tom clancy gives a standup routine to federal agents for almost 50 minutes

I never knew he was such a great public speaker. I could listen to the guy for hours.

I was in the audience, this was our Air Force Wing commanders call, and he was the guest speaker. It was held in the NSA auditorium, late 1980's.

Someone I knew recognized Mr. Clancy on the street in Manhattan. He asked to take a picture with him. While they took the picture, someone walked past and said, "Are you famous?" He replied, "Yea, I'm a rock star."

"im not gonna tell you what it is dumbass it's classified" lmaoooo I couldn't stop laughing that that part.

He’s a really good and captivating speaker. No wonder his books/games are so good.

I bet Tom was one HELL of an insurance salesman. God bless this man and everything he did. Even listening to this 36 years after he spoke the words, there is such an eerie feeling of relevance. RIP, Tom. Thanks for everything.

It was interesting to hear his comment at <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="2381">39:41</a> - "I have this impulse... to call Dr. Ballard … because we didn't develop that technology to look at the Titanic." - it was in fact a recent news item that Ballard's Titanic expedition was also a cover for finding some secret nuclear submarine wreckage!

To think that Tom is REALLY keen on making these people understand that he aquired all that millitary information legaly and through civilian accessable means. Merely a decade or two later you could have that type of information at the tip of your fingers, nearly instantaneoulsy and completely free. Just crazy.

Clancy- *makes joke about classified info* Audience- *laughs nervously* *sweat drips down brow*

Time codes: <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="30">00:30</a> "Storozhevoy" mutiny <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="475">07:55</a> Became insurance agent <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="484">08:04</a> USNI Meeting and payments for writing <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="578">09:38</a> What is a sub captain like? <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="664">11:04</a> Writing "The Hunt for Red October" (HfRO) <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="850">14:10</a> Crazy Ivan <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="976">16:16</a> Editing HfRO <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="1060">17:40</a> Release of HfRO <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="1200">20:00</a> Krazny or Kraznaya? <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="1280">21:20</a> Research Sources <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="1301">21:41</a> "Harpoon" Wargame <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="1573">26:13</a> FBI HRT Demonstration <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="1662">27:42</a> "Patriot Games" and the Troubles in Northern Ireland <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="2011">33:31</a> Future of War is Terrorism <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="2044">34:04</a> Role of NSA in dealing with Terrorism. <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="2149">35:49</a> Q&A <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="2157">35:57</a> Philosophy of classified questions <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="2191">36:31</a> Q: Can you comment on your research on the stealth fighter? <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="2337">38:57</a> Q: In several sections of "Red October" you mention NSA. Where did you go for information? Or, did you attempt to seek information about NSA? <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="2554">42:34</a> Q: In "Red Storm" you reference non-Soviet Warsaw Pact forces participating in war. Does that reflect you view of what would actually happen in a Third World War? <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="2651">44:11</a> Q: What has been the reaction to "Red October" in the Navy? <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="2706">45:06</a> Q: If, in your research, you were the recipient of classified material and you knew it, what would be your reaction? <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="2735">45:35</a> Soviet Boomers phoning home (WaPo front page, security problems at Cheltenham)

Excellent. He was such a great wit. Could communicate his ideas eloquently and with great humor. Dearly missed in this modern day in which we find ourselves.

I love Tom Clancy’s novels. However this is the first time I have seen him animated and speaking. Not what I expected, but I am certainly not disappointed.

I was born 88, my grandmother was a big fan. Owned all of his books, my grandfather was AF and worked on the Manhattan project. My grandfather often laughed at the books but always nodded when i asked if certain things were true. Oh i miss his writing.

His story about the naval officer refusing to tell what he should take out of the book because it’s classified had me in stitches. Talk about the ultimate Catch-22🤣🤣

This was phenomenal. "Why can't they just give me credit for being smart?" Yes you are Tom, yes you are.

He sounds like the friend of your dad that you enjoy talking to

Of all the interviews and speeches I've seen with Tom Clancy, this was my favorite. I think it gave the best, most personal description of his writing and researching experience as well as his motives, his likes, his dislikes, and his knowledge base. Thanks for posting this

Such a gem of All-American humor and storytelling.

