John P. Walters | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Director of theOffice of National Drug Control Policy | |
| In office December 7, 2001 – January 20, 2009 | |
| President | George W. Bush |
| Preceded by | Barry McCaffrey |
| Succeeded by | Gil Kerlikowske |
| Acting January 20, 1993 – July 19, 1993 | |
| President | Bill Clinton |
| Preceded by | Bob Martinez |
| Succeeded by | Lee Brown |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1952-02-08)February 8, 1952 (age 73) |
| Political party | Republican |
| Education | |
John P. Walters (born February 8, 1952) is the president and chief executive officer ofHudson Institute; he was appointed in January 2021. He joined Hudson in 2009 as the executive vice president and most recently was the chief operating officer.[1] Previously, Walters was Director of the White HouseOffice of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) in theGeorge W. Bush administration. He held that position from February 5, 2001, to January 20, 2009. As the U.S. "Drug Czar", Walters coordinated all aspects of federal anti-drug policies and spending. As drug czar, he was a staunch opponent ofdrug decriminalization,legalization, andmedical marijuana.[2][3]
He was Assistant to the Secretary at theU.S. Department of Education in theReagan Administration. He was the Secretary's representative to the National Drug Policy Board and theDomestic Policy Council's Health Policy Working Group. From 1989 to 1991, Walters was chief of staff forWilliam Bennett and was Deputy Director for Supply Reduction from 1991 until leaving the office in 1993.
Walters served as Acting Assistant Director and Program Officer in the Division of Education Programs at theNational Endowment for the Humanities from 1982 to 1985. He has previously taught political science atMichigan State University'sJames Madison College and atBoston College. From 1996 until 2001 he served as president of thePhilanthropy Roundtable.[4]
He holds a BA fromMichigan State University'sJames Madison College and aMA from theUniversity of Toronto.[5]
On April 7, 2023, Walters was sanctioned by the Chinese government after Taiwanese PresidentTsai Ing-wen gave a speech at theHudson Institute.[6]
Walters is opposed to the decriminalization and legalization of narcotics. Speaking of marijuana legalization inColorado, he said, "My argument is look to Colorado: it’s getting worse. That’s exactly what they said they were going to do. Tax it; regulate it; we’re going to keep it away from kids; higher rate. I visited people shortly after the legalization in Denver. I was struck by a woman who said, 'I’m terrified for my children. We now are told our children cannot bring food or beverages to school.' Anything they consume in the school must be made under school supervision because, of course, you have brownies, fruit juices, candies, other kinds of things that are infused with cannabis or THC and can be used to poison these children."[7]
Walters is a supporter ofdrug rehabilitation in place of incarceration to help drug users. In an interview, he said, "When I was in office, the criminal-justice system was the single largest category of institutions referring people to treatment using drug courts and diversion programs. Don’t send them to prison. Let’s get them into treatment because that’s what’s really causing their lives to be so self-destructive to themselves and to others. And it was that law and it was that effort."[7]
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Director of theOffice of National Drug Control Policy Acting 1993 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Director of theOffice of National Drug Control Policy 2001–2009 | Succeeded by |
| SAODAP Directors (1971–1975) |  | |
|---|---|---|
| ODAP Directors (1977–1989) | ||
| ONDCP Directors (1989–present) | ||
| International | |
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| National | |
| Other | |
