Ex-CIA agent Valerie Wilson Tells Her Story

Valerie Plame Wilson listened intently to an audience member's question Wednesday evening at the Chapel: Would she consider running for vice president under Barack Obama? 

The packed audience roared -- for the fifth time during Wilson's speech. 

Wilson explained her side of the highly publicized story about the CIA leak scandal that revealed her identity in 2003. 

"This isn't a democratic issue.  It isn't a republican issue.  It's a national security issue," Wilson said emphatically shortly after welcoming the audience.

The recurring theme of the evening: Wilson's struggles as a government agent, struggles indicative of the government's lack of taking responsibility for their actions and their words.

This, Wilson explained, was one of the reasons for writing her book Fair Game.  

The other was a more personal reason -- through writing this book, she was able to process the whole experience for herself.  

Many of these struggles stemmed from sexism.  She spoke of the surprising responses she often received after telling someone she worked for the CIA.  Wilson also divulged that she was the best shot at "The Farm," the training facility for CIA operatives.

"This changed the dynamic of my marriage," Wilson jokingly remarked.  

Wilson described the bizarre aftermath of July 14, 2003, the day in which her then covert CIA identity was given away by columnist Robert Novak.  

"We would read about these people, Joe Wilson and Valerie Plame, and they had nothing to do with us," she said.

Wilson spoke of the obstacles she faced when attempting to publish her book, which arose because of the secrecy agreement she, and all other CIA operatives, signed.  Once again, she felt betrayed.  

She concluded her speech powerfully, urging the students to still pursue a career in public service despite what happened to her.  She ended with her favorite quote by Thomas Jefferson.  

"When the citizens fear their government, that's tyranny.  When the government fears their citizens, that's democracy," Wilson said as the the crowd gave her a standing ovation.