Alan Greenspan, PhD
Former Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
For 18 1/2 years, Alan Greenspan served as Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. Dr. Greenspan also served as Chairman of the Federal Open Market Committee, the System’s principal monetary policymaking
body. He originally took office as Chairman and to fill an unexpired term as a member of the Board on August 11, 1987. Dr. Greenspan was reappointed to the Board to a full 14-year term, which began February 1, 1992, and ended January 31, 2006. He was designated Chairman by Presidents Reagan, Bush, Clinton, and Bush.
Dr. Greenspan was born on March 6, 1926, in New York City. He received a B.S. in economics (summa cum laude), M.A. and Ph.D. all from New York University. Dr. Greenspan also has performed advanced graduate studies at Columbia University.
From 1954 to 1974 and from 1977 to 1987, Dr. Greenspan was Chairman and President of Townsend-Greenspan & Co., Inc., an economic consulting firm in New York City. From 1974 to 1977, he served as Chairman of the President’s Council of Economic Advisers under President Ford, and from 1981 to 1983, as Chairman of the National Commission on Social Security Reform.
Dr. Greenspan was appointed a member of President Reagan’s Economic Policy Advisory Board, the President’s Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board, the Commission on Financial Structure and regulation, the Commission on an All-Volunteer Armed Force, and the Task Force on Economic Growth.
Before his appointment to the Federal Reserve Board, Dr. Greenspan served as a director of numerous corporations, including J.P. Morgan & Co., Inc.; Mobil Corporation; Aluminum Company of America (Alcoa); General Foods Corp.; and Capital Cities/ ABC, Inc.
He was a term member of the Board of Trustees of the Rand Corporation, a member of the Board of Overseers of the Hoover Institution (at Stanford University); and Vice Chairman and Trustee of the Economic Club of New York.
Dr. Greenspan has served as Chairman of the Conference of Business Economists, President and Fellow of the National Association of Business Economists and a Fellow of the American Statistical Association.
Dr. Greenspan has received honorary degrees from Harvard, Yale Pennsylvania, Notre Dame, Leuven (Belgium), and Edinburgh universities. He received the Legion of Honor (Commander) from France, became an honorary Knight Commander of the British Empire and received the Medal of Freedom, the United States’ highest civil award.
Dr. Greenspan heads Greenspan Associates, a consulting firm in Washington, DC and is the author of The Age of Turbulence (September 2007).
Michael O. Leavitt
Secretary of Health and Human Services
Michael O. Leavitt was sworn in as the 20th Secretary of Health and Human Services on January 26, 2005. As Secretary, he leads the Nation’s efforts to protect the health of all Americans and provide essential human services to those in need. He manages one of the largest civilian departments in the federal government, with more than 67,000 employees and a budget that accounts for almost one out of every four federal dollars.
During his first year, he led efforts to successfully enroll tens of millions of seniors and disabled persons in the new Medicare prescription drug benefit; mobilized the nation’s pandemic preparedness; accelerated the development of health information technology standards and oversaw the medical response to Hurricane Katrina. He presided over changes in Medicaid statues to give states flexibility to provide targeted insurance coverage to more people, and worked with Congress to pass the reauthorization of the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families.
During his second year, Leavitt spearheaded the Nation’s Health Diplomacy initiative aimed at improving the health of Central Americans and bringing the countries of North and Central America closer together. He also organized a nationwide campaign to transform the Nation’s health care sector into a value-driven health care system. He is intensely focused on making health care more transparent in quality and price, and reducing the time and expense of bringing safe and effective drugs to market.
Prior to his current service, Leavitt was head of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and served three terms as Governor of Utah.
During his eleven years as Governor, Utah was recognized six times as one of America's best managed states. He was chosen by his peers as Chairman of the National Governors Association, Western Governors Association and Republican Governors.
Prior to his public service, Secretary Leavitt served as president and chief executive officer of a regional insurance firm, establishing it as one of the top insurance brokers in America. He is married to Jacalyn S. Leavitt; they are the parents of five children.
