NAASR Christmas Open House to Feature Talk with Paul Ignatius

BELMONT, Mass.—On Thurs., Dec. 8, former Secretary of the Navy Paul R. Ignatius will speak in conjunction with the publication of his memoir Now I Know in Partby NAASR’s Armenian Heritage Press, highlighting NAASR’s 2011 Christmas Open House.

Paul Ignatius

Ignatius served for eight years in the presidential administrations of John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson, first as an assistant secretary of the army, then as under secretary of the Army and assistant secretary of defense, and finally in 1967 as secretary of the navy. Following his government service, he was president of the Washington Post for 2 years and president of the Air Transport Association for 15 years.

Ignatius is the recipient of the Army Distinguished Civilian Service Award, the Navy Distinguished Public Service Award, and the Department of Defense Distinguished Public Service Award.

A descendant of Armenian parents from the Kharpert region of Historic Armenia, Ignatius is a native of Glendale, Calif., and a graduate of the University of Southern California. He earned an MBA from Harvard University after serving as a naval officer in World War II. He is also the author of On Board: My Life in the Navy, Government, and Business (Naval Institute Press, 2006).

In Now I Know in Part, Ignatius looks back on his family history, childhood in Glendale (long before it had a “Little Armenia”), colorful characters (both famous and obscure), Hollywood brushes with greatness, military service during World War II, and more.

The limited first edition of Now I Know in Part was published privately in 2000. Chapters newly added for this second edition include reminiscences of Ignatius’ former boss, Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara, and two homecomings of a sort: one to Hoover High School in Glendale and the other a visit to ancestral lands in Historic Armenia.

The Open House will begin at 6 p.m. and conclude at 11 p.m., with Ignatius’ talk set for 8 p.m. The evening’s events will take place at the NAASR Center, 395 Concord Ave. in Belmont. Admission to the event is free (donations appreciated).

Both before and after the lecture, NAASR’s bookstore will be open and feature a one-night only 20 percent off sale, with additional discounts of 40 percent or more on selected titles. Numerous recently published titles will be available, along with refreshments, music, and gift-wrapping. Now I Know in Part will be available for purchase and signing by the author.

For more information, call (617) 489-1610 or e-mail hq@naasr.org.

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