Tom Nichols (academic)

Thomas M. Nichols grew up in Chicopee, Massachusetts, where he attended public schools in the 1960s and 1970s.[2] He stated in a speech at The Heritage Foundation that he did not come from an educated family, noting that his parents were "both Depression era kids who dropped out of high school".[3]

Nichols was awarded a BA degree in political science from Boston University in 1983, an MA degree in political science from Columbia University in 1984,[4] a certificate from the Harriman Institute of Columbia University in 1985,[4] and a PhD in government from Georgetown University in 1988.[5][4]

Nichols is an undefeated five-time Jeopardy! champion[5] and was, at one time, one of the game's all-time top players.[6]

Following completion of his doctorate at Georgetown University, in 1989 Nichols received a faculty appointment at Dartmouth College. He remained there until 1997.[7]

In 1997, Nichols became professor of strategy at the U.S. Naval War College, a position he retained until 2008.[8] Subsequently, Nichols was named professor of national security affairs at the war college. As of 2022, he has remained in that role.[9] He also is a senior associate of the Carnegie Council on Ethics and International Affairs New York City.[10]

Concurrent during his tenure at Dartmouth, Nichols served as legislative aide (personal staff for defense and foreign affairs) to U.S. Senator John Heinz.[11]

In 2005, Nichols was appointed to visiting and adjunct faculty roles at La Salle University and Harvard University, respectively.[12]

In 2008, Nichols was named a fellow at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.[13]

In 2014, Nichols published a book entitled, No Use: Nuclear Weapons and US National Security.[13] The book is an analysis of American nuclear weapons policies possible reforms to the United States nuclear strategy.[4]

In 2021, Nichols published a book entitled, Our Own Worst Enemy: The Assault from Within on Modern Democracy.

He is a contributing writer at The Atlantic and authors its newsletter, entitled Peacefield.[14]

• Petra T. Shattuck Excellence in Teaching Award from Harvard Extension School (2012)[4]
• Navy Meritorious Civilian Service Award.[4]

Nichols describes himself as a Never Trump conservative.[15] During the 2016 presidential campaign, Nichols argued that conservatives should vote for Hillary Clinton, whom he detested, because Trump was "too mentally unstable" to serve as commander-in-chief.[16]

Nichols continued that type of argument for the 2018 midterm elections and advocated that Republicans could save the party by electing as many Democrats as possible in that election.[17]

Following the confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court of the United States, Nichols announced on October 7, 2018, that he would leave the Republican Party to become an independent. He claimed that Senator Susan Collins's "yes" vote on the confirmation convinced him that the Republican Party exists to exercise raw political power.[18] He stated that the Republicans have become a threat to the rule of law and to constitutional norms. Nicols also criticized the Democratic Party for being "torn between totalitarian instincts on one side and complete political malpractice on the other". He said that with the exception of Senators Chris Coons, Sheldon Whitehouse, and Amy Klobuchar, the Democratic party's behavior during the Kavanaugh hearings was detestable.[18]

In an opinion column published in 2019, Nichols cited the Mueller Report to argue that Trump failed in his role as a citizen and then, as commander-in-chief, by not doing more to prevent and punish the Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.[19]

In 2022, Nichols was quoted regarding the invasion of Ukraine by Russia,[20] stating, “If Putin's goal was to cement his grip on power by making Russia hated for decades to come, well, congratulations, I guess.”

• List of Republicans who opposed the Donald Trump presidential campaign, 2016

• Tom Nichols at IMDb