Left to Right: Brad Bodmer '82, director of development/external affairs, Chris Gibson ’86, and Mary Beth Finnerty '85, director of alumni relations.
Former Congressman and military leader Chris Gibson ’86 came to the new Hearst Media Center in Loudonville on Wednesday to discuss his new book with Times Union editor Rex Smith.
Rally Point: Five Tasks to Unite the Country and Revitalize the American Dream, was published last fall and focuses on the “primary principles that conservatives must debate and defend to protect the future of America” after the 2016 election.
Gibson analyzed the current political environment and the Trump administration, and responded to questions from Smith. He argued that the nation’s founding principles will “help unite our country and revitalize the American dream.”
Jesse Stewart ’18 attended the event.
“I appreciated him talking about his belief in God, and his experiences in the military,” said Stewart. “I respect that he didn’t necessarily promote one political side or another. Instead, he focused on people from different political backgrounds working together to make change, with the power for this change in their hands rather than the government’s hands.”
Stewart, who graduated in December with a degree in political science, philosophy and pre-law, is taking the LSATs at the end of the month and will soon be applying to law schools.
“He referred to taking challenges one day at time, and that’s the advice I try to follow in my own life,” he said.
A Republican and Iraq veteran, Gibson served as the U.S. representative from New York’s 19th Congressional district from 2011-2017. He is a former colonel in the U.S. Army and is currently a visiting professor at Williams College.
Each attendee received a copy of Gibson’s book, which he signed after his political discussion with Smith. Siena trustee John J. Nigro H’13 donated 100 copies of the book for the event.
