Former Obama Adviser Ben Rhodes to Speak at Presbyterian College March 5
February 24, 2026
The Samuel Calvin Waters Lecture in Political Science will conclude Presbyterian College’s 2025–26 lecture series on March 5 with a keynote address by Ben Rhodes, former deputy national security advisor to President Barack Obama and a bestselling author on American foreign policy.
Rhodes will speak at 7 p.m. in Edmunds Hall, offering what organizers describe as a rare, behind-the-scenes look at diplomacy, leadership and the evolving role of the United States in a shifting global order.
During his eight years in the White House, Rhodes served as deputy national security advisor for strategic communications and speechwriting, shaping the administration’s messaging on some of the most consequential foreign policy initiatives of the era. He helped draft major presidential addresses, including Obama’s 2009 Cairo speech, “A New Beginning,” which sought to reset relations between the United States and the Muslim world.
Rhodes also played a central role in the diplomatic negotiations that led to the normalization of U.S.–Cuba relations after more than five decades of estrangement. The talks, conducted in secret for months, culminated in a historic announcement in December 2014 that restored diplomatic ties between the two countries.
Before joining the Obama administration, Rhodes worked as an assistant to former U.S. Rep. Lee Hamilton of Indiana, contributing to the Iraq Study Group Report and to recommendations from the 9/11 Commission. He later served as a speechwriter on Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign.
A native of New York City, Rhodes graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Rice University and earned a master’s degree in creative writing from New York University before entering public service. His background in writing and storytelling would become a defining element of his work in government, where he was known for helping translate complex foreign policy issues into language accessible to a broad public audience.
Since leaving government in 2017, Rhodes has remained a prominent voice in national and international affairs. He is the author of two New York Times bestselling books: The World as It Is: A Memoir of the Obama White House (2018), an account of his time inside the administration, and After the Fall: Being American in the World We’ve Made (2021), which examines the global democratic backsliding of the past decade.
Rhodes serves as co-chair of National Security Action, an advocacy organization focused on advancing American leadership abroad, alongside Jake Sullivan, who now serves as national security advisor. He is also a contributor to NBC News and MSNBC and co-hosts the foreign policy podcast Pod Save the World through Crooked Media.
The Samuel Calvin Waters Lecture Series, one of Presbyterian College’s signature academic events, was established by 1966 PC graduate Samuel Waters to bring nationally recognized leaders and thinkers to campus to engage students and the wider community in discussions of politics, public service and civic responsibility.
Rhodes’ visit comes at a time of heightened international tension, as global conflicts, shifting alliances and debates over America’s role abroad dominate headlines. His address is expected to reflect on the lessons of past diplomatic efforts and the challenges facing policymakers in the years ahead.
The lecture is free and open to the public.
