Former U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates had the unique opportunity to serve under two presidents with different approaches to foreign affairs — George W. Bush and Barack Obama.

Gates discussed his tenure as the secretary from late 2006 to 2011 and his new book, “Duty: Memoirs of a Secretary at War” Monday at Wichita State. Gates spoke in Miller Concert Hall in the Duerksen Fine Arts Center. The discussion was sponsored by WSU and Watermark Books & Café.

He led the department of defense during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. But those were not the only wars he fought.

“Every day I was Secretary of Defense, I was at war with Congress,” Gates said.

WSU President John Bardo welcomed, spoke and posed with Gates for photographs backstage before he spoke.

“This is a wonderful opportunity to interact with a national leader,” Bardo said to the audience.  

After his introduction, Gates talked about his time as secretary, including his bureaucratic war with the Department of Defense and his long war with Congress.

Gates said he was asked to become secretary and the choice to serve was an easy one.

“Because all those (soldiers) out there were doing their duty, I had no choice but to do mine,” he said. “The troops were the reason I took the job, and they became the reason I stayed.”

When he took the job in December 2006, Gates said America was “tired of war,” in part due to the reasoning for invading Iraq — weapons of mass destruction — being proven false.

Gates grew close to soldiers during his time as secretary. He admitted he could barely speak to or about soldiers without choking up.

Gates is no fan of war.

“War is inevitably tragic, inefficient and uncertain… I believe that the use of military force should always be the last resort and our objectives clearly and realistically defined,” Gates said. “And presidents need to be more willing and skillful in using tools in the national security kit other than the hammer.”

Gates’ book is about his years as secretary during “turbulent times.” In the book, he discusses his relationship with Bush, Obama and the other politicians he worked with.

“I liked and enjoyed virtually everybody I worked with,” Gates said.

Besides promoting his autobiography, Gates is also taking over as president of the Boy Scouts of America in May.

WSU biology graduate student Beverly Cory said that is why she decided to attend Gates’ talk. Both of Cory’s sons were actively involved in the Boy Scouts.

“I came in not knowing that much about him,” Cory said. “Knowing that he was going to be part of the Boy Scouts, I wanted to hear what he had to say. It was very moving.”

When Gates finished speaking, the nearly-full Miller Concert Hall gave him a standing ovation. The discussion then opened for a Q&A with Gates before he stepped outside the room to sign copies of “Duty.”

Gates isn’t likely to forget his time as secretary, especially since the soldiers came to mean so much to him.

“Being called the soldiers’ secretary because I cared so much about them,” he said, “was the highest compliment.”