Saturday, Oct. 24, the College of William and Mary hosted its annual presidential conversation with College President Katherine Rowe and Chancellor Robert Gates ’65, L.D.H. ’98 in the Sadler Center’s Commonwealth Auditorium. The conversation followed the College’s dedication of the soon-to-open Gates Hall Thursday, Oct. 22. The building will house the new Robert M. Gates Initiative in American Statecraft.
Gates began his career in security in 1966, eventually serving as the Central Intelligence Agency’s director and as secretary of defense from 2006 to 2011. Gates became the College’s chancellor in 2012, the same year he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Rowe delivered the opening remarks and emphasized the ongoing Year of Civic Leadership.
“[Students] seek out environments to engage across differences, to argue with each other, to debate and to do so with respect — that’s a core identity of this university,” Rowe said. “We’re fortunate to have our Chancellor, a model for civic leadership, who we have looked to for a long time.”
Gates discussed the new initiative’s background. He explained that the nonmilitary instruments of power used to avoid conflict during the Cold War need to be reimagined in the 21st century.
Gates highlighted the importance of learning a language rather than using an artificial intelligence translation. He said these translations do not provide country- or culture-specific information helpful to negotiators.
“What universities and others failed to communicate was that language is a tool, but it’s also kind of a door,” Gates said. “It opens the door to a whole new culture, a whole new way of thinking about things in a very interconnected world.”
Gates reflected on his career in public service. While he noted both Democratic and Republican presidents often overlook public servants, he said he has no regrets.
“There is a joy in it, and there is a sense of fulfillment of being able to go home at night and say, ‘I actually moved the ball down the field a little bit,’” he said.
Rowe then opened the floor to questions.
Addressing an audience question, Gates reflected on the United States’ response to 9/11.
He said one lesson the United States has not learned is that air power alone cannot win a war.
“One of my favorite quotes is from the U.S. general in World War II, in China, General ‘Vinegar Joe’ Stilwell,” Gates said. “‘No matter how a war starts, it ends in mud. It always ends with ground troops if you’re gonna win.’”
An audience member asked if the Iran war will “end in mud” as well. Gates said President Donald Trump’s goals cannot be achieved by sea power alone.
“We can work out compromises — we can get some kind of a deal,” Gates said. “They won’t look particularly good from our standpoint, but they might be acceptable in order to bring the fighting to an end.”
Rob Billingsley ’76, an alumnus visiting for Homecoming weekend, said he enjoyed listening to the conversation.
“I thought it was fascinating,” Billingsley added. “He was talking about the importance of statecraft, and without really criticizing the current administration, his views about the importance of providing aid to foreign countries and developing relationships [were clear].”
Charlotte Zoeller-McCarthy ’27, a teaching assistant for the Global Scholars American Statecraft course, said the program supports the College’s mission of preparing students for public service.
“The opportunities that the Gates Initiative in American Statecraft provides students deeply support the College’s mission to prepare students for careers in public service and international affairs,” she wrote in an email to The Flat Hat. “Meetings with seasoned practitioners like the Chancellor allow students to reflect on what a career in public service entails and to better understand how they might contribute to shaping the future of foreign policy.”
