Lamar Alexander Discusses ESSA Act in New Memoir

Former United States Senator Lamar Alexander discussed the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) in a recent episode of The Education Exchange, published on June 29, 2026. Alexander, who represented Tennessee in the Senate from 2003 to 2021, served on the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) for his entire tenure. He also chaired the HELP Committee for the final six years of his service, a period during which the ESSA was enacted. The discussion stems from his newly released memoir, "The Education of a Senator: From JFK to Trump," published by Post Hill Press. In the interview, hosted by Paul E. Peterson, director of the Harvard Program on Education Policy and Governance, Alexander reflects on his life and political career, drawing parallels to Henry Adams's influential autobiography, "The Education of Henry Adams." The memoir offers an inside perspective on the legislative process and Alexander's role in shaping federal education policy. Andy Smarick provided a review of Alexander's book for Education Next. The Education Exchange is available on platforms including Soundcloud, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube.