The Community Engagement Committee of the Piedmont Education Foundation (PEF) welcomes Piedmont neighbors to enjoy cocktails and conversation with former Ambassador to Australia Jeff Bleich at the Piedmont home of Ellen and Pete Wilson on the evening of Wednesday, April 16.
Bleich’s remarks will focus on what is behind the fall in democracy worldwide, the rise in autocracy, and his current book project updating Machiavelli ́s “The Prince” for modern times. Bleich’s recent article in Persuasion offers a glimpse of how Machiavelli’s advice to autocrats explains recent events. In a March 18 article, Bleich focuses his attention on the judiciary branch and the limits of Presidential power under the constitution.
Jeff Bleich’s legal career includes serving in the White House as special counsel to President Obama, law clerk to the Chief Justice of the United States and president of the State Bar of California. Additionally he has served as chair of the California State University Board of Trustees, chair of the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board, and as a trustee of Amherst College.
Bleich also served as the United States ambassador to Australia and as a senior advisor to the Director of National Intelligence. He is an ambassadorial fellow at the University of Sydney, chairs the board of the Bleich Centre of Democracy and Disruptive Technologies in Adelaide and is a professorial fellow at Flinders University also in Adelaide.
Bleich earned a BA from Amherst College, MPP from Harvard University, JD from UC Berkeley and honorary doctorates from SFSU and two Australian Universities.
Currently, Bleich is a Visiting Scholar at Stanford ́s Center for Advanced Study in Behavioral Sciences where he is completing two books. Bleich’s writings have focused principally on democracy, international relations and constitutional law.
A product of public schools, Jeff and his wife, Becky Bleich, are committed to public education and are delighted to help us raise funds for our schools and bring the community together. When they were not living abroad, their three children all attended Piedmont schools.
Tax deductible tickets are available at the Piedmont Store for $50 until April 1 and $75 thereafter, as supplies last. Thanks to many generous donations, 100% of the proceeds raised from the event will go to supporting Piedmont Schools.
Purchase tickets HERE
“I’m excited to have the chance to hear from such an experienced practitioner about what he sees happening in civics today,” said Hillary Freeman, who has been teaching a variety of history, civics, and law classes since 2020 at Piedmont High School.
“I am looking forward to the event and hearing Jeff Bleich’s remarks and perspective on Machiavelli and its relevance today. PEF’s work to raise funds for our schools is of fundamental importance to our town,” said Piedmont Vice Mayor Conna McCarthy.
About PEF
PEF’s Community Engagement Committee is a committee of the Piedmont Education Foundation Board of Directors. PEF is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide sustained financial support to Piedmont schools through fundraising and community engagement. Led by a 27-member volunteer board and supported by a professional office staff, PEF has affirmed a commitment to working together for a more inclusive Piedmont. For more information, visit PiedmontEdFoundation.org.