A Reagan Forum Podcast

This Reagan Forum podcast that you are listening to is only one of the eight different podcasts that the Reagan Foundation and Institute produces. In fact, this is only one of two that are audio only – the rest each come with video. One of our favorite podcasts is called the Reagan Retrospective. These podcasts are stories shared by people who knew President and Mrs. Reagan best – people who worked with them, were friends with them, and knew them throughout their life. Each podcast brings you new behind-the-scenes stories from the Reagan years. They're funny, poignant, and rich in history. Over the past 3 months we have recorded over a dozen of these podcasts and they're now being released a few per month. So today we are going to share four of our most recent Reagan Retrospective podcasts. We hope you enjoy them as much as we do.

Have you watched our Reaganism podcast yet? Reaganism is dedicated to exploring where the Reagan Movement lives today, hosted by the Director of the Ronald Reagan Institute, Roger Zakheim. The show has two goals: to understand the foundations of the political philosophy that powered the Reagan Revolution; and to host discussions about contemporary issues through the lens of President Reagan. Episodes come out weekly. In a recent episode from August 5, 2024, Roger sat down with Matthew Continetti who serves as the Director of Domestic Policy Studies at the American Enterprise Institute. They discuss the historic 2024 presidential campaign and how the election might unfold in November. They also talk about national conservatism, the energy around Kamala Harris, the democratic convention, and more.

On August 14, 2024, the Reagan Foundation hosted an in-person event with former Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross for a discussion on his latest book, Risks and Returns: Creating Success in Business and Life. The book is a candid reflection of a life lived at the pinnacle of Wall Street, New York, and Palm Beach society, as well as within the Trump administration in his role as Commerce Secretary. During the program, Secretary Ross sat down in conversation with Reagan Foundation and Institute President and CEO David Trulio to discuss his career in business and politics.

On August 7, 2024, the Reagan Foundation hosted a virtual event with award winning historian, biographer and curator Heath Hardage Lee for a discussion on her latest book, The Mysterious Mrs. Nixon: The Life and Times of Washington's Most Private First Lady. In The Mysterious Mrs. Nixon, Heath Hardage Lee presents readers with the essential nature of Mrs. Nixon, an empathetic, adventurous, self-made woman who wanted no power or influence but connected warmly with ordinary Americans and people from different cultures she encountered world-wide.

Tomorrow, August 30, 2024, the movie REAGAN will be released in theaters nationwide. REAGAN is a cinematic journey of overcoming the odds. The movie is told through the voice of Viktor Petrovich, a former KGB agent whose life becomes inextricably linked with Ronald Reagan's when Ronald Reagan first caught the Soviets' attention as an actor in Hollywood and stars Dennis Quaid, Jon Voight, Penelope Ann Miller, Mena Suvari, Lesley-Anne Down, David Henrie and Kevin Dilon. A month earlier, on July 25, 2024, a handful of the Reagan movie cast joined us at the Reagan Library for an in-person moderated discussion about the film and their roles. During the program, cast members Dennis Quaid, who plays Ronald Reagan, Elya Baskin who plays a soviet defector, Amanda Righetti who plays Nelle Reagan, and Will Wallace who plays Ed Meese, sat down in conversation with Reagan Foundation and Institute President and CEO David Trulio to share these stories and more.

In today's Reagan Forum podcast, we bring you our August 8, 2024, in-person event with Justice Neil Gorsuch; his second visit with us. During the program, he discusses his book, “Over Ruled: The Human Toll of Too Much Law,” which highlights increasingly complex laws that take away Americans' freedoms and undermine respect for the law. Centered around the lives of real people who feel the tolls of excessive regulation, “Over Ruled” provides readers with key insights into preserving liberties for future generations. During the program, Justice Gorsuch sat down with Reagan Foundation and Institute Board Chairman Fred Ryan.

On March 23, 1983, in a televised address to the nation, President Reagan announced his intention to embark upon groundbreaking research into a national defense system that could make nuclear weapons obsolete. At the heart of the Strategic Defense Initiative was the development of a space-based missile defense program that could protect America from a large-scale nuclear attack. Flash forward to today, and now our country has the Missile Defense Agency to develop and deploy a system to defend the United States and its allies - exactly what President Reagan envisioned 40 years ago. On August 1, 2024, the Reagan Foundation was honored to host an in-person event with Lt. Gen. Heath Collins, the Director of the Missile Defense Agency, whose job it is to advise the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering on Missile Defense programmatic policy, requirements, priorities, systems, resources, and programs. During the program, Lt. Gen. Collins sat down in conversation with Reagan Foundation and Institute President and CEO David Trulio to discuss the Missile Defense Agency - its responsibilities, its challenges and opportunities, and the importance of what the Agency does every day for our nation's security.

