Ben Rhodes, former deputy national security advisor to Obama, to speak at IU Bloomington

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IUB Newsroom »Ben Rhodes, former deputy national security advisor to Obama, to speak at IU BloomingtonBen Rhodes, former deputy national security advisor to Obama, to speak at IU BloomingtonFeb. 13, 2017EDITOR'S NOTE: This release was updated on Feb. 16, 2017, to correct the time and title of Ben Rhodes' talk.FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- The Hutton Honors College at Indiana University Bloomington will host Ben Rhodes, former deputy national security advisor to President Barack Obama, as part of its “Many Worlds, One Globe” multiyear series.
Rhodes’ talk, “America’s Role in the World,” will take place at 3 p.m. Monday, Feb. 27, at the Solarium in the Indiana Memorial Union.
Serving as deputy national security advisor from 2009 to 2017, Rhodes oversaw the president’s national security communications, speechwriting, public diplomacy and global engagement programming. He played a key role in advancing engagement with Burma, Laos and Vietnam, as well as leading negotiations with the Cuban government to normalize relations between the U.S. and Cuba. He previously served former Congressman Lee Hamilton, supporting his work on the 9/11 Commission and the Iraq Study Group. Rhodes currently serves as senior advisor to Obama. 
"If anyone is interested in working in the White House, they would benefit from listening to Ben Rhodes; he worked there for eight years," said Hamilton, a faculty member in the IU School of Global and International Studies. "He was a major advisor to the president and wrote many of his speeches. Ben listens carefully, distills the essence of what he hears and writes it down clearly. If called for, he provides his own perspective."
Rhodes’ talk joins a 2017 "Many Worlds, One Globe" schedule that will also feature Sarah Koenig and Julie Snyder, co-creators of the award-winning podcast Serial, on March 31; and Irshad Manji, founder of Moral Courage TV, on Oct. 2 and 3.
During the next four years, the series will offer lectures ...

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