William John Bennett

William J. Bennett (born 1943) is an American conservative writer and public intellectual. He served in the administration of President Ronald Reagan, first as U.S. Secretary of Education from 1985 to 1988. Bennett later became the first Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, serving from 1989 to 1990. In public life he has been known for commentary on education, culture, and public policy, and for advocating conservative approaches to social issues. He has also written and edited books aimed at a general audience, contributing to debates about values, civic life, and national priorities in the United States.