A Conversation with The Honorable Thomas E. Donilon

The Honorable Thomas E. Donilon, U.S. National Security Advisor, spoke with Belfer Center Director Graham Allison following a welcome and introduction by Harvard President Emeritus Lawrence Summers. Donilon addressed questions ranging from the interaction between policy and politics, emphasizing the need for fresh intellectual capital and an understanding of historical context. Looking back to the beginning of the Obama administration, Donilon discussed efforts to reestablish U.S. power and prestige, as necessarily grounded in a strong economic recovery. Donilon responded to questions from the audience on topics including U.S.-Pakistan relations and regional responses to the conflict in Syria. This event was cosponsored by the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs and the Future of Diplomacy Project.