William Bennett
William J. Bennett
#### Full Name and Common Aliases
William John Bennett is commonly known as Bill Bennett. He was also the co-founder of Empower America.
Birth and Death Dates
Born on July 31, 1943. Unfortunately, there's no information available about his passing.
Nationality and Profession(s)
American politician, author, and former Secretary of Education under President Ronald Reagan from 1985 to 1988.
Early Life and Background
William Bennett was born in Brooklyn, New York, to a family of Irish-American descent. He grew up in Queens, where he developed an early interest in politics and social justice. Bennett attended the College of William & Mary, graduating with a degree in philosophy. Later, he earned his master's degree from the University of Texas at Austin.
Major Accomplishments
Bennett served as the United States Ambassador to Vatican City from 1982 to 1983. He was also the Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy under President George H.W. Bush from 1989 to 1990. As a politician, he played a significant role in shaping America's education policies.
Notable Works or Actions
Bennett is an accomplished author and has written several books on various topics such as politics, history, and social issues. Some of his notable works include The De-Valuing of American Democracy, The Broken Compass: Legal Liberals and Their War on American Character, and Why We Fight.
Impact and Legacy
Bennett's work as the Secretary of Education had a lasting impact on America's education system. He advocated for school choice, merit pay for teachers, and stronger curriculum standards. His policies aimed to improve student performance and increase accountability in schools. As the Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, Bennett played a key role in shaping the nation's drug policy.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
William Bennett is widely quoted and remembered for his strong opinions on social issues and politics. He was a prominent figure in American conservatism during the 1980s and 1990s. His advocacy for education reform, school choice, and traditional values has left a lasting impact on American society.
Quotes by William Bennett
William Bennett's insights on:
The formation of character in young people is educationally a different task from and a prior task to, the discussion of the great, difficult ethical controversies of the day.
Our schools should get five years to get back to where they were in 1963. If they're still bad maybe we should declare educational bankruptcy, give the people their money and let them educate themselves and start their own schools.
Happiness is like a cat, If you try to coax it or call it, it will avoid you; it will never come. But if you pay not attention to it and go about your business, you'll find it rubbing against your legs and jumping into your lap.
Much of the left-liberal elite despise traditional religious beliefs ... in general, they are profoundly uncomfortable with religious institutions and the traditional values they embody.
"Honor never grows old, and honor rejoices the heart of age. It does so because honor is, finally, about defending those noble and worthy things that deserve defending, even if it comes at a high cost. In our time, that may mean social disapproval, public scorn, hardship, persecution, or as always, even death itself. The question remains: What is worth defending? What is worth dying for? What is worth living for?
If we want our children to possess the traits of character we most admire, we need to teach them what those traits are and why they deserve both admiration and allegiance. Children must learn to identify the forms and content of those traits.
The President is the symbol of who the people of the United States are. He is the person who stands for us in the eyes of the world and the eyes of our children.
And I'm supposed to believe that Reagan was a great leader? This is who he chose as the Secretary of Education...
I do know that it's true that if you wanted to reduce crime, you could—if that were your sole purpose—you could abort every black baby in this country, and your crime rate would go down,