A W&M doubleheader for Fox News Sunday
William & Mary alumni fill the guest roster on this week’s Fox News Sunday. Host Chris Wallace will welcome Robert Gates ’65 and Jon Stewart ’84. Gates is ending his term as U.S. Secretary of Defense; Stewart is the host and executive producer of the popular Comedy Central news-variety show, “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.” Fox News Sunday airs on the Fox Network, 10 a.m. on WVBT, Norfolk and 9 a.m. on WRLH, Richmond.
Prior to becoming Secretary of Defense in 2006, Gates served as President of Texas A&M University from 2002 – 2006. Gates, however, was no stranger to public service. He spent nearly 27 years as an intelligence professional before becoming director of the Central Intelligence Agency in 1991, where he served until 1993. He also served as assistant to the president and deputy national security adviser at the White House under President George H.W. Bush. Gates has been awarded the National Security Medal and the Presidential Citizens Medal, and has received the National Intelligence Distinguished Service Medal twice and the CIA’s highest award, the Distinguished Intelligence Medal, three times.
Stewart has hosted the nationally broadcast Daily Show since Jan. 1999. Under his leadership, the show has won 11 Emmys and the industry’s prestigious Peabody Award for Excellence twice. Prior to joining the Daily Show, Stewart toured the country as a stand-up comedian and worked as an actor, comedy writer and creative consultant. His first talk show, "The Jon Stewart Show," aired on MTV from 1994-95.
Both Stewart and Gates remain connected to their alma mater. In 2004, Stewart gave the keynote speech at William & Mary’s Commencement exercises. Gates was Commencement speaker in 2007.
The Fox News appearances follow a week of major news involving William & Mary alumni. On Tuesday, Carolyn “Biddy” Martin ’73, currently the chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, was named the next president of Amherst College. Also Tuesday, Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann LL. M. ’88 announced her bid to seek the Republican nomination for president of the United States.
