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William Barr    

Former U.S. Attorney General, Legal Expert, Corporate Executive

William Pelham Barr, having served as the United States Attorney General twice, brings a wealth of experience in legal and governmental affairs. His first term was from 1991 to 1993 under President George H.W. Bush, and his second from 2019 to 2020 under President Donald Trump. During his time in office, Barr managed critical crises including a successful hostage rescue at a federal prison in 1991. He also focused on violent crime, leading to a significant shift of FBI agents to investigate gang violence, described as the largest manpower shift in the bureau's history. His tenure further included the legal groundwork for the U.S. invasion of Panama and the practice of rendition.

Barr's influence extended beyond crisis management to broader legal and policy frameworks. He authored "The Case for More Incarceration" in 1992, which significantly influenced the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994. His leadership was also notable during the S&L Crisis, where he played a key role, and his coordination of the country’s counterterrorism activities during the First Gulf War. His second tenure as Attorney General saw him overseeing high-profile legal cases and initiating a broad antitrust review of large online platform companies.

Apart from his governmental roles, Barr held senior corporate positions, including as Executive Vice President and General Counsel for both GTE Corporation and Verizon Communications, where he played a significant role in several major mergers. He has also served on several corporate boards and was "of counsel" at Kirkland & Ellis. His memoir, "One Damn Thing After Another: Memoirs of an Attorney General," provides insights into significant events including the 1992 LA riots and the aftermath of the 2020 election. Drawing from his extensive experience, Barr provides audiences with candid insights into pivotal moments in American politics and law.

Speech Topics


Why Have Our Politics Become So Poisonous?

With the emergence of hyper-partisan politics and the gradual divergence from federalism and its principles, our nation is more divided than at almost any other point in its history. In this talk, former U.S. Attorney General Bill Barr discusses the issues and events that have furthered America’s political divide and puts forth ideas for restoring civility and bringing about greater national solidarity.

Inside the Trump Administration

Having served a second term as U.S. Attorney General during the Trump Administration, Bill Barr takes audiences behind the scenes as he provides an objective analysis of Donald Trump’s term in office. In this talk, he outlines Trump’s keys to victory in 2016, reveals his reasons for entering the administration, breaks down Trump’s strengths and weaknesses as a leader, and provides an honest take of the Administration’s successes and failures. He also discusses what led to Trump losing the 2020 election, addresses “Russiagate” and claims of voter fraud/election rigging, and gives a candid assessment on the prospect of a future Trump presidency.

Today’s Challenges in Major Law Enforcement

In his two terms as U.S. Attorney General, Bill Barr launched new initiatives aimed at addressing violent crimes, gun violence, and several other hot-button issues in law enforcement. Leading a discussion on the fight against violent crime and drug trafficking, its history, and policy debates, AG Barr shares the root causes of today’s challenges in law enforcement, and explains the surge in our nation’s crime rate and strategies to combat it. He also examines social matters in law enforcement and highlights policy options for overcoming the biggest threats to the fight against violent crime.

The Unique Challenge of Big Tech

Uniquely combining his experiences working at the highest levels of American law and in senior corporate positions at communication tech companies and playing a pivotal role in the merger that created Verizon, former U.S. Attorney General Bill Barr tackles the big questions related to the world’s dominant online platforms. In this talk, he pays special attention to big tech issues related to market power, privacy, and control over speech, as well as antitrust and regulation as a response.

The Constitution Today

With the constitution continuing to be at the center of major policy debates in Washington, two-time U.S. Attorney General Bill Barr leads a session dedicated to answering the question of “How is our constitution doing?” In this talk, he details areas in which the constitution has succeeded in performing as the Framers intended, as well as areas in which it has fallen short and what can be done to protect its importance within the fabric of our nation.

Explorations in Religion and Government

In this talk, former U.S. Attorney General Bill Barr investigates the role of religious liberty in our system of limited government, as well as the dangers related to religious liberty and the consequences. He also provides audience members with an overview of the challenges of providing public education in a pluralistic society.

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