We were lucky enough to have him as guest of honor at DragonCon in 1990 the autograph line was incredible I'd never seen anything like that before or since I mean it was silent , and everyone was very patient. I was working part-time, before a career switch into security for the B Dalton bookstore chain at the time in Atlanta. We couldn't keep Tom Clancy novels on the shelves back then. His style of writing was so unique at the time people were not only buying it for themselves once they finished the story they bought a copy for someone else, and gave it as a gift. I had more than one customer tell me they blew an entire weekend getting through the book., but it was worth every second. The man did an incredible amount of background research using unclassified information for putting his books together to the point where he actually got interviewed by government officials who thought he had violated security protocol , and he was never a government employee, just a writer who knew how to do research

Someone finally just uploaded the full audio book, Red Storm Rising only 7 days ago. Easily one of my favorite books of all time. The attention to detail and authenticity that Tom Clancy puts in that book, is second to none. I only wish he was around to write a new updated version of Red Storm Rising, using modern day advanced military technology, like drones and 5th gen fighters. His absence is still felt to this day.

Clancy had great imagination and enough facts to make his books ring true. For those of us who grew up in the cold war, gaming out and imagining how a potential conflict with the USSR would go down was something we did quite a bit, but Clancy made it even more vivid. I think it's pretty clear that those in the intel community and military appreciated his work because those types of thought experiments were important and essential for them as well.

Red Storm is my favourite book of all time. I'm so glad I stumbled upon this. What a guy.

This is immaculate public speaking skill.

What a brilliant man. He was truly a fun guy to listen to.

He mentioned Dr. Ballard and how that technology wasn't made to look for the Titanic. 30 years later, Ballard admitted that the discovery of the Titanic was part of a secret mission to look for missing submarines. Clancy got it right. Again.

I absolutely love Tom Clancy’s novels. I started reading them in high school and I still reread them to this day. I graduated in 1984. I even named my cats Tom and Clancy. RIP.

It’s criminal how few of his quips the audience caught

This guy had a mind like a steel trap. I’ve worked with and had friends like this, and they’re fascinating people. It seems that the best of them get snapped up by the defense community.

I always loved his takes on the Soviet Union. He always dissed the quality of their equipment and their leadership. From the looks of things right now, I don't think things have improved very much in modern day Russia. Such an intelligent man. He probably should have actually been working for the NSA. The problem would have been him having to take a massive pay cut. Miss you Tom.

What a treasure to happen upon... Patriot Games is still my favorite TC novel, although a close second would be the two that have to go together: Debt of Honor and Executive Orders. And here he is in the midst of writing it and talking about it. For a TC "fanboy" this is pure gold!

Mr. Clancy can certainly write, but he can also present a fantastic talk. not only that, he can bring some comedy with him on stage. I could listen to him for hours, hes a walking talking encyclopedia of military knowledge.

That was fantastic. Very charismatic and he understood his audience perfectly!

Fun fact, Tom Clancy founded a video game studio called 'Red Storm Entertainment' named after his book Red Storm Rising. They created an enormously successful line up of games which are still being produced to date by different developers (Splinter Cell, Rainbow Six, Ghost Recon and more.)

6 years later, the algorithm has decided to show me this gem. Thank you for posting this!

This is a blast from the past in 1986 at the Friedman Auditorium. He was very entertaining and at the height of his success as a writer. Definitely the most entertaining guest speaker during my tour at the HQs.

We always lose our best, way to early in there lives, and in ours. Tom Clancy was one of those.

Excellent talk - I had read the hardcover in 1985 (loaned to my by a VP CO next-door-neighbor), and was just finishing "Red Storm Rising" as I climbed in the plane to take me to RTC Orlando. I became a Naval Aircrewman (SH-60B), and while going through some secondary schools at NAS North Island, a number of us students (VS, HS, and HSL) used to play "Harpoon" over the weekends when it was still a "board game" - we'd take up 3 barracks rooms - one for blue, one for red, with a referee room in the middle. I was then INCREDIBLY Blessed to be flying with the HSL Detachment that was involved with the Hunt for Red October movie filming in The Straits of Juan de Fueca (still have the patch the USS Reuben James made - to the annoyance of the production company)... then spent the rest of my career waiting for the NEXT hardcover to hit the NEX - and Mr. Clancy made SURE the military got it, if not first, but never late.

