William Bennett

William John Bennett (born July 3, 1943) is a prominent conservative politician in the United States. He was born in Brooklyn and attended Williams College, the University of Texas, and Harvard Law School.

Bennett is probably best known as editor of The Book of Virtues: A Treasury of Great Moral Stories, but he has also authored and edited several other books addressing moral, educational, political, and social issues.

Bennett was also active in United States politics during the Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush administrations. He was once Secretary of Education in the United States. He later became the first to hold the office of drug czar in the United States.

Bennett is a staunch supporter of the War on Drugs and has been criticized for his extreme views on the issue. On a radio show, he said that a listener's suggestion to behead drug dealers would be “morally plausible.”

In 2003, rumors began to circulate that Bennett had had a long gambling habit that has cost him as much as $8,000,000. Bennett said that he has never been addicted to gambling and compared his gambling to responsible drinking. He did, however, say that he does not believe that his habit sets a good example and added that his gambling days were over.