The National History center cohosted this event. Once more, welcome everyone. Welcome to the Wilson Center, welcome to this washington history seminar. A seminar through which we try to provide at the Wilson Center in connection with our partners at the National History center, historical perspectives on international and national affairs. Im christiane offerman, i direct the history and Public Policy program here at the Wilson Center and i have the privilege to cochair with my College Professor eric carlson of George Washington university. This is a joint enterprise by the National History center and initiative of the American Historical Association, directed by professor dane kennedy, i dont know if dane is with us today. Joint initiative between the National History center and the history and Public Policy program here. Were in our ninth year of holding these sessions every week during the semester, mondays at 4 00 p. M. And i hope to see many of you again for future sessions. Let m
Confronting congress and the nation. The purpose of the program is not to provide or advocate for any particular political positi position. It is nonpartisan. It is intended to inform policymakers and the public about the sorts of issues they are dealing with. I want to first give a few thanks first to the Melon Foundation for providing the funding that makes these briefings possible. I also want to thank our assistant jeffrey who is outside this room for helping to make the arrangements. I want to thank the office of Jerry Connolly which booked the room. And i want to remind or explain why there were index cards on your seats and why i passed other index cards around. What we will do after the presentations by the speakers we will get questions, answer questions, but we would like you to write those questions on the index cards rather than ask them in front of the audience. Keep your index cards ready and jot down questions when they come to mind. And so now i will turn this over to m
U. S. iran relations. I should stress these events are strictly nonpartisan and not intended to offer any kind of policy, recommendations, or agendas. Therapy meant to give greater insight into how we got to where we are, which we believe helps us to understand how we can solve problems. A few thanks and then over to allen. The Melon Foundation funds building program. We are grateful to them. The room has been booked by chronicm congressman consequentnellys o. I will turn it over to the moderator of this event. Most of you will find these index cards on your seats. The intent of these is as the discussion proceeds, if you have questions, write them on these cards. We would collect them after formal remarks and use them to initiate the discussion, all right . Think about that as they are giving their remarks. Allen . Thank you, dane. Good morning. In 1941, the influential publisher henry loose declared that, in his view, the 20th century would be the american century. A time when americ
Town of monson in central maine has a big problem. The town has bounced back from a fire that swept through its downtown, destroying many of the buildings in 1860, and it is recovering from the trauma of the american civil war. The civil war ended just seven years earlier, in 1865. More than 10 of townspeople served in the civil war, and at least six of them died. The problem, even as the town of monson celebrates the 50th anniversary of its founding, is that so many of its young people are moving away. In the census of 1870, monson was listed as having 604 residents. 604. Out of curiosity, how many of you are from places with more than 604 residents, show of hands . Virtually everyone. How many of you went to high school with more than 604 people . Again, virtually everyone. Monson was a tiny place, and that meant that every departure, every person who moved away from home, hurt. Their absence was noted. In 1872, when townspeople gathered to celebrate turning 50, the speaker at the ev
Perspectives to current issues. The center itself is strictly nonpartisan. The purpose of the program is not to advocate for any particular policy, but provide Historical Context to help inform policymakers and the public as they deal with difficult issues. Thank or acknowledge the Financial Support of the Mellon Foundation which makes this series possible. I also want to thank Rachel Wheatley in the back of the room who is our assistant director and helped organize this. I want think the i want to think the office of gerry connolly, and i want to alert you to the fact that you will have index cards on your chairs. This is for questions. As the presenters are speaking, feel free to jot down questions, they will get formal remarks in the first hour, and the second half hour will be devoted to q and a. We will go from there. Thank you offer coming. This the rest of it is in the flyer. I worked briefly with the Congressional Research service. A little longer with the department of energy.