I remember listening to this for the first time in the 89-91 time frame...it was great then, and it is great now.

I read his books and enjoyed them so much. I never knew how engaging he was as a speaker. Amazing!

First time seeing Tom Clancy and he is very impressive and a great story teller. Must be in his Irish blood. I could listen to him for hours.

Dude works the crowd so well I love listening to him talk so much

The power of narrative should not be underestimated. People get wrapped up into the characters, and either learn their lessons, or become distracted, convoluted. This is true in writing, art, acting, and real life.

Listening to Tom Clancy talk about his research and writing process. 😂 Wish we had writers who went to this level of effort today. 😢

This man is now rolling in his grave :( RIP Tom Clancy.

Thank you for posting this, I had no idea that Tom Clancy was such a good public speaker. This video also re-affirms my perception of him as a professional in every sense of the word.

Couldn’t help but notice this was <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="2867">47:47</a> in length. Surely not a coincidence!

Thanks for sharing this, it is really nice to actually visualize who Tom Clancy was like and now I can appreciate my collection of his books a bit more. :)

I read THFRO back in the day when it first came out. It was amazing the amount of detail Clancy put into the novel. He was certainly an affable guy as demonstrated by this great video.

When I first read “the hunt for red October” I literally could not put that book down. I remember being disappointed with the movie version.

First time I’ve ever listened to Tom Clancy speak at a conference. Sumbitch was one smart cookie!

This is great! Thanks for posting. He was a truly great national security mind during the Cold War.

Tom here is an inspiration. 'Just sit down and write the damn thing,' he said! Man, I've lost count of how many excuses I've put up to not really dedicate myself... and I have plenty of story ideas.

Wow! What a great story teller & a visionary too. Now I'm gonna binge anything Tom Clancy related. Great man.

I've war gamed with Larry Bond a few times and he has some great Tom Clancy stories. Larry is very similar to Tom; same way of telling stories. I have several versions of his game HARPOON that I have played several times (including with Larry).

What a lovely talk - an hour just flew by.

Wish he had lived during the modern era of TED talks.. he's got the timing and delivery of a standup comic, with wit and intelligence. What a ham!

His description of "The Troubles" in Northern Island was amazing. Very interesting to hear this described during this time period.

The rule is: if you get unauthorized access to senstive information, you don't "delete" it. You keep it and hand it over to the appropriate authorities. This allows them to see what the hell you obtained so they can more effectively deal with it.

Wow, love him. Never seen a video of him before today. Very quick witted. I never read the "Hunt For Red October" book but now I want to.

His books are amazing, as he says, he used his common sense and brain cells. RIP

What an eloquent man with great wit. What he Said on terrorism was absolute Precise and forshadowing. Loved The talk

When Mr. Clancy was speaking about "Russian trust in their allies", I was reminded of a bit of information I learned about that. When the Soviets gave/sold fighter aircraft to those same allies in the Warsaw Pact, they were downgraded versions of the Soviet aircraft used in Russian territory. They had shorter ranges and their radar units were replaced by inferior models, just in case. In case these countries rebelled, or in case some pilot, somewhere, were to defect to the "West", there would not be any top secret parts that would "embarrass" their military leaders by giving their latest and greatest ideas to the opposition.

What an amazing speaker. This is so nice to watch.

Great talk! Filled with humour and wonderful stories! Years ago, I played the war-game "Harpoon III" in which he had some input and now I can see why the game was so good - he really knows his stuff!

I was there for this one in the Canine Auditorium. I chatted with Tom afterward; he seemed like a genuinely nice guy.

