William Bennett facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
William Bennett
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Bennett in 2011
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| Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy | |
| In office March 13, 1989 – December 13, 1990 |
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| President | George H. W. Bush |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Bob Martinez |
| 3rd United States Secretary of Education | |
| In office February 6, 1985 – September 20, 1988 |
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| President | Ronald Reagan |
| Preceded by | Terrel Bell |
| Succeeded by | Lauro Cavazos |
| Chair of the National Endowment for the Humanities | |
| In office December 24, 1981 – February 6, 1985 |
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| President | Ronald Reagan |
| Preceded by | Joseph Duffey |
| Succeeded by | John Agresto (acting) |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
William John Bennett
July 31, 1943 Brooklyn, New York, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican (1986–present) |
| Other political affiliations |
Democratic (before 1986) |
| Spouse |
Elayne Glover
(m. 1982) |
| Relations | Robert S. Bennett (brother) |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | Williams College (BA) University of Texas at Austin (MA, PhD) Harvard University (JD) |
William John Bennett, born on July 31, 1943, is an American writer and speaker. He is known for his work in government and for writing books about virtues and education. He served as the third United States Secretary of Education from 1985 to 1988 under President Ronald Reagan. He also led the Office of National Drug Control Policy for President George H. W. Bush.
Contents
Early Life and Education
William Bennett was born in Brooklyn, New York. His family later moved to Washington, D.C. He went to Gonzaga College High School. After high school, he studied at Williams College, graduating in 1965. He earned a Ph.D. in political philosophy from the University of Texas at Austin in 1970. He also received a law degree from Harvard Law School in 1971.
Career Highlights
Working in Education
Bennett started his career in education. From 1971 to 1976, he worked at Boston University. He was an associate dean and later a philosophy professor. In 1979, he became the director of the National Humanities Center. This center is an independent institute in North Carolina that supports studies in the humanities.
Government Roles
In 1981, President Reagan chose Bennett to lead the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). The NEH is a government agency that supports research and education in the humanities. He served there until 1985.
Then, President Reagan appointed him as the Secretary of Education. In this role, he was in charge of the U.S. Department of Education. He worked to improve schools and education standards. In 1986, Bennett changed his political party from Democratic to Republican.
After leaving the Department of Education in 1988, he returned to government in 1989. President George H. W. Bush appointed him as the first Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy. He held this position until 1990.
Media and Writing
Bennett has also worked in radio and television. In 2004, he started hosting Morning in America, a radio show. The show was broadcast across the country. He retired from full-time radio in 2016.
He also hosted a weekly talk show on CNN called Beyond the Politics in 2008. Since 2018, he has been moderating The Wise Guys, a show on Fox News.
William Bennett is also a well-known author and speaker. He writes for magazines like National Review and Commentary. He has also been an advisor for various educational and innovation groups.
Views on Education
Bennett is known for his strong views on education. As Secretary of Education, he often talked about the importance of high standards in schools. He supported ideas like school vouchers, which help parents choose different schools for their children. He also believed in a classical education, which focuses on traditional subjects. He often said that schools needed to improve their quality.
Books and Writings
William Bennett has written and edited many books. His most famous book is The Book of Virtues: A Treasury of Great Moral Stories (1993). This book is a collection of stories that teach important moral lessons. It was very popular and even inspired an animated television series for children.
He also wrote The Children's Book of Virtues, which is a version of his famous book for younger readers. Another notable book is The Death of Outrage: Bill Clinton and the Assault on American Ideals (1998).
Some of his other books include:
- First Lessons. A Report on Elementary Education in America (1986)
- The De-Valuing of America: The Fight for Our Culture and Our Children (1992)
- The Moral Compass: Stories for a Life's Journey (1995)
- Our Sacred Honor (1997)
- The Educated Child: A Parent's Guide from Preschool through Eighth Grade (1999)
- Why We Fight: Moral Clarity and the War on Terrorism (2003)
- America: The Last Best Hope (Volume I) (2006)
- America: The Last Best Hope (Volume II) (2007)
- The American Patriot's Almanac: Daily Readings on America (2008)
- The True Saint Nicholas (2009)
- Is College Worth It? (2013)
- Tried by Fire: The Story of Christianity's First Thousand Years (2016)
Personal Life
William Bennett married Mary Elayne Glover in 1982. They have two sons, John and Joseph. His wife, Elayne, is the founder of the Best Friends Foundation. This program helps young people make good choices. William Bennett is the younger brother of the late attorney Robert S. Bennett.
See also
In Spanish: William Bennett para niños
- List of U.S. political appointments that crossed party lines
