On Thursday morning in Reardon Auditorium, retired Indiana Senator Dan Coats and his wife Marsha Coats were welcomed as guest speakers for the Carroll Leadership Lecture Series to discuss their new memoir From Generation to Generation: Lessons for Tomorrow. The event included readings from the book, discussion, and an audience Q&A. The passages read highlighted their experiences in the political spotlight, as well as how their faith guided them to where they are today.
Dan Coats was first elected to federal office as a Republican Congressman from 1981-1989. He had two stints in the Senate, from 1989-1999 and again from 2011-2017. He was the U.S. Ambassador to Germany from 2001-2005 during President George W. Bush’s first term in the White House. He remarked that his longtime friendship with former Vice President Mike Pence was a key factor in accepting the role as the Director of National Intelligence during President Trump’s first term from 2017 to 2019. His wife, Marsha Coats, served as the national committeewoman of Indiana’s Republican Party until 2017. Together, they co-founded the Foundation for American Renewal which was eventually used to create the Sagamore Institute with CEO Jay Hein, who previously served as the deputy assistant to George W. Bush.
In the beginning of the lecture, Dan was open about a medical diagnosis that motivated him and Marsha to write this book. “In 2022, I began to experience a cognitive decline. That’s one reason Marsha and I began writing this book… we wanted these lessons and experiences to be preserved and of use to another generation.” Marsha later added that she was inspired by the Old Testament. “It occurred to me that the Jewish people valued oral and written stories.. we wanted the next generation to see what the older generation was thinking.”
When speaking of the early years of their marriage, they revealed that they did not always have “blissful days,” as Marsha had put it. They were adjusting to married life after graduating from Wheaton College – a Christian school in suburban Chicago – while also getting used to their new home in Chicago Heights, Ill. They were often separated in pursuing their own interests, and it wasn’t until Dan had gotten drafted during the Vietnam War that they finally were able to find clarity. “I knew we were in God’s hands.”
Through the excerpts shared, it grew apparent that the life they’ve faced has been filled with uncertainties. Despite these uncertainties, they grew stronger in conviction that God would guide them through their journey personally, spiritually, and politically. They also shared their deep affinity for the German people for their outpouring of support in the wake of the 9/11 attacks when Dan was stationed in Berlin as ambassador.
“There is no real feeling of serving your country other than serving your country,” laughed Dan. The Coatses emphasized the balancing act of caring for one’s family and pursuing career doors that open, noting that family members ought to be supportive of taking on their calling.