Dan Bartlett
Former Counselor to the President of the United States
Dan Bartlett, as the former counselor to President George W. Bush, was responsible for all aspects of strategic communications planning, the formulation of policy, and the implementation of the administration’s agenda. He is a senior strategist at the Austin-based public relations firm Public Strategies. Exclusively represented by Leading Authorities, Bartlett speaks from firsthand experience about the current political environment, life in the West Wing, and America’s international relationships.
A distinguished resume. During his six and half years at the White House, Bartlett oversaw the White House Press Office and the Offices of Communications, Media Affairs, and Speechwriting. He played a key role in developing and executing the President’s domestic and foreign policy agenda, and traveled extensively with President Bush to more than forty countries, participating in high-level talks with heads of state, prime ministers, and government representatives.
President Bush relied on Bartlett for his policy judgment, which enabled him to develop successful campaigns to reform public schools, pass major tax relief, and begin diversifying America’s sources of energy.
In addition, Bartlett played a lead role in launching a global communications strategy as the U.S. responded to the attacks on September 11, 2001. Specifically, he worked with the Department of Defense to give journalists unprecedented access to the men and women fighting the war and provide the American people with a unique perspective on the conduct of major military operations.
A trusted adviser. Since 1993—when he was twenty-two—Bartlett has been a valuable aid to Bush, beginning with his work on both successful gubernatorial campaigns. From 1994 to 1998, he worked in the Governor’s office as deputy to the policy director, and during the 1998 reelection campaign, he served as issues director. Following this, Bartlett served as a senior spokesman and the director of rapid response for the Bush for President Campaign in Austin, Texas,
work that would eventually lead to the White House.
Bartlett became the assistant to the president for communications and then vaulted to White House communications director. Before he was appointed communications director, he was deputy assistant to the president and deputy to then-counselor to the president, Karen Hughes. After her retirement, Bartlett assumed the duty, and went on to build a bridge of communication between the executive office and the news media.
Texas Monthly magazine once described Bartlett as “the linchpin of the most far-reaching, tough-minded, and technologically advanced government communications operation in history.” Bartlett’s colleagues have lauded his belief that the American people deserve to know as much as possible and are capable of taking “the good with the bad.” White House Chief of Staff Joshua Bolten noted, “His title [was] Counselor to the President, but he’s been much more than that.” Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove added, ldquo;Dan is somebody who has a very good relationship with the president that allows him to be shockingly and sincerely direct. There aren’t a lot of those.”
Terry McAuliffe
Former Chairman of the Democratic National Committee,
Chairman of Hillary Clinton for President
“You’ve got to keep people laughing, even when you’re also hoping to make them think—and to inspire them to action.”
Terry McAuliffe is credited with almost single-handedly bringing a financially ailing Democratic party out of the red and into the black, securing a future for the blue. At an early age, McAuliffe started a driveway maintenance company, earning money for contributions to the campaigns of candidates he thought could make a difference. That passion led to establishing more than 24 companies in the fields of banking, insurance, marketing, and real estate; rebuilding and revitalizing the Democratic Ticket. After graduating from Catholic University, McAuliffe served as the finance chairman of the Carter-Mondale reelection committee. Establishing himself as a proven wrangler of donor support, he was appointed national finance chairman of the Gephardt for President Committee, national finance chairman, and national co-chairman of the Clinton-Gore reelection committee.
The life of the party. His tenacity proved especially impactful after the 2000 election, when the Democratic party was bankrupt and behind the times in acquiring voter and donor lists. Pressing state chairmen to give up exclusive control of their voter lists, McAuliffe invested millions in a new headquarters, gambling that the party could mount a challenge to the wealthy GOP and its dominating fundraisingefforts.
Every high-risk tactic paid off. The Democratic National Committee built an extensive voter roster, enabling the party to develop a strong, direct-mail donor list. The DNC’s new headquarters and infrastructure enabled their operation to utilize the Internet and modern facilities—producing state-of-the-art telecommunications and public relations media. While chairman of the DNC, McAuliffe raised over $535 million dollars, shattering all previous records for funds raised by either party.
