Derek Chollet is a Senior Fellow at the Center for a New American Security, a former adviser to Senator John Edwards, and, at just 37 years old, an unstoppable foreign policy wunderkind. Charismatic, thoughtful, and – by his own admission – a bit obsessive, Chollet let us see the inner workings of his “tenacious” mind before joining Zócalo at NPR West in Culver City to discuss themes from his recently-published book, America Between the Wars: From 11/9 to 9/11, with co-author James Goldgeier.
Q. What do you wake up to?
A. To NPR or a talking 20-month-old son.
Q. What is your favorite word?
A. Tenacious
Q. What inspires you?
A. Service. I am going though this phase when I think of the military, I get all choked up.
Q. What comforts you?
A. I like to be alone.
Q. How would you describe yourself in 5 words or less?
A. Steady, easy, obsessive and quiet.
Q. What worries you?
A. A dirty bomb going off in downtown Washington.
Q. What would you like to be in your next life?
A. I would like to work in Hollywood. I am totally into it. There is such cultural overlap between Washington and Hollywood, but Hollywood is much cooler and the people are better looking.
Q. What is your fondest childhood memory?
A. Walking to school with my friends (we were only six blocks away, but it would take us like an hour to walk to school).
Q. What is your most prized material possession?
A. My book collection. It is a chronology of my adult life.
Q. What’s your favorite season? Why?
A. Early summer. I like short nights and long days, and the idea that it is just beginning.
*Photo by Aaron Salcido.