The Ultimate Wonk

[x American Heritage Dictionary]
wonk

NOUN: Slang 1. A student who studies excessively; a grind.
2. One who studies an issue or a topic thoroughly or excessively: “leading a talkathon of policy wonks in a methodical effort to build consensus for his programs” (Michael Kranish, Boston Globe December 16, 1992).
ETYMOLOGY: Origin unknown.

Au contraire. An Ivy League chum (Princeton '63) assured me that wonk is a reverse of know and was the student slang expression for a grind. My chum ought to know. He graduated with honors. Richard A. Clarke is the Wonk That Roared. He knows whereof he speaks. Contrast that with mumbling and bumbling. Condi Rice can go on 60 Minutes, but she won't testify publicly under oath before the 9/11 Commission? Condi is not in Clarke's league as a wonk. If this is (fair & balanced) admiration of a command of the facts, so be it.

[x U. S. Department of State Web site - National Security Council]
Special Advisor to the President for Cyberspace Security
RICHARD A. CLARKE

National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice and Director of Homeland Security Governor Ridge announced October 9, 2001 the appointment of Richard A. Clarke as Special Advisor to the President for Cyberspace Security, effective immediately.

Mr. Clarke has served in several senior national security posts. Most recently he served as National Coordinator for Security, Infrastructure Protection, and Counter-terrorism on the National Security Council. As National Coordinator, he led the U.S. government's efforts on counter-terrorism, cyber security, continuity of government operations, domestic preparedness for weapons of mass destruction, and international organized crime.

In the George H.W. Bush Administration, he was the Assistant Secretary of State for Politico-Military Affairs. In that capacity, he coordinated State Department support of Desert Storm and lead efforts to create post-war security architecture. In 1992, General Scowcroft appointed Mr. Clarke to the National Security Council staff. He continued as a member of the NSC staff throughout the Clinton Administration. In the Reagan Administration, Mr. Clarke was the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Intelligence.

Richard Clarke is a career member of the Senior Executive Service, having begun his federal service in 1973 in the Office of the Secretary of Defense.

Mr. Clarke is a graduate of the Boston Latin School, the University of Pennsylvania (BA 1972), and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MS 1978).

Copyright © 2004 U. S. Department of State