Mac Thornberry, Armed Services Committee Vice-Chairman
It has been a decade since the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 ushered in a sweeping reorganization of the U.S. intelligence community, creating the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and the National Counterterrorism Center. Partnering with the Intelligence and National Security Alliance, the University of Texas at Austin's Clements Center and Strauss Center hosted a multi-day gathering on "Intelligence Reform and Counterterrorism after a Decade: Are We Smarter and Safer?" from October 16-18, 2014.
Moderator: Chuck Alsup, INSA Vice President for Policy Tom Fingar, former Deputy Director of National Intelligence Admiral Bobby Inman (ret.), former National Security Agency Director John McLaughlin, former CIA Director (Acting) Nick Rasmussen, Acting National Counterterrorism Center Director David Shedd, Defense Intelligence Agency Director (Acting)
It has been a decade since the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 ushered in a sweeping reorganization of the U.S. intelligence community, creating the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and the National Counterterrorism Center. Partnering with the Intelligence and National Security Alliance, the University of Texas at Austin's Clements Center and Strauss Center hosted a multi-day gathering on "Intelligence Reform and Counterterrorism after a Decade: Are We Smarter and Safer?" from October 16-18, 2014.
Moderator: William Inboden, Clements Center Director Robert Jervis, Columbia University Professor Joshua Rovner, Southern Methodist University Associate Professor Gary Schmitt, American Enterprise Institute Resident Scholar Jennifer Sims, Chicago Council on Global Affairs Senior Fellow Amy Zegart, Stanford University
It has been a decade since the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 ushered in a sweeping reorganization of the U.S. intelligence community, creating the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and the National Counterterrorism Center. Partnering with the Intelligence and National Security Alliance, the University of Texas at Austin's Clements Center and Strauss Center hosted a multi-day gathering on "Intelligence Reform and Counterterrorism after a Decade: Are We Smarter and Safer?" from October 16-18, 2014.
U.S. Representative Michael McCaul, Homeland Security Committee Chairman
It has been a decade since the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 ushered in a sweeping reorganization of the U.S. intelligence community, creating the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and the National Counterterrorism Center. Partnering with the Intelligence and National Security Alliance, the University of Texas at Austin's Clements Center and Strauss Center hosted a multi-day gathering on "Intelligence Reform and Counterterrorism after a Decade: Are We Smarter and Safer?" from October 16-18, 2014.
Jason Brownlee, UT Austin Tarek Masoud, Harvard University Andrew Reynolds, UNC Chapel Hill
"The Arab Spring: Pathways of Repression and Reform" A public conference hosted by the Robert Strauss Center at the University of Texas at Austin.
Melani Cammett, Brown University Gregory Gause, Texas A&M University Amaney Jamal, Princeton University
"The Arab Spring: Pathways of Repression and Reform" A public conference hosted by the Robert Strauss Center at the University of Texas at Austin.
Moderator: Bobby Chesney (UT) Participants: Carrie Cordero (Georgetown) Julian Sanchez (Cato)
Audio from "The National Security Agency at the Crossroads," a public conference held by the Robert Strauss Center for International Security and Law and the William Clements Center for National Security at the University of Texas at Austin April 3-4, 2014.
Moderator: Bobby Chesney (UT) Participants: Steven Bradbury (Fmr. Acting Asst. Attorney General, Office of Legal Counsel) Jennifer Daskal (American University)
Audio from "The National Security Agency at the Crossroads," a public conference held by the Robert Strauss Center for International Security and Law and the William Clements Center for National Security at the University of Texas at Austin April 3-4, 2014.
Moderator: Ahmed Ghappour (UT) Speakers: John DeLong (NSA, Director of Compliance) Alexander Joel (Civil Liberties Protection Officer, Office of the DNI) Margo Schlanger (University of Michigan)
Audio from "The National Security Agency at the Crossroads," a public conference held by the Robert Strauss Center for International Security and Law and the William Clements Center for National Security at the University of Texas at Austin April 3-4, 2014.
Moderator: Jeremi Suri (UT) Participants: Susan Landau (Author, Surveillance or Security? and Privacy on the Line) Kristen Silverberg (Former U.S. Ambassador to the European Union) James Simon (Former Assistant Director of Central Intelligence for Administration)
Audio from "The National Security Agency at the Crossroads," a public conference held by the Robert Strauss Center for International Security and Law and the William Clements Center for National Security at the University of Texas at Austin April 3-4, 2014.
Moderator: Benjamin Wittes (Brookings Institution) Participants: Siobhan Gorman (Wall Street Journal) Shane Harris (Foreign Policy) Ellen Nakashima (Washington Post)
Audio from "The National Security Agency at the Crossroads," a public conference held by the Robert Strauss Center for International Security and Law and the William Clements Center for National Security at the University of Texas at Austin April 3-4, 2014.
