From the Town Hall Seattle web site, "After serving under eight presidents, including his time as Secretary of Defense during the war years of President George W. Bush and President Obama, Gates has released the tell-all Duty: Memoirs of a Secretary at War. According to the Washington Post, he “slams Congress” and makes his opinions on the last two presidents clear. Gates also offers insight on policy decisions made during his time as Secretary, revealing the sway political parties and the media really have on U.S. politics. Divisions between White House and Pentagon leadership also come to light. Despite having a good “poker face,” Gates’ personal feelings come through in the book, showing the heavy personal toll he felt by the military deaths in the Middle East — he also offers wisdom on the trajectory of the war in Afghanistan and prospects for its conclusion. Formerly head of the CIA and member of the National Security Council staff, Gates holds a PhD in Russian and Soviet History; he is currently the chancellor of the College of William and Mary."