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Col. Buzz Patterson Luncheon

Best Selling Author "Buzz" Patterson Speaks at Chapter August 2003 Luncheon

Colonel Robert "Buzz" Patterson, author of the best selling book "Dereliction of Duty: The Eyewitness Account of How Bill Clinton Endangered America's Long-Term National Security" spoke to a packed room at the August Chapter Luncheon.

We set an all-time record for Chapter luncheon attendance with 61 alumni and guests present at the event. The buffet line and the check-in tables both had to be moved just outside of our private room to make space for enough tables to seat everyone.

Thanks to Sue Rentz, wife of Chapter President Bill Rentz '55, for her efforts to arrange for the sale of Buzz's book at the event. (We sold all of the copies that we ordered!) Chapter VP Steve Frederick '72 performed check-in duties for the lunch. A great team that ran like a well-oiled machine! See their picture below.

Lieutenant Colonel Patterson USAF (Ret.), was military aide to President Clinton from mid-1996 to mid-1998. He was one of a handful of aides that carried the "nuclear football", the briefcase that contained the nuclear weapons launch codes. This responsibility put him in close contact with the President and gave him a unique perspective on the Clinton administration. He said that though he arrived at his new assignment "filled with professional devotion and commitment to serve," he left believing that Clinton had "sown a whirlwind of destruction upon the integrity of our government, endangered our national security, and done enormous harm to the American military in which I served."

Buzz presented a picture of a White House and its occupants that had a complete lack of understanding of the U.S. Armed Forces and their mission, plus a general disrespect for the men and women who filled its ranks. Not the atmosphere that you would expect in the building that housed the Commander in Chief of the armed forces, nor from that man himself.

Buzz listed many specific examples of circumstances that required both leadership and command decisions on the part of Bill Clinton. Unfortunately for this country, he either failed miserably or in many cases did nothing.

For example, on at least two occasions Bill Clinton had the opportunity to capture Osama Bin Laden. One of the two occasions was an offer by the country expelling Bin Laden to hand him over to the United States! Clinton chose not to take advantage of either opportunity! If he had done so, the 9-11-2001 attack on America would probably never have happened.

The horror stories regarding the morals and ethics displayed by both Bill and Hillary Clinton are to numerous to mention. Many are nearly impossible to stomach by any person of standards.

We won't steal anymore of the book's thunder here. It's a must read! Suffice it to say that the leadership of the greatest military on earth could not have been in worse hands than those of Bill Clinton and his administration.

Many thanks to Colonel Patterson for making time to share this very eye-opening personal account of the Clinton White House with our Chapter, and for staying "late" to sign everyone's books.

For more information on Buzz, click on:

Buzz Patterson Bio.pdf

The following candid shots of the lunch were taken by Bob Schultz '71, Chapter webmaster.

Click on a thumbnail image to view a full sized picture.

Check-in team. Sue Rentz, wife of Chapter Pres. Bill, sells books. Chapter VP Steve Frederick '72 checks in guests.	Buffet line! The chow line is open! 61 Alumni and guests file down both sides of the line and choose from three main courses and more.
Chapter member Jim Hatch '47, who made arrangements for Buzz to speak to us, introduces our guest speaker.	Colonel "Buzz" Patterson relates his personal experiences during his tour at the White House.
Buzz, and those in the front row seats.	Chapter President Bill Rentz '55, presents Buzz with his speaker's gift, a personalized Atlanta Chapter apron.
The book signing line forms!	Buzz signs his book for, and swaps stories with, Chapter members.