Moderator: Ahmed Ghappour (UT) Participants: Hanni Fakhoury (Electronic Frontier Foundation) Benjamin Powell (Fmr. General Counsel, Office of the Dir. of National Intelligence)
Audio from "The National Security Agency at the Crossroads," a public conference held by the Robert Strauss Center for International Security and Law and the William Clements Center for National Security at the University of Texas at Austin April 3-4, 2014.
Chris Inglis (NSA Deputy Director, 2006-Jan. 2014)
Audio from "The National Security Agency at the Crossroads," a public conference held by the Robert Strauss Center for International Security and Law and the William Clements Center for National Security at the University of Texas at Austin April 3-4, 2014.
Introduction: Bobby Chesney (UT) Speaker: Admiral Bobby R. Inman (USN, Ret.; NSA Director, 1977-1981)
Audio from "The National Security Agency at the Crossroads," a public conference held by the Robert Strauss Center for International Security and Law and the William Clements Center for National Security at the University of Texas at Austin April 3-4, 2014.
Bruce Schneier (Berkman Center, Harvard Law School)
Audio from "The National Security Agency at the Crossroads," a public conference held by the Robert Strauss Center for International Security and Law and the William Clements Center for National Security at the University of Texas at Austin April 3-4, 2014.
Elliot Abrams, Former Deputy National Security Advisor for Middle East Policy at the White House
• Chief of Protocol Selwa Roosevelt presides. • Secretary of State Schultz officiates. • Ambassador Strauss is sworn in as a member of the Commission.
The Commission members take the oath, followed by an address from Sec. Schulz. Schulz says the purpose of the Commission is to take a long-term look at problems and look to what is on the horizon rather than simply dealing with the day to day issues.
Following the presentation, Henry Kissinger, Chairman of the Commission, thanks the Secretary for putting so many Texans on the Commission so that he would not be the only member speaking with an accent (other Texans include Bill Clements and San Antonio Mayor Henry Cisneros).
Carter presents Strauss with the Presidential Medal of Freedom at minute 37.
Presentation to Strauss: Carter says that for Americans, politics is the art of the possible, and Strauss has perfected that art. Strauss concluded the multilateral trade agreements at a time when many thought it impossible, he expanded trade ties when the negotiations were considered dead, and he got all necessary participants on board in one of the most complicated negotiation efforts in memory. Carter says that his understanding of the people of his country, people of diverse views, and his ability to bring people together is impeccable, and calls him a man of wit, competence, and integrity.
Ambassador Strauss speech. Senator Long speech. Rep. Ullman speech.
President Carter: Carter calls this one of the most important and far-reaching trade agreements in the country’s history, an achievement of almost unprecedented cooperation between the branches of government, businesses, farmers, and other parties interested in the economic strength of the country. He specifically thanks Ambassador Strauss for a masterful job in the Tokyo round of trade negotiations and in negotiations with the U.S. Congress. Many thought the negotiations had reached a dead end, and their resuscitation would not have been possible without Strauss.
Ambassador Strauss: Strauss thanks his staff and the work of all those involved, and ultimately calls this a classy example of how the system can work.
Sen. Long: Points out, jokingly, that had he not fought to make the Special Trade Representative a cabinet level position, Strauss would not have taken the job.
Invocation: Dr. George R. Davis. Remarks by LBJ School Dean Rostow. Remarks by Lady Bird Johnson. Remarks by President Elect George Bush. Remarks by Howard Baker. Dean Rostow: She remarks that leadership in the public sector is one of the ingredients that will help the country survive, and for that one needs a model of what public service means, and examples like Strauss.
Lady Bird: She expresses her and the LBJ Library Foundation’s gratitude for the generosity and help of Strauss in helping to broaden opportunities for students at the LBJ School.
George Bush: Remarks that it is a delight to be friends with Strauss, who has dedicated himself to the cause at the LBJ School.
Howard Baker: He pays his respects to LBJ’s memory and points to the common understanding shared between LBJ and Strauss on the importance of education. Baker also comments that there resides in few men and women a rare quality of understanding the things that make the nation great, and that Strauss is one of these individuals. Baker pays his respects to a great American, a great politician, a great upholder of the political system, and a great believer in the power of America’s future before us.
Sen. Lloyd Benson (TX) introduces Vice President Walter Mondale. VP Mondale delivers speech honoring Ambassador Strauss. President Carter delivers speech honoring Ambassador Strauss. Ambassador Strauss gives speech. VP Mondale: VP Mondale honors Bob Strauss as the ultimate political strategist and calls Strauss a passionate advocate, a builder of bridges, and a no-nonsense practitioner of the art of possibility. Ultimately, he honors Strauss as a man who has dedicated his entire life to making the country work.
President Carter: He applauds Strauss for the achievements of his public career, the role he has played in shaping the country’s present and its future, and for working miracles in putting together the multilateral trade agreements. Furthermore, he thanks Strauss for keeping the Camp David process alive and the Democratic Party together during difficult times. Carter uses two words to describe Strauss -- democrat and loyalty -- and calls him a great American and a builder of bridges.
Ambassador Strauss: Thanks everyone and points out that, in a moment of transition, the American system works.