On Sept. 6, 2001, Gary Hart DIV ’61 LAW ’64 was predicting a terrorist attack on siAmerica. During a discussion and book signing at the Yale Bookstore yesterday, Hart continued to warn of dangers and predicted another terrorist attack on U.S. soil.

Speaking to about 25 people, Hart answered questions after discussing his new book, “Restoration of the Republic: The Jeffersonian Ideal in 21st Century America,” and how his ideas relate to national security and general American society.

Hart, a former U.S. senator and presidential candidate, recently served as co-chairman of the U.S. Commission on National Security in the 21st Century, which is widely recognized as having conducted the largest analysis of national security since 1974.

“I predict that another U.S. attack will occur, probably in the mid-United States region with multiple targets,” Hart said in answer to a question at the end of the discussion.

He declined to offer specific details as to how he arrived at this conclusion.

“I thought he was very well-spoken and knowledgeable about our government,” Brian Korchin ’05 said. “He offered good insight on possible outcomes and resolutions to terrorism.”

Hart began his discussion by outlining the Jeffersonian concepts that form the foundations of his book.

“[Thomas Jefferson’s] thinking has had an enormous impact on this country,” Hart said.

Jefferson pioneered the idea that the U.S. Constitution failed to provide a venue for individual citizens to participate in government.

Hart stressed that this failure has left U.S. citizens without a defined way of projecting concerns from their everyday lives and leaves them ill-informed on many social and political issues.

“You cannot have democracy unless citizens know about their business,” Hart said.

From this basic concept he argued that giving people more individual power would work for the common good, reduce the special or personal interests that often motivate politicians, and allow the country to “reconcile” republican democracy.

Hart said he uses his new book not only to stress the importance of individual participation in government, but also to explain his strong support for a Department of Homeland Security.

Hart said he gathered much of the information he used to write his book during his time on the U.S. Commission for National Security.

After his initial speech, Hart answered questions from the audience regarding subjects ranging from campaign finance reform to his perspective on the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

After informal debate with several audience members, Hart concluded his discussion, although he stayed for several more minutes to sign copies of his book and speak individually with guests.

Kianti Walcott, a representative of the Yale Bookstore, said she was pleased with the event.

“His latest book speaks of issues that are of special concern to Americans at this point in time, and his talk was very informative,” Walcott said. “He was also very articulate and authoritative without being verbose. I was impressed with his ability to speak and to be engaged in discussion with a very diverse group.”

As well as his Yale degrees, Hart has a doctorate from Oxford University. He is the author of 11 previous books, including “The Patriot” and “The Minuteman.”

[ydn-legacy-photo-inline id=”19789″ ]