Grads

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2016-Deaths

Stephen M. Duncan (Adv’69) received a master of arts in government from Dartmouth and followed this by going to law school. He later served as assistant United States attorney and then as assistant secretary of defense in the administrations of two presidents. His military background includes being a decorated combat veteran with more than 40 years of active and Navy Reserve service. He is also the recipient (twice) of the U.S. Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Public Service. He has been a senior executive in two defense industry advanced technology companies, afederal criminal prosecutor, a partner in major law firms, and the director of the National Defense University Institute for Homeland Security Studies. As you will see, he has turned his many experiences into books.

In his spare time Stephen writes and has recently published his latestbook, number eight for him, First Duty: Presidents, the Nation’s Security and Self-Centered Politics. In his words, “As Americans turn their attention to the presidential election in November, they are being asked to consider an almost bewildering range of issues that are being raised by the remaining candidates. Consideration of those important matters is being affected daily by the partisan posturing and media sensationalism that now characterize America’s national elections. Too often lost in the noise are the thoughtful discussions of the most important responsibility of every president: the nation’s safety. Much is at stake, of course, in every presidential election. I am hopeful that this book will stimulate the thinking of its readers and educate their choice as they exercise the very important responsibility of all Americans.”

In his prologue to First Duty Stephen writes, “This is a book about a particular and critical element of presidential leadership on matters affecting our nation’s security. I have examined the political will, the political courage, the resolve on national security matters, of each of the 13 American presidents who have led the nation from 1945 to the present.” Using Winston Churchill as his standard, Stephen shines a bright light on the particular difficulties, successes, and failures of each of the 13 in performing his first and most important duty. For everyone who cares about our presidential leadership in a dangerous world, read this book. It will appeal to Americans of all political persuasions.

Jane Welsh

—Jane Welsh, 175 Greensboro Road, Hanover, NH 03755; (603) 643-3789; m.jane.welsh.gr@ dart77iouth.edu