Lt. General H.R. McMaster shared his experience as a military officer, historian and U.S. National Security Advisor as part of the Richard Nixon Foundation’s Distinguished Speaker Program on September 5, 2024. General McMaster joined Dr. Luke Nichter, James H. Cavanaugh Endowed Chair in Presidential Studies at Chapman University and Director of the Presidential Studies Program, to discuss his newly released memoir, At War with Ourselves: My Tour of Duty in the Trump White House.
General McMaster began by stating “It was a privilege everyday to serve and I hope that is the theme that comes through in the book.” He went on to share his approach to being National Security Advisor, a position he held for thirteen months during the Trump Administration. The importance of knowing and understanding history and having a grand strategy approach to foreign policy were his guiding principles during his work in the West Wing.
Emphasizing the value of mentorship, General McMaster shared the advice he received from previous National Security Advisors, including Dr. Henry Kissinger, who served in the role during the Nixon Administration. The discussion concluded with an assessment of current world conflicts, analysis of world leaders and ways to think strategically to prepare for what’s ahead.
This program was co-presented by the Richard Nixon Foundation and Chapman University’s Presidential Studies Program.
Watch here: