Fred Kaplan

Fred Kaplan

Keynote Speaker: War Stories Columnist, Best-Selling Author & Pulitzer Prize-Winning Journalist

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Fred Kaplan Biography

Fred Kaplan — described by the New York Times as "a rare combination of defense intellectual and pugnacious reporter" — is the War Stories columnist for Slate and the author of six critically acclaimed and bestselling books. In his columns, essays, interviews, and public speeches, Kaplan brings more than 40 years of experience as an observer and analyst of the foreign- and defense-policy scene, honing an insider’s grasp of its intricacies and an outsider’s sense of its broad contours, opportunities, and dangers. ‍

His most recent release, "The Bomb: Presidents, Generals, and the Secret History of Nuclear War", was called "jaw-dropping" by George Will and "surprisingly entertaining" by the New York Times. Richard Rhodes praised as follows: "With its stunning, new, in-the-room revelations, and with Kaplan’s deep knowledge of nuclear strategy, The Bomb is the best overview yet of the world’s continuing struggle to come to terms with the threat of nuclear war." Referenced by nearly all who cover the subject, The Bomb is pivotal to informed discussions on nuclear warfare. ‍

Earlier publications were equally well-received with The Wizards of Armageddon winning of the Washington Monthly Political Book of the Year; "The Insurgents: David Petraeus and the Plot to Change the American Way of War" becoming both a New York Times bestseller and a Pulitzer Prize Finalist; and "Dark Territory: The Secret History of Cyber War" being hailed by The Times Literary Supplement as "the best account to date" on the subject. ‍

Kaplan is renowned not only for his historical perspective and analytical skills, but also for his storytelling prowess. James Fallows likened The Insurgents to the narrative styles of Robert Caro and David Halberstam. John le Carre, the supreme spy novelist of our era, praised Dark Territory as “a book that grips, informs and alarms, finely researched and lucidly related.” Malcolm Gladwell, one of our finest storytellers, said of The Wizards of Armageddon, "I read that book when I was researching (The Bomber Mafia). Oh, my God, it is just a delight! What a great book!" ‍

Before joining Slate in 2002, Kaplan was a staff reporter for the Boston Globe, working as the paper’s defense correspondent (1983-91, during which he was part of the team that won a Pulitzer Prize for a special Sunday magazine on the nuclear arms race), Moscow Bureau Chief (1992-95), and New York Bureau Chief (1995-2002). He has also written for Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, New York Times, Washington Post, The New Yorker, The New York Review of Books, among other publications. He has appeared on CNN, MSNBC, BBC, NPR, and many other news networks and podcasts. He has held fellowships at the Council on Foreign Relations and New America. He was elected to the Society of American Historians, in recognition of his works’ "narrative power and scholarly distinction." He also writes about the arts, especially jazz, and reviews high-end audio equipment for The Tracking Angle. He graduated from Oberlin College and has a Ph.D. in political science from M.I.T. ‍

His twice-weekly Slate column covers the waterfront in national-security affairs — their roots in Washington’s internecine politics and their outcomes in policies toward Russia, China, Iran, North Korea, and other hot spots. He speaks at length, and with authority, on the news of the moment.

Contact a speaker booking agent to check availability on Fred Kaplan and other top speakers and celebrities.

Fred Kaplan Videos

An Epic Debate on Ukraine and US Foreign Policy
The Sit-Down: Fred Kaplan

How do I book Fred Kaplan to speak at my event?

Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Fred Kaplan for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Fred Kaplan, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Fred Kaplan or any other speaker of your choice.

How much does it cost to book Fred Kaplan for a speaking engagement?

Speaking fees for Fred Kaplan, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. For the most current speaking fee to hire Fred Kaplan, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.

What topics does Fred Kaplan speak about?

Fred Kaplan is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Inspirational, Journalism, Political, Security & Defense, Authors, Government and World Affairs.

Where does Fred Kaplan travel from?

Fred Kaplan generally travels from New York, NY, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.

Who is the agent for Fred Kaplan?

AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Fred Kaplan for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Fred Kaplan for your next private or corporate function.

What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Fred Kaplan or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.

Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.


Fred Kaplan is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics including Inspirational, Journalism and Political. Please contact us for live or virtual event fee details. Fred Kaplan generally travels from New York, NY, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Vijay Prashad, Janine di Giovanni and Fariba Nawa. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Fred Kaplan for an upcoming event.

Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 09/10/2024.

Fred Kaplan Videos

An Epic Debate on Ukraine and US Foreign Policy
The Sit-Down: Fred Kaplan
  • How do I book Fred Kaplan to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Fred Kaplan for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Fred Kaplan, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Fred Kaplan or any other speaker of your choice.
  • How much does it cost to book Fred Kaplan for a speaking engagement?

    Speaking fees for Fred Kaplan, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. For the most current speaking fee to hire Fred Kaplan, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
  • What topics does Fred Kaplan speak about?

    Fred Kaplan is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Inspirational, Journalism, Political, Security & Defense, Authors, Government and World Affairs.
  • Where does Fred Kaplan travel from?

    Fred Kaplan generally travels from New York, NY, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.
  • Who is the agent for Fred Kaplan?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Fred Kaplan for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Fred Kaplan for your next private or corporate function.
  • What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Fred Kaplan or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
  • Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

    If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.
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