Former U.S. Ambassador John Bolton visits Hopkins

At assembly on Monday morning, November 7, 2011, Hopkins welcomed former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton as a guest speaker. Bolton spoke to the students about his many years working in world politics and foreign relations. He spoke of the importance of looking back at the history of other nations for insight and offered his opinion on the future of nations such as Russia and China. In a question and answer session following his address, students asked important questions including Bolton's opinion of the U.S. role in small nations in need of humanitarian assistance and if the U.S. should financially support foreign dictators. Bolton's address and the Q and A can be seen in its entirety in the two attached videos.

Bolton's visit was facilitated by Hopkins parent, Bob Davis, a friend of the former Ambassador. After the excitement surrounding U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder's visit in September, Mr. Davis asked Head of School Barbara Riley if Hopkins would have an interest in a visit from Ambassador Bolton. Mrs. Riley's response was an enthusiastic "yes!" and Mr. Davis went to work to arrange the visit.

Ambassador Bolton is a graduate of Yale College and the Yale Law School. He served as Assistant Attorney General in the Reagan Administration; as Undersecretary of the State for Arms Control and International Security Affairs in 2001 under President George W. Bush; and as the U.S. representative to the United Nations between 2005 and 2007. Bolton is currently a Senior Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute.