"a Reagan Forum" Podcast

In this week’s Reagan Forum podcast we go back to July 8, 2021 for our virtual conversation with bestselling author and former MSMBC Hardball host Chris Matthews. Chris Matthews has been following American politics since the first Eisenhower campaign. Following two post-college years in the Peace Corps, Chris served on several staffs on Capitol Hill. He traveled down Pennsylvania Avenue to serve as a White House speechwriter to President Carter before returning to the Hill as a senior aide to House Speaker Tip O’Neill. That means that Chris saw up close the defining friendships of American history… the friendship of Ronald Reagan and Tip O’Neill. In the late 1980s, Chris switched to full-time journalism, serving as Washington Bureau Chief for the San Francisco Examiner and then beginning his career on television in 1994. In all the years Chris has been involved in the country’s public life he’s kept an abiding faith in electoral politics, his quadrennial hope that the American people will make the best judgme

In this week’s Reagan Forum podcast we go to our July 26, 2021 in-person event with former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who was the Foundation’s third speaker in its Time for Choosing Speaker Series, a new forum for leading voices in the conservative movement to address critical questions facing the future of the Republican Party. Michael Pompeo is an American politician, diplomat, businessman, and attorney who served under President Donald Trump as Director of the CIA from 2017 to 2018 and as the 70th United States Secretary of State from 2018 to 2021. He is also a former United States Army officer, and a former member of the United States House of Representatives from 2011 to 2017, when he represented Kansas’s 4th congressional district.

In this week’s Reagan Forum podcast we go back to June 21, 2021 for our virtual conversation with former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates. Robert Gates is an American intelligence analyst, and university president who served as the 22nd United States secretary of defense from 2006 to 2011. He was originally appointed by President George W. Bush and was retained for service by President Barack Obama.  He served in the U.S. Air Force as a Second Lieutenant from 1967-1969. Secretary Gates joins us today for a conversation on the paperback release of his latest book, Exercise of Power: American Failures, Successes, and a New Path Forward in the Post-Cold War World.

On June 12, 1987, President Ronald Reagan stood steadfastly in front of the Brandenburg Gate in West Berlin, Germany and boldly told General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev to “Tear Down This Wall.”  And, as we all know, on November 9, 1989, approximately 2 ½ years after President Reagan’s most historic speech, the Berlin Wall fell. Last month marked the 34th anniversary of that speech.  To mark this anniversary, the Reagan Institute partnered with the Hoover Institution for a virtual panel event which reflected on the speech and discussed its continuing relevance to the challenges we face today. The virtual conversation featured the author of the speech, Peter Robinson, as well as Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster, former National Security Advisor, Dr. Will Inboden, Director of the Clements Center for National Security, and Jamie Fly, President and CEO of Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty. Let’s listen.

For over 20 years, the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum has hosted a day-long 4th of July commemoration fun for the entire family.  Over 3,500 people come up to our hilltop each year to enjoy games, activities, arts and crafts, presidential lookalikes and patriotic music.  When COVID19 closed our Museum to the public in 2020 our thoughts quickly turned to our joyous event and how we might be able to still celebrate it while still conforming to new policies and guidelines about social distancing and limited group sizes. So in July of 2020 we hosted our first ever virtual 4th of July event, and over 40,000 people tuned in to watch!  Although COVID restrictions are lifting in California, we chose to remain virtual this year, although we do look forward to holding an in-person event in 2021! During our 2021 virtual program, we bring you music from the 562nd Air Force Band, American Flag trivia from our Betsy Ross re-enactor, and Declaration of Independence trivia from our Benjamin Franklin re-enactor

Like Ronald Reagan, Mike Pence started out young in life as a democrat. He has been quoted as saying that Ronald Reagan’s ideals inspired him to eave the party of his youth and to become a Republican like President Reagan had. During his Time for Choosing speech at the Reagan Library, former Vice President Mike Pence his thoughts about the republican party, perhaps inspiring other young adults to embrace the future and become republicans as well. Let’s listen.

Sebastian Junger is most known for his bestselling books The Perfect Storm and War, as well as his academy award nominated documentary, Restrepo. In his latest book, Freedom, Sebastian Junger examines the tension that lies at the heart of what it means to be human. For much of a year, Junger and three friends—a conflict photographer and two Afghan War vets—walked the railroad lines of the East Coast. It was an experiment in personal autonomy, but also in interdependence. Dodging railroad cops, sleeping under bridges, cooking over fires, and drinking from creeks and rivers, the four men forged a unique reliance on one another. In Freedom, Junger weaves his account of this journey together with primatology and boxing strategy, the history of labor strikes and Apache raiders, the role of women in resistance movements, and the brutal reality of life on the Pennsylvania frontier. Written in exquisite, razor-sharp prose, the result is a powerful examination of the primary desire that defines us. Sebastian Junger wa

In this week’s Reagan Forum podcast we go back to Mother’s Day weekend for a virtual event about the power of strong and resilient women on May 8, 2021 with Fox News Anchor Shannon Bream and her mother, Marie Norris.  The conversation centered around Shannon Bream’s brand-new book, The Women of the Bible Speak, 16 women and their lessons for today. Shannon last did an event with the Reagan Library in May of 2019 for her book, Finding the Bright Side. Shannon loves playing piano, fly fishing, watching college football, going to the beach, and spending time, every day, studying the bible and praying. So it’s no surprise that her latest book shares her passion for prayer and the Bible.  In The Women of the Bible Speak, Shannon Bream opens up the lives of 16 Biblical women, arranging them into pairs and contrasting their journeys. In pairing their stories, Shannon helps us reflect not only on the meaning of each individual’s life, but on how they relate to each other and to us.  In broadening each woman’s individ

In this week’s Reagan Forum podcast we go back to Memorial Day – May 31, 2021 – for our virtual conversation with New York Times Best Selling author Marcus Brotherton for the paperback release of his book, Blaze of Light: The Inspiring True Story of Green Beret Medic Gary Beikirch, Medal of Honor Recipient, a biography about Green Beret Army medic Gary Beikirch who received the medal of honor for his actions of valor during the siege of Dak Seang. Let’s listen.

In this week’s Reagan Forum podcast we go back one week to May 27, 2021 for our in-person event with former Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, who was the Foundation’s first speaker in its new Time for Choosing Speaker Series, a new forum for leading voices in the conservative movement to address critical questions facing the future of the Republican Party. Upon launching the Time for Series Speaker Series, Paul Ryan said, “It is a great honor to kick off the Time for Choosing series. I look forward to addressing these fundamental and timely questions, but more importantly, I am eager to hear how other Republican and conservative leaders, each with their own convictions and priorities, address the same questions. I am confident that our substantive, reasoned dialogue will do a service to the legacy of President Reagan and the party he once led.” Let’s listen.

In this week’s Reagan Forum podcast we go back to March 18, 2021 for our virtual event entitled, “National Defense Policy and Priorities: Views from Congress and the American People.” This  event featured remarks from Representative Mike Rogers, Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee, and a panel discussion with Admiral Gary Roughead, United States Navy (Ret.), Co-Chair of the National Defense Strategy Commission, and Senator Jim Talent, Former U.S. Senator and Commissioner on the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission. Congressman Rogers outlined his priorities for the committee this Congress, particularly those related to the defense budget and the China threat. For the second half of the event, Senator Talent and Adm. Roughead participated in a panel discussion on the results of the recently released Reagan National Defense Survey, a public opinion poll that assesses Americans’ views on a wide array of defense, foreign policy, and national security matters. The panel was moderated

In this week’s Reagan Forum podcast we go back to April 15, 2021, for our virtual “State of Civics” panel event featuring Dr. Penny Schwinn, Education Commissioner of Tennessee, Dr. Melissa Collins, 2020 National Teachers Hall of Fame Inductee, and Bill Haslam, Former Tennessee Governor. Understanding the current state policy environment for civic learning and engagement is key to fulfilling the mission of education, strengthening our democratic republic, and supporting academic achievement and the development of 21st-century workforce skills. Innovation in civics education burgeons at the state level — the State of Civics series is designed to highlight influential and forward-thinking state leaders as exemplars in civics education for the nation. In a conversation moderated by Janet Tran, Director of the Reagan Institute's Center for Civics, Education, and Opportunity, the panelists discussed their ongoing priorities, initiatives, and innovations for civics education in a post-COVID world.

In this week’s Reagan Forum podcast we go back to April 13, 2021, for our virtual event with Congressman Adam Smith for a program entitled, “The Future of Defense Spending: Strategic Choices and Hard Tradeoffs.”This event featured remarks from Representative Adam Smith, Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, followed by a panel discussion featuring General Hawk Carlisle, USA (Ret.), President & CEO of the National Defense Industrial Association, and Mackenzie Eaglen, Resident Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, moderated by Dr. Thomas Mahnken, President & CEO of the Center for Strategic Budgetary Assessments. The panel discussed the findings of the recent Center for Strategic Budgetary Assessments Report, co-produced by the Reagan Institute, entitled “America’s Strategic Choices: Defense Spending in a Post Covid19 World.”