Damn this guy is almost literally fun to listen to

SAS conducting Live Fire Hostage Rescue Exercise with Live Volunteer Hostage and the Volunteer (an Army Sergeant) was briefed as to precisely what was about to happen in the room containing himself, Five Terrorist Silhouettes, a Safety Officer and the soon to arrive, Hostage Rescue Team. To complicate matters slightly, the Volunteer was requested (Ordered) to throw himself out THAT Window when the excitement began. Unfortunately, mention of the use of Flash Bang Grenades was omitted from his briefing and when deployed they did precisely what they were designed to do; created Shock and Confusion. Dragging his stunned Mind back into the present, the Volunteer remembered that he was to throw himself out a Window. Unfortunately directly in front of the Window he selected, some meters out, was an overly aggressive Terrorist Silhouette, the intended Target of an SAS Trooper with a Shotgun. Regrettably as the stupefied Volunteer hurled himself out the nearest Window, the Trooper was despatching his overly aggressive Silhouette, with a well aimed Shotgun Blast, which caused numerous Shotgun Pellets to depart through the same Window, as the Volunteer. Although the Volunteer was moving quite quickly, the Shotgun Pellets were moving faster, or at least they were, until the Volunteer’s Butt Cheeks Stopped them mid flight. There are not many people living in the world today, who can claim that they were once shot by an SAS Trooper, in a Hostage Rescue Situation and lived to tell the Tale.

I bought the book "Hunt for Red October" because I had read in the paper a story about the book. It mentioned that he was questioned about his sources because it was suspected to have classified information. I thought a book like that must be pretty good so I got the book and have been a Tom Clancy fan ever since.

I've played in many of Larry Bond's Harpoon games over the years and had many great conversations and met Tom Clancy as well back in the early 90's.

I love the details in his books

Theres hours of TC interviews and videos on the web, but still not enough.. I would love to of seen him appear on The Joe Rogan Experience podcast if he was still alive.. Would of been amazing.

Man, I would love to hear his perspective on current events. It is a shame that listening to him is like doing research on what life was like in the 80s.

The Hunt For Red October and In Harms Way are my favorite. I thoroughly enjoyed hearing Mr Clancy talk about how he gets his ideas

Tom Clancy’s Tom Clancy presents Tom Clancy’s Tom Clancy: Tom Clancy.

I am a huge fan of his writing - I even had a dream once where I was invited to his home for dinner (yeah we're definitely talking bucket list here!).

I learned so much about the subject today.. Thanks

I was in the Navy and when I read this I was in shock at the stuff he was telling.

Good thing some of us are being true to his legacy and working on a new title paying homage to the original R6, Ghost Recon and Sum Of All Fears video games unlike some of these certain studios we shall not name. Nothing but respect for this man! His novels are awesome!

"Hunt" came out right at the same time as another book called "Murder at the Red October" by Anthony Olcott... both books were superb

Video quality is superb.

My favorite writer of all times.

Loved his books, still do in fact. Great talk about a great book. That being said, old school horn dog that if he was around today, He’d get me to’d back to the 80’s

What a great guy! Glib, eloquent and entertaining. God rest you, Thomas.

Such a great speech!

Wow! I love his books, and what a speaker!

Thank you for teaching me to write about important things.

Amazing speech!!!

This guy had a brilliant mind. Great writer and developed a “ as it will happen tomorrow “ story board. Fact or fiction. He read and studied dispatches and build stories that made millions for a former insurance salesman.

Fantastic, thanks for sharing this.

Superb speaker, all without a teleprompter.

He spoke at the nsa..he created some of the most intellectually profund and action packed thrillers..he created a complex yet bold personagge and only perhaps equal to smiley in a sense..never underestimate a lowly insurance agent again

He speaks as he writes. Very intelligently and comically. Don't take that as a dumb thing. He is very knowledgeable.

Hesitating to call this 'entertainment', this guy is such an easy watch... Easy to hear, easy to listen to and easy to get the message. Humans have a lot - This guy is one of them.

This was 1986 when there was a Warsaw pact .

I waited for a John Clark movie my whole life, they really murdered that dream. I wonder if he was still around if they would produce the same junk.

The closest you can get to meeting Jack Ryan in person...

Sunglasses indoors is the mark of a true American

HE CLEARLY IS BLESSED WITH A PHOTOGRAPHIC MEMORY

It's really interesting to see what he got right and wrong about the F-117.