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|terms=December 18, 2006-July 1, 2011

|terms=December 18, 2006-July 1, 2011

|preceded=[[Donald Rumsfeld]]

|preceded=[[Donald Rumsfeld]]

|former=n

|former=y

|succeeded=[[Leon Panetta]]

|succeeded=[[Leon Panetta]]

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'''Robert Michael Gates''' is the twenty-second [[Secretary of Defense]]. He serves in the [[Obama Administration]] and previously served in the second [[Bush]] administration since December 18, 2006. He took office after the forced resignation of [[Donald Rumsfeld]]. Gates is a registered independent because when working at the [[Central Intelligence Agency]], he believed he should be apolitical, however he has said "I consider myself a [[Republican]]" <ref>http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28022197/</ref>, and gave financial contributions to President George W. Bush's 2004 reelection campaign. <ref>http://www.newsmeat.com/washington_political_donations/Robert_Gates.php</ref> Gates is given credit for the "surge" in Iraq and the success of American policies there.  

'''Robert Michael Gates''' was the twenty-second [[Secretary of Defense]]. He served in the [[Obama Administration]] and previously served in the second [[Bush]] administration. He took office after the forced resignation of [[Donald Rumsfeld]]. Gates is a registered independent because when working at the [[Central Intelligence Agency]], he believed he should be apolitical; however, he has said "I consider myself a [[Republican]]"<ref>http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28022197/</ref>, and gave financial contributions to President George W. Bush's 2004 reelection campaign.<ref>http://www.newsmeat.com/washington_political_donations/Robert_Gates.php</ref> Gates is given credit for the "surge" in Iraq and the success of American policies there.  

 

==Early Life==

==Early Life==

Gates was born on September 25, 1943, in Wichita, Kansas.  He received a scholarship to the [[College of William and Mary]] in Virginia and graduated in 1965 with a B.A. in history.  While attending William and Mary, he was very involved in the [[Young Republicans]], and even became the chapter's President.  He went on to receive a graduate degree in history from [[Indiana University]] and a Ph.D. in Russian and Soviet history from [[Georgetown University]].

Gates was born on September 25, 1943, in Wichita, Kansas.  He received a scholarship to the [[College of William and Mary]] in Virginia and graduated in 1965 with a B.A. in history.  While attending William and Mary, he was very involved in the [[Young Republicans]], and even became the chapter's president.  He went on to receive a graduate degree in history from [[Indiana University]] and a Ph.D. in Russian and Soviet history from [[Georgetown University]].

==Early Public Service==

==Early Public Service==

Gates served in the [[United States Air Force]] in [[Vietnam War|Vietnam]] from 1967 to 1969, a time when much of the rest of the nation had abandoned the strategy of [[Containment]] abroad.  Immediately thereafter, he began working with the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] as an investigator.

Gates served in the [[United States Air Force]] in [[Vietnam War|Vietnam]] from 1967 to 1969, a time when much of the rest of the nation had abandoned the strategy of [[Containment]] abroad.  Immediately thereafter, he began working with the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] as an investigator.

Gates was first nominated for the position of Director in 1987.  However, due to negative media spin about the [[Iran-Contra Affair]], in which Gates helped the spread of [[Democracy]], the [[United States Senate|Senate]] stated that they would not ratify his appointment.

Gates was first nominated for the position of Director in 1987.  However, due to negative media spin about the [[Iran-Contra Affair]], in which Gates helped the spread of [[Democracy]], the [[United States Senate|Senate]] failed to ratify his appointment.

However, in 1991, [[George H. W. Bush]] renominated Gates due to his hard work and staunch [[American values]].  This time, a more responsible [[Congress]] approved, and Gates won the appointment he had earned.  True to the [[American Dream]], Gates had worked his way up from the position of entry-level investigator all the way up to Director and is the only officer in the CIA to have done so.

However, in 1991, [[George H. W. Bush]] renominated Gates due to his hard work and staunch [[American values]].  This time, a more responsible [[Congress]] approved, and Gates won the appointment he had earned.  True to the [[American Dream]], Gates had worked his way up from the position of entry-level investigator all the way up to Director and is the only officer in the CIA to have done so.

In 1993, Robert Gates left the CIA and became a lecturer at a number of prestigious universities.  He continued this until 1999, when he was hired as the Dean of the George Bush School at [[Texas A&M]], a position he held until 2001.  In 2002 he took on the position of President of Texas A&M, becoming one of the Universities most popular Presidents and greatly expanding the school.  In 2004 he hosted a Christian event called "President's Day" for children from Bryan, Texas who were part of the Children's Evangelism Fellowship.

In 1993, Robert Gates left the CIA and became a lecturer at a number of prestigious universities.  He continued this until 1999, when he was hired as the Dean of the George Bush School at [[Texas A&M]], a position he held until 2001.  In 2002 he took on the position of President of Texas A&M, becoming one of the university's most popular presidents and greatly expanding the school.  In 2004 he hosted a Christian event called "President's Day" for children from Bryan, Texas, who were part of the Children's Evangelism Fellowship.

==Secretary of Defense==

==Secretary of Defense==

On November 8, 2006, [[George W. Bush]] followed in his father's  footsteps by appointing Gates to the position of [[Secretary of Defense]] after [[Donald Rumsfeld]]'s resignation.  He has since used this position to continue to fight the [[War in Iraq]]. In 2008, it was announced that Gates would remain Secretary of Defense for at least a year under the administration of incoming President [[Barack Obama]], so as to ensure a smooth process regarding how the situation in the [[Middle East]] is handled. This move has been criticised by people on both ends of the spectrum, and praised by others. Gates is expected to remain as Defense Secretary through 2010. <ref>http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-na-gates-defense9-2010jan09,0,3629923.story</ref>

On November 8, 2006, [[George W. Bush]] followed in his father's  footsteps by appointing Gates to the position of [[Secretary of Defense]] after [[Donald Rumsfeld]]'s resignation.  He used that position to continue to fight the [[War in Iraq]]. In 2008, it was announced that Gates would remain Secretary of Defense for at least a year under the administration of incoming President [[Barack Obama]], so as to ensure a smooth process regarding how the situation in the [[Middle East]] was handled. This move has been criticised by people on both ends of the spectrum, and praised by others. Gates is expected to remain as Defense Secretary through 2010.<ref>http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-na-gates-defense9-2010jan09,0,3629923.story</ref>

Comments on the value of a [[free press]]:

Comments on the value of a [[free press]]:

*"When it identifies a problem, as at [[Walter Reed]], the response of senior leaders should be to find out if the allegations are true, as they were at Walter Reed, and if so, say so," Mr. Gates said. "And then act to remedy the problem. If untrue, then be able to document that fact. ... The press is not the enemy and to treat it as such is self-defeating." <ref> [http://www.washtimes.com/metro/20070525-041807-9641r.htm Gates addresses Navy class] - May 25, 2007 </ref>

*"When it identifies a problem, as at [[Walter Reed]], the response of senior leaders should be to find out if the allegations are true, as they were at Walter Reed, and if so, say so," Mr. Gates said. "And then act to remedy the problem. If untrue, then be able to document that fact. ... The press is not the enemy and to treat it as such is self-defeating."<ref> [http://www.washtimes.com/metro/20070525-041807-9641r.htm Gates addresses Navy class] - May 25, 2007 </ref>

==Afghanistan war==

==Afghanistan war==