Party animals. McAuliffe gained national attention during the presidential election of 1980 when he wrestled an alligator to raise $15,000 dollars in funds. Since that feat, he has continued to demonstrate a drive and commitment that have helped elect Democrats for more than 25 years.
Some of McAuliffe’s success at engaging crowds on both ends of the political field can be attributed in part to his trademark gravel-voiced charm and Cheshire cat smile—but primarily to his business acumen and communication skills. It’s difficult not to be engaged by his droll, no-nonsense presence. His abilities to rev-up party supporters and gain the respect of his Republican critics have been key to becoming the most successful fundraiser in modern political history. Serving as the chairman of both the 53rd Presidential Inaugural Committee and the White House Millennium Celebration, McAuliffe’s leadership and creativity helped the Democrats skyrocket 20 points in the polls during the 2000 Democratic National
Convention. He is currently serving as the chairman of Hillary Clinton for President.
McAuliffe’s New York Times and Washington Post bestselling first book, titled What a Party!: My Life Among Democrats: Presidents, Candidates, Donors, Activists, Alligators and Other Wild Animals was released in January 2007, to rave reviews from critics and insiders across the board.
Jeff Greenfield
Known for his quick wit and savvy insight into politics, history, the media and current events, Jeff Greenfield is one of America’s most respected commentators and journalists.
As senior political correspondent for CBS News, he contributes to CBS Evening News with Katie Couric, The Early Show, CBS News Sunday Morning and other broadcasts, as well as CBSNews.com. A three-time Emmy Award-winner, he twice has been named to TV Guide’s All-Star News “Dream Team” as best political commentator and was cited by the Washington Journalism Review as “the best in the business” for his media analysis.
A skilled interviewer who brings out the best in his guests, Greenfield is the host of CEO EXCHANGE on PBS. In each program Greenfield brings together two of the most interesting and innovative CEOs in the world for a lively discussion about themselves, their companies, and their passions in life. Guests include prominent leaders such as Starbucks’ Jim Donald, the NBA’s David Stern, and Sony’s Howard Stringer.
From 1998 - 2007, Greenfield was a senior analyst for CNN, where he served as lead analyst for its coverage of presidential debates and elections nights, the primaries and conventions.
The former host of Greenfield At Large, he has moderated CNN’s acclaimed town hall meetings and has guest-hosted for Larry King Live. Greenfield has reported on virtually every important domestic political story, from the Iran-Contra hearings to the aftermath of 9/11, and covered media stories ranging from the growth of the cable industry to the digital television transition. “I am an optimist by nature,” he says. “I still have a Jeffersonian faith in our capacity to reach for the best in us when we have to. But the more I look at the present, and the future, of the media, the more that faith is tested.”
A former speechwriter for Robert Kennedy, he has contributed articles to TIME, The New York Times Magazine, National Lampoon and Esquire.
“...Your insightful talks on the media were extremely well received and we are still hearing enthusiastic comments from our participants.” - Merrill Lynch
Greenfield is the author or co-author of 11 books, including Television: The First 50 Years and The Real Campaign. His other books include The People’s Choice (named one of The New York Times notable books of the year) and Oh, Waiter! One Order of Crow!, about which Publishers Weekly wrote: “Breezy, witty, urbane, sophisticated and erudite all describe Greenfield’s ‘You Are There’-style chronicle of what it was like to be at the CNN anchor desk election eve 2000. He flawlessly matches laugh-out-loud humor with genuine insight.”
He was ABC News’ political and media analyst for 14 years, appearing regularly on Nightline and serving as an essayist on World News Sunday. He has served as a floor reporter or anchor booth analyst for every national political convention since 1988.
Greenfield’s speeches are filled with the incisive commentary, sense of humor and depth of knowledge about politics, history and culture so needed in today's world.
