November 13 — The Changing Role of the U.S. Ambassador to Germany in a Post-9/11 World
Dan Coats had a very successful and distinguished public career, serving in the US 1981-1989, and in the Senate 1989-1999. His career may have become even more interesting after he left the Senate. After narrowly missing being nominated as the Secretary of Defense in 2001 (the world would be a different place if he had been in the Pentagon the past six years rather than Donald Rumsfeld!), Coats took the post of US ambassador to Germany just days before 9/11. He thus had one of country’s the most sensitive diplomatic positions, trying to hold alliances together through Afghanistan and Iraq.
When: Tuesday November 13 5:00 PM lecture; 6:00 PM reception
Where: IU Indianapolis School of Law Wynne Courtroom
This event is free and open to the public. Contact Shaun Ingram for more information: (317) 278-4789 or slingram@iupui.edu
Senator Dan Coats served as U.S. Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Germany, after being appointed by President George W. Bush and sworn in on August 15, 2001. Senator Coats represented the state of Indiana in the U.S. Senate from 1989 to 1999, and in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1981 to 1988. During his Senate career, Coats was a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, serving as Chairman of the Military Personnel and Air/Land Forces Subcommittees. He also served on the Senate Select Committee for Intelligence and the Senate Labor and Human Resources Committee. In the Senate, he joined with Senator Joseph Lieberman in advocating and authorizing a number of defense reform and transformation initiatives. While in the Senate, he also authored the Project for American Renewal and Mending Fences: Renewing Justice between Government and Civil Society. On retirement from the U.S. Senate in 1999, Senator Coats joined former Senate Majority Leaders Bob Dole and George Mitchell as Special Counsel with the Washington law firm of Verner, Liipfert, Bernhard, McPherson and Hand. He is a past President of Big Brothers Big Sisters America, and has served on a number of boards, and civic and volunteer organizations, including the Center for Jewish and Christian Values, which he co-chaired with Senator Lieberman. Before his election to Congress, the Senator served as Indiana Director for then-Congressman Dan Quayle, from 1977-1980. Prior to his career in politics, he was Assistant Vice President of a Fort Wayne, Indiana, life insurance company. Senator Coats served in the U.S. Army from 1966-68. Senator Coats is a graduate of Wheaton College, and holds a Doctor of Jurisprudence from Indiana University School of Law, where he was Associate Editor of the Law Review. He also holds three honorary doctoral degrees.
If this sounds interesting, check out some of the other discussions of German connections to Indiana this fall. Sen. Coats may on October 31 find his experience resembled Roman proconsuls on the edges of the Roman empire. Contrast what Sen. coats says with Lee Hamilton on september 26 and September 27.
September 30th, 2007 at 3:37 pm
[…] November 13 — The Changing Role of the U.S. Ambassador to Germany in a Post-9/11 World Dan Coats had a very successful and distinguished public career, serving in the US 1981-1989, and in the Senate 1989-1999. His career may have become even more interesting after he left the Senate. After narrowly missing being nominated as the Secretary of Defense in 2001 (the world would be a different place if he had been in the Pentagon the past six years rather than Donald Rumsfeld!), Coats took the post of US ambassador to Germany just days before 9/11. He thus had one of country’s the most sensitive diplomatic positions, trying to hold alliances together through Afghanistan and Iraq. check it out […]