In this week’s Reagan Forum podcast we go back to April 19, 2021, for our virtual event with former GE CEO Jeff Immelt for a conversation on his latest book, Hot Seat: What I learned leading a great American company. Jeff Immelt served as Chairman and CEO of GE for 16 years where he revamped the company’s strategy, global footprint, workforce, and culture.  During his tenure, he led several innovative transformations that doubled industrial earnings, reshaped the portfolio, re-established market leadership, and quadrupled emerging market revenue. He is currently a Venture Partner at New Enterprise Associates and he has been named one of the World’s Best CEOs three times by Barrons.

In this week’s Reagan Forum podcast we go back to February 18, 2021 event with Senator Tom Cotton.  The program, entitled,  “China, Targeted Decoupling, and the Economic Long War,” was the virtual launch of a report from Senator Tom Cotton which offered recommendations for how the United States can decouple key strategic sectors of its economy from China, mitigate the costs of decoupling, and reorganize parts of the federal government to wage the economic long war with China. The conversation with Senator Cotton was held with Reagan Institute Director, Roger Zakheim. Let’s Listen

In this week’s Reagan Forum Podcast we go back to April 12, 2021 for our virtual event with Karen Tumulty to discuss her brand new book, “The Triumph of Nancy Reagan,” which is being touted as the definitive biography of the fiercely vigilant and politically astute First Lady who shaped one of the most consequential presidencies of the 20th century: Nancy Reagan. Let's listen. 

In this week’s Reagan Forum podcast we go back to March 5, 2021, when we live-streamed our virtual event with Former Secretaries of Defense Mark Esper and Leon Panetta and former United States National Security Advisor HR McMaster. The virtual conversation, moderated by Reagan Institute Director Roger Zakheim, focused on defense policy and priorities given the new political environment and current national security threats, challenges, and opportunities. Let’s listen.

In this week’s Reagan Forum podcast we go back to our March 11, 2021 virtual event with Midshipman 1st Class Sydney Barber. In December 2020 Sydney Barber was appointed as the brigade commander for the United States Naval Academy – the first black female brigade commander at the academy. In an interview with The Capital Gazette about the appointment, Sydney said, “I see it more as a responsibility and a privilege and an honor to be able to be someone to pave the way. I feel extremely blessed that I have this opportunity to open doors for people who are coming after me.” The brigade commander — who serves for a semester — is selected by the academy's senior leadership through an application and interview process. The role was previously held by 1st Class Ryan Chapman, who called Barber a "catalyst for action, a visionary, a listener, a doer, and a person driven by compassion, by faith, by a fierce sense of passion and heart full of love." Barber, who is a mechanical engineering major, joined the Reagan Foundat

As part of the year-long commemoration, the Reagan Foundation will be holding a series of virtual events that look at, and discuss, one of these historic anniversary dates.  The first virtual event in this series commemorated the 40th anniversary of that fateful day – March 30, 1981 – when President Reagan and three others were shot. During this virtual event, which originally aired on YouTube on March 30, 2021, you will hear from the people who were there that day, including Former United States Secret Service Agent Ray Shaddick, the agent who helped shove President Reagan into the car, before closing the door behind him Former United States Secret Service Agent Tim McCarthy, who was struck by one of the bullets aimed at President Reagan Former White House Advance Staff Rick Ahearn, who helped to save White House Press Secretary James Brady’s life with his quick actions that day Former White House Speechwriter Mari (Maseng) Will, who drafted the speech the President delivered that day and was walking in fron

During today’s conversation with Martha MacCallum, Dana Perino discusses Everything Will be Okay, a no-nonsense how-to guide to life for young women looking to reframe their thinking, to believe in themselves, to take risks, to understand their power, and to feel better overall through finding serenity and taking action.  The book covers topics such as how to manage your relationships, how to be your best self on the job, how to solve the biggest problems you’re facing, and how to move past perceived obstacles. For everyone from the job-seeker fresh out of college to the ambitious career woman looking to make her next big jump up the ladder, Everything Will be Okay has tips, advice, and reassurance for young women everywhere. Let’s listen.