In his first inaugural address, as he looked out over the National Mall, President Reagan declared, “Above all, we must realize that no arsenal or no weapon in the arsenals of the world is so formidable as the will and moral courage of free men and women. It is a weapon our adversaries in today's world do not have. It is a weapon that we as Americans do have.” They are words that defined his foreign policy. They are words that defined his presidency. They are words shaped by Ken Khachigian, Ronald Reagan's chief speechwriter. Less than two weeks ago, on July 30, 2024, the Reagan Foundation hosted an in-person event with Ken to discuss his latest book, Behind Closed Doors: In The Room with Reagan & Nixon. It's a book that Fox Business Network's Larry Kudlow calls, “essential reading for anyone wanting to know how Ronald Reagan shaped his crusading message of economic growth through tax cuts and limited government.” Behind Closed Doors is a compelling insider's account by the trusted adviser and confidant to America's presidential giants and political legends. During the program, Ken sat down with Reagan Foundation and Institute President and CEO David Trulio to share these stories and more.

On July 24, 2024, the Reagan Foundation hosted a virtual event with President George HW Bush's former chief-of-staff Jean Becker to discuss her latest book, Character Matters: And Other Life Lessons from George H.W. Bush. During the program, Jean sat down in conversation with Reagan Foundation and Institute Chief Marketing Officer Melissa Giller to discuss President Bush's character, humility, love of country, and love for his family.

President Reagan strongly believed in the importance of educating our youth about the Founding Fathers and the nation's foundational documents, such as the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the Declaration of Independence. In 1981, he eloquently articulated this conviction by referring to these documents as the "Charters of Freedom," underscoring their role as the bedrock of American law and guardians of inalienable rights and privileges. It is for these reasons that the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute recently worked with Foundation Forward to install a permanent Charters of Freedom Monument on the Reagan Library campus. The monument includes life-sized replicas of the Constitution, Bill of Rights, and Declaration of Independence, as well as a panel on Civil Rights. This monument was dedicated and unveiled during a ceremony on the Reagan Library campus on the 4th of July.

President Reagan hated war. He wanted to prevent war. And in the event he ever had to use force, it would be to advance freedom – and not to conquer. President Reagan sought peace, and he understood that peace requires strength. It is strength that tyrants respect. It is strength that enemies understand. It is strength that keeps the peace. As a guiding philosophy, “Peace Through Strength” is as relevant today as it was 40 years ago. In this Reagan Forum podcast we look back at our 80th anniversary of D-Day commemoration event held on June 6, 2024. The specific panel in this podcast focuses on where we need our leaders to rediscover and recommit to President Reagan's philosophy. The Wall Street Journal's Kate Bachelder Odell moderated a conversation with Former U.S. Ambassador to Germany Richard Burt, who was with Ronald Reagan in Normandy, Frank Lavin, who served as Ronald Reagan's White House Director of Political Affairs—and later served as ambassador to Singapore under President George W. Bush, and Matt Kroenig, who is Vice President and Senior Director of the Atlantic Council's Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security and a Georgetown professor.

It was June 6, 1984. President Reagan delivered two speeches that day to honor the 40th anniversary of D-Day. People forget that there were two speeches. Of course, there's the “Pointe du Hoc” speech, and then his other remarks at Omaha Beach. There, he honored those who fought, those who died and those who returned. Lisa Zanatta Henn was there that day in 1984, keeping a promise she made to her father, and she joined us at the Reagan Library on June 6, 1984 to honor the 80th anniversary of D-Day. She sat on a panel alongside Jim Kuhn, Assistant to the President in the Reagan White House, who was in Normandy in June of ‘84. They were also joined by Cameron Toor, a recent veteran of the U.S. Army's elite 75th Ranger Regiment. They were joined on stage in conversation with presidential historian, bestselling author and Rice University Professor Douglas Brinkley.

Last month we shared with you our two panels and our one Keynote Fireside Chat as part of our June 5, 2024 event to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the passing of President Ronald Reagan. This month we turn to our panels and Keynote Fireside Chat that were held at the Reagan Library on June 6, 2024, on the day the country and the world commemorated the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy. This occasion was marked brilliantly by President Reagan 40 years ago on that day in 1984 when he delivered two memorable and moving speeches, one of which highlighted the selfless and heroic actions of the “boys of Pointe du Hoc.” During our programs, we heard from people who were with President Reagan in France that day, as well as discussion around President Reagan's steadfast support of our allies and the “Peace Through Strength” policy he championed. Our day ended with a lively and fascinating conversation with Dr. Condoleezza Rice, former Secretary of State and now Director of the Hoover Institution at Stanford University. It is this conversation with Dr. Rice we will cover in today's Reagan Forum podcast. During this hour-long discussion, Dr. Rice sat down in conversation with Reagan Foundation and Institute Board Chairman Fred Ryan. The two discussed the importance of looking back at D-Day, our nation's military today, the political environment of today, including the wars in Ukraine and Israel and the threat Taiwan faces from China, the importance of bi-partisanship and working with Allied Nations, and so much more.

