Peter M. Robinson

Murdoch Distinguished Policy Fellow
Biography: 

Peter M. Robinson is the Murdoch Distinguished Policy Fellow at the Hoover Institution, where he writes about business and politics, edits Hoover's quarterly journal, the Hoover Digest, and hosts Hoover's video series program, Uncommon Knowledge™.

Robinson is also the author of three books: How Ronald Reagan Changed My Life (Regan Books, 2003); It's My Party: A Republican's Messy Love Affair with the GOP, (Warner Books, 2000); and the best-selling business book Snapshots from Hell: The Making of an MBA (Warner Books, 1994; still available in paperback).

In 1979, he graduated summa cum laude from Dartmouth College, where he majored in English. He went on to study politics, philosophy, and economics at Oxford University, from which he graduated in 1982.

Robinson spent six years in the White House, serving from 1982 to 1983 as chief speechwriter to Vice President George Bush and from 1983 to 1988 as special assistant and speechwriter to President Ronald Reagan. He wrote the historic Berlin Wall address in which President Reagan called on General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev to "tear down this wall!"

After the White House, Robinson attended the Stanford University Graduate School of Business. (The journal he kept formed the basis for Snapshots from Hell.) He graduated with an MBA in 1990.

Robinson then spent a year in New York City with Fox Television, reporting to the owner of the company, Rupert Murdoch. He spent a second year in Washington, D.C., with the Securities and Exchange Commission, where he served as the director of the Office of Public Affairs, Policy Evaluation, and Research. Robinson joined the Hoover Institution in 1993.

The author of numerous essays and interviews, Robinson has published in the New York Times, Red Herring, and Forbes ASAP, the Wall Street Journal, and National Review Online. He is the editor of Can Congress Be Fixed?: Five Essays on Congressional Reform (Hoover Institution Press, 1995).

In 2005, Robinson was elected to serve as a Trustee of Dartmouth College.

Robinson lives in northern California with his wife, their children and their dog, Crusoe.

His research papers are available at the Hoover Institution Archives.

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Recent Commentary

In the News

Immigration with Mark Krikorian: Chapter 1 of 5

by Peter M. Robinsonvia Uncommon Knowledge
Monday, February 2, 2009

Mark Krikorian explains why “mass immigration is fundamentally incompatible with a modern society.”...

In the News

James Woolsey 5: Chapter 5 of 5

by Peter M. Robinson with James Woolseyvia Uncommon Knowledge
Friday, January 23, 2009

James Woolsey describes, and defends, his professional journey...

In the News

Intelligence & Security with James Woolsey: Chapter 4 of 5

by Peter M. Robinson with James Woolseyvia Uncommon Knowledge
Thursday, January 22, 2009

James Woolsey says we need destroy oil as a strategic commodity — not only for the good of our security, but for the good of the planet...

In the News

Intelligence & Security with James Woolsey: Chapter 3 of 5

by Peter M. Robinson with James Woolseyvia Uncommon Knowledge
Wednesday, January 21, 2009

James Woolsey describes the current conflict, or World War IV, as a global battle against “theocratic totalitarian genocidal maniacs.”...

In the News

James Woolsey 2: Chapter 2 of 5

by Peter M. Robinson with James Woolseyvia Uncommon Knowledge
Tuesday, January 20, 2009

James Woolsey discusses Barack Obama’s selection of Leon Panetta to head the CIA, as well as the historical relationship between the president and the CIA director...

Former CIA director James Woolsey

Intelligence and Security with James Woolsey

by Peter M. Robinsonwith James Woolseyvia Uncommon Knowledge
Monday, January 19, 2009

James Woolsey discusses the failure of the intelligence community in the run-up to the Iraq war and considers Barak Obama’s selection of Leon Panetta to head the CIA in light of the historical relationship between the president and the CIA director. He outlines the challenges the intelligent community faces in what he calls America’s war against “theocratic totalitarianism.” Finally, he asserts that it is imperative for us to destroy oil as a strategic commodity – not only for our security but also for the good of the planet. (36:56 ) Video transcript

In the News

James Woolsey 1: Chapter 1 of 5

by Peter M. Robinson with James Woolseyvia Uncommon Knowledge
Monday, January 19, 2009

Former CIA director James Woolsey discusses the failure of the intelligence community in the run-up to the Iraq war...

Analysis and Commentary

Menlo Park Doesn't Need A Bailout

by Peter M. Robinsonvia Forbes
Friday, January 16, 2009

Allow me to introduce you to Heyward Robinson, the mayor of a small city in California...

Analysis and Commentary

A Salute To Those Who Stayed

by Peter M. Robinsonvia Forbes
Friday, January 9, 2009

Sometime before leaving office a week from this coming Tuesday, George W. Bush will deliver his final speech...

In the News

Crisis Management with John Taylor: Chapter 5 of 5

by Peter M. Robinson with John B. Taylorvia Uncommon Knowledge
Friday, January 9, 2009

John Taylor says it will be tragic if we forget all we learned over the past two-and-a-half decades about the importance of the private sector and the free market...

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