Good afternoon, everyone. I am the dean of the harvard graduate institute and is my pleasure to welcome all of you, whether you are joining us in person or online, to todays discussion on free speech on campus. We plan to this discussion some weeks ago, but i bet it has become an increasingly crucial conversation. Before i introduce those on todays program, allow me to express my gratitude to the Radcliffe Institute Leadership Society and our donors whose generosity keeps our program free and open to the public. I also want to thank todays distinguished speakers for sharing their expertise and perspectives, and i thank everyone who is joining us this afternoon for engaging in this critically important conversation. As i moved to an introduction of the substance of the program, i have a request for you. During this fraud period of understandably strong opinions and strong emotions, i ask that we engage with one another as generous listeners. With open minds and open hearts. Thank you in
I appreciate that. I can just look at kevin if i need. Kevin, you teach, right . In addition to blogging. Er, in sorry, pete. Blo and so,gg youre used to being front of unruly crowds. G and you may also have some experience with a particularly nerve wracking speaking engagement. One of those engagements wrote youre not quite sure where the subject matter of your talk fits with the event at hand. And then, adding to that, you learn that perhaps, i dont know, cspan is going to broadcast your talk live on television because, hey, you know, live television. Ppen this stills, happens apparently. But if youve done any public ae speaking, you also know that yu moment where a that sense of re calm settles over you. I know that pete knows that because ive now watched him speak beautifully a number of times in the past couple of days. I just want to let you know, e thiss not happening to me right now. And so, without further ado. As many of you may know, on november 29th, 1864, approximately 700
Thank you very much for that kind introduction and thank you for all your patience in advance. I woke up this morning quite nervous, more usually more nervous than i usually am when i am going to be giving a talk. I noticed that a number of your teachers. Is that right . Thank you. I appreciate that. I will just look at kevin. Kevin is a teacher, in addition to blogging. To being insed front of unruly crowds and you may have some experience with a particularly nerveracking speaking engagement. Where youre not quite sure if the subject matter of your talk fits with the events at hand, and then you learn, i dont know, maybe that cspan is going to broadcast your event live because Live Television still happens, apparently. But if you have done any public speaking, you also know that moment when a sense of real calm settles over you. I know that pete does that because i have watched him speak beautifully in the last couple of days. I just want you to know that that is not happening to me r
Very kind introduction. Thanks to all of you for your you patience in advance. You i woker up this morning quite nervous. More nervous than i often am u when im going to be giving a talk and i think i noticed yesterday a number of you are teachers. Is that right . Yes . Thank you. Of i appreciate that. I can just look at kevin if i need. Kevin, you teach, right . In addition to blogging. Er, in sorry, pete. Blo and sogg youre used to being in front of unruly crowds. G and you may also have some experience with a particularly nerve wracking speaking engagement. One of those engagements wrote youre not quite sure where the subject matter of your talk fits with the event at hand. And then adding to that you learn that perhaps, i dont know, cspan is going to broadcast your talk live on television because, hey you know, live television. Ppen this stills, happens apparently. But if youve done any public ave done speaking, you also know that you moment where a that sense of real calm settles
[inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [applause] [applause] are. [applause] good evening, everyone. I am the chief operating officer here at the National Constitution center and it is my great pleasure to welcome you all here tonight for our first Town Hall Program for 2014 with former u. S. Secretary of defense robert gates. [applause] i would like to take a moment to welcome the audience joining us from across the country via lifestream. Welcome to you. The National Constitution center is the only institution established by congress to disseminate information about the United States constitution on a nonpartisan basis. We fulfill that mandate in three important ways. As the museum of we the people, as the headquarters for Civic Education and as americas town hall. Donor generosity helps the Constitution Center reach americans across the country through Digital Media and the informed civic dial