As we have been sharing with you all month, we gathered at the Reagan Library on June 5, 2024, to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the passing of President Reagan.  The day was a meaningful opportunity to reflect on our 40th President's legacy and its enduring impact to this day and beyond.  We began with a special ceremony to honor this 20-year milestone.  From there, we heard from many who served in the Reagan Administration, discussing both his domestic and foreign policies, and how they continue to shape the world.  We concluded the day with a special after dinner conversation with Peggy Noonan and the children of two of President Reagan's closest friends and allies on the world stage, Margaret Thatcher and Brian Mulroney. In today's Reagan Forum Podcast we focus on our keynote fireside chat.  When talking about President Reagan's legacy, it is impossible to not intertwine it with his allies and his friends. Including former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and former Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney.  Three greats who are now gone. Gone—and missed more than ever, as the world longs for their unique brand of decisive, principled leadership. In our final reflection on the life, death and legacy of President Ronald Reagan, we were so deeply honored that two children of these leaders agreed to be a part of our program.  In our keynote fireside chat, Pulitzer Prize winning columnist Peggy Noonan sat down in conversation with Carol Thatcher and Ben Mulroney. No one else could possibly offer a perspective like theirs on two of President Reagan's greatest allies.

As we shared with you last week, we gathered at the Reagan Library on June 5, 2024, to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the passing of President Reagan. The day was a meaningful opportunity to reflect on our 40th President's legacy and its enduring impact to this day and beyond. In a CBS piece that aired the night of President Reagan's death, Leslie Stahl concluded, quote, “Ending the Cold War will certainly be how he is remembered most in history.” If that was President Reagan's crowning foreign policy achievement, then Peace Through Strength was his most important guiding philosophy. As such, in today's Reagan Forum Podcast we focus on the second panel from our June 5th event – Leadership Abroad: Peace Through Strength. The panel was moderated by Fox News's Guy Benson.  He sat down in discussion with Former UN Ambassador and President Reagan's Arms Control Director Ken Adelman, who is also the author of Reagan at Reykjavik, Paula Dobriansky, who served as director of European and Soviet Affairs on the Reagan National Security Council, Professor William Inboden, now of the University of Florida, the author of The Peacemaker: Ronald Reagan, the Cold War, and the World on the Brink, and KT McFarland, former U.S. Deputy National Security Advisor in the Reagan White House. During the hour-long panel, they discussed President Reagan's legacy, if we are still heeding his example, and how his Peace Through Strength Initiatives still impact us today.

We gathered at the Reagan Library on June 5, 2024, to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the passing of President Reagan. The day was a meaningful opportunity to reflect on our 40th President's legacy and its enduring impact to this day and beyond. In today's Reagan Forum Podcast, we focus on the first panel from our June 5th event – Leadership at Home: Morning in America. The panel was moderated by veteran journalist Ann Compton – who covered President Reagan at the White House. She sat down in discussion with Andy Card who served as Special Assistant to President Reagan and, of course, later as Chief of Staff to President George W. Bush, Influential economist Dr. Art Laffer who served as a member of President Reagan's Economic Policy Advisory Board, and Stephen Moore, the widely read economic advisor and commentator, who served in the Reagan administration Office of Management and Budget. During the hour-long panel, they discussed President Reagan and his economic policies, how they impacted America in the 1980s, and how they're still relevant today.

On May 29, 2024, the Reagan Foundation hosted a virtual event with Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist Carlos Lozada for a discussion of his latest book, The Washington Book, which explores how people in power reveal themselves through their books and writings and, in so doing, illuminates the personal, political, and cultural conflicts driving Washington and the nation. It explores the construction of personal identity, the delusions of leadership, and that mix of subservience and ambition that can define a life in politics. During the program, Carlos sat down in conversation with Reagan Foundation and Institute Chief Marketing Officer Melissa Giller.

In this week's “A Reagan Forum” we present our Memorial Day Commemoration held at the Reagan Library just three days ago.  Each year the Reagan Library holds a special program that honors the men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces who have given the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. This year, we were honored to have as our keynote Michael Blassie's sister, United States Air Force Colonel Patricia Blassie (retired). Our program also included a flyover, a Color Guard, live music, and remarks by Gold Star Family Member Tony Cordero.

In this week's “A Reagan Forum” we present Ed O'Keefe, the CEO of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library Foundation, for his latest book, The Loves of Theodore Roosevelt: The Women Who Created a President. During this virtual event, Ed sat down in conversation with Reagan Foundation and Institute Chief Education and Program Officer Richard Schroeder to discuss his book.

In this week's “A Reagan Forum” we present three co-authors – Anita McBride, Diana Carlin, and Nancy Kegan Smith – who joined us at the Reagan Library on May 8, 2024, to discuss their new book, Remember the First Ladies: The Legacies of America's History-Making Women. The discussion surrounