Political Buzz: Petraeus To Deliver Princeton Baccalaureate Address … And Plans A 2010 Visit To Iowa
Petraeus GS ’85: ‘True thrill’ to deliver Baccalaureate address
By Tasnim Shamma
Gen. David Petraeus GS ’85, whose success as the top U.S. commander in Iraq is credited with opening the way for the troop withdrawals planned for next year, will deliver the Baccalaureate address this May.
Petraeus currently serves as head of the U.S. Central Command, which oversees American forces in 20 countries throughout the Middle East, Central Asia and East Africa. Before his appointment to the position in October 2008, Petraeus served for 19 months as the top U.S. commander in Iraq.
“I was absolutely delighted to be invited,” Petraeus said in an e-mail to The Daily Princetonian. “I remain very grateful for the opportunity to have studied at Princeton, and the prospect of returning to do the Baccalaureate address is a true thrill.”
Petraeus earned a master’s in public affairs and a Ph.D. from the Wilson School in 1985 and 1987, respectively.
“He represents the very finest in military service in the U.S.,” President Tilghman said. “What he has done to reduce the violence in Iraq is miraculous.”
She added that she was surprised by his prompt reply last week.
“With asking people who are so busy, they have to consult their schedule, and it can take from a week to months to confirm,” Tilghman said. “I contacted him and got a response back in 20 minutes. I think he has a very deep affection for Princeton.”
Class of 2009 president Grant Bermann said he was excited when he learned of the selection of Petraeus last week.
“He’s obviously done a lot for his country,” Bermann said. “He exemplifies some of the values that Princeton hopes to instill in its students, and military service isn’t the only way to serve, but it’s an important one.”
Petraeus will join news anchor Katie Couric, the Class Day speaker, in this year’s Commencement festivities.
Baccalaureate, an interfaith service that includes readings from various religious traditions, is one of the University’s oldest traditions, dating back to 1760. Until 1972, the Baccalaureate address was delivered by the University president. Since then, speakers have been chosen by the president after discussion with class leaders and other administrators.
Recent speakers include philanthropist Paul Farmer in 2008, professor emeritus John Fleming GS ’63 in 2007 and humorist David Sedaris in 2006.
In the nation’s service
A native of Cornwall-on-Hudson, N.Y., Petraeus is the son of an American mother and a Dutch father. His neighbors called him “Peaches” in reference to his frequently mispronounced name, and the nickname carried over to his time in college.
Petraeus attended the United States Military Academy at West Point, where he played soccer and was a member of the ski team and a cadet captain on the brigade staff. He graduated in the top 5 percent of his class and married Holly Knowlton two months after graduation. They have two grown children.
In 1974, Petraeus was commissioned in the infantry and has held numerous positions in the military ever since.
He went on to serve as an international relations professor at his alma mater and completed a fellowship at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service.
In his 328-page Wilson School doctoral dissertation, titled “The American Military and the Lessons of Vietnam: A Study of Military Influence and the Use of Force in the Post-Vietnam Era,” Petraeus examined how the Vietnam War influenced military thinking about the use of force.
Student reaction
Many students said that they were pleased with the selection.
“I think he has a love for Princeton as well as what it does for the country as well,” said Maj. Matt Zais, a Wilson School Ph.D. candidate who currently teaches at West Point and served under Petraeus from 2003 to 2004 in the 101st Airborne Division. “He has a desire to show that soldiers can also be scholars as well.”
“I think Gen. Petraeus greatly values the role that American and international student graduates will play,” Zais added. “He’s very proud of being from [Princeton] and values bridging this role between the military and academic institutions.”
Wesley Morgan ’11, who spent five weeks in Iraq with Petraeus in 2007 and was embedded in Iraq last fall studying the actions of different military units, described Petraeus as “intense” and said he admired the general’s concern for junior officers.
“He’s an incredibly intense guy intellectually,” Morgan said. “He makes a habit of looking out for people far, far below him and giving them opportunities.”
Andrew Malcolm ’09 said he was thrilled by the selection of Petraeus.
“I think he’s a genuine American hero,” Malcolm said. “He’s one of the most prominent, most successful Princeton alumni who are serving our country today, and I think he’s going to be a great speaker.”
Malcolm added that he hoped Petraeus would speak about Iraq in his speech.
“Gen. Petraeus did something very [few] people thought possible, which was turn Iraq around from the beginning of 2007 to 2008 … He did something no one really thought possible, and I hope he tells us more about it,” Malcolm said.
Though many students said they were impressed with his handling of the conflict in Iraq, some added that his involvement was a cause for concern.
“I’m not displeased, but my only reservation was that he was involved with the whole Iraq war process,” Nashelly Magallanes ’09 said.
But Parker Henritze ’09 called Petraeus “iconic” and said she believed Petraeus would be a good balance to Couric.
“I think it’s two varied perspectives on the world,” Henritze said. “I think it’s kind of a good balance: the reporter and then the newsmaker.”
Petraeus planning 2010 visit to Iowa
by James Forsyth
“THE WEEKLY STANDARD has learned that General Petraeus is planning on delivering the commencement address at the University of Iowa in 2010.”
So reports Michael Goldfarb, late of the McCain campaign, on the magazine’s blog.
Petraeus going to Iowa, a state he doesn’t have previous ties to, is going to create a huge amount of buzz about his presidential ambitions because the Iowa Caucuses kick off the whole presidential nomination process. If he does, deliver the address—and Petraeus must know this—it will be seen as a sign that he is thinking about running in 2012.
Previously, it has been thought that Petraeus would not run against a president who had been his Commander in Chief. But there are reports of tension between Petraeus and Obama over both Iraq and Afghan strategy.
Very little is known about Petraues’s politics and no one knows how he would make the transition from soldier to politician. But if he did enter the race, it would shake things up dramatically. He would instantly become a top tier candidate and the most serious threat to Obama’s chances of winning a second term.
 |
|
OH God, Oh God, please run for President, General. I would follow you to hell.
General Petraeus would make sense as POTUS. I really am not interested in Romney, Huckabee, Jindal, even Palin.
“I’m not displeased, but my only reservation was that he was involved with the whole Iraq war process,” Nashelly Magallanes ’09 said.
Well, I was involved in the Iraq War, do you have a problem with me too?
You got it. That whole “oppose the mission, support the troops” crap is crap and will always be crap. She hates you too.
RUN GENERAL RUN! What a fire it would light under the GOP with a leader like General Patraeus.
Ever since the ‘08 election, have been yelling, praying, whatever, for him t o get into this and get America righted- (pun)again. There is a a God!
General/Doctor, bring about 400 of your good people with you!
Petraeus and Jindal or Petraeus and Palin would be good combinations. Although not sure how conservative he really is.
i hope the General runs, he is an amazing leader and would bring this country back to full glory. i dont even care who his running mate would be at this point.
Wow! This made my day! Looks like a winner!
I hope this is not B.S.,I’ll be able to raise my flag to full staff again!
.Vice Pres John Bolton.
I appreciate his Service in uniform and acknowledge his successful military career and achievements; but lets see his ideology, political “chops”, and commitment to the nation as a whole rather than just his duty to a given assignment first.
We just had the “Hero” General of the previous campaign in Iraq, Colon Scope Powell, essentially commit treason by endorsing and ardently advocating for ObaMao. We did not have the landslide that the left claims, and Colon’s efforts were likely those that shoved America off this cliff or at least stepped on Lady Liberty’s fingers as she clung to her last handhold.
he isn’t going to deceive, he’s got a french wife
Just thinking about all the libtards crapping in their pants over it is enough for me right now….
Its premature to have political buzz right now (although the thought of it almost made me premature..
)
Dutch father?
Then he’s not a natural-born citizen either.
I love the guy, but can we quit crapping on the Constitution?
How ’bout Alan West from FL? The guy who fired his gun next to the iraqi’s head to get some info that would protect his troops?
Let’s roll.
Petraeus was born in Cornwall-on-Hudson, New York, the son of Miriam (née Howell) and Sixtus Petraeus. His mother was American and his father was a sea captain who had immigrated to the United States from the Netherlands during the initial phase of World War II.[22] Sixtus settled in Cornwall on Hudson, where David Petraeus grew up and graduated from Cornwall Central High School in 1970. Residents called him ‘Peaches’ in reference to his often-mispronounced last name[23] and the nickname stuck with him as a cadet.[24]
cant get any more American than that
General Petraeus won’t be speaking in Iowa. There’s now a footnote to the Weekly Standard story…
“This was meant as joke, though obviously it fell a little flat. Petraeus has no plans to go to Iowa that I’m aware, this year or next. I regret the confusion that has resulted from my clumsy attempt at humor.”
That’s a real knee-slapper, huh?
Oh well..it was a fleeting moment of bliss…
I thought the only reason I didn’t read the Weekly Standard was because of Kristol..now I have another reason.
I wonder if he has a birth certificate?
The GOP is so fucking desparate that we jump at the first well spoken, we think conservative who comes to the podium. We’ll know how much of a conservative he is in short order–if the msm gets on his ass like stink on shit, then we’ll know he’s the real deal.
Hold up on elevating the general to the White House until we see some more writing on the wall. Remember Colin Powell.
Wesley Morgan ’11, who spent five weeks in Iraq with Petraeus in 2007 and was embedded in Iraq last fall studying the actions of different military units, described Petraeus as “intense” and said he admired the general’s concern for junior officers.
“He’s an incredibly intense guy intellectually,” Morgan said. “He makes a habit of looking out for people far, far below him and giving them opportunities.”
Part of the job description, infinately important leadership skill. Clearly a standup guy. I agree with MikeP, lets hold off on 2012 talk until his views get the sniff test. Soooo tempting tho’… he’d still school Obonehead in everything.
could be a present day movie version of GLADIATOR! watch for obama and the dems try to take him out. hope its the same outcome but he survives.
Rock on sir!
GEN Petraeus is an incredible leader, and his taking the time to speak at two Ivy League schools in one week this June - Princeton’s baccalaureate and Harvard’s ROTC commissioning - is a good example of the weight he places on intellectual prowess as well as other kinds. But everyone ought to lay off with the speculation about his politics and ambitions - it just makes his current job harder. (Plus I don’t think even his XO or aide-de-camp could tell you his actual political leanings on anything besides military issues, and he hasn’t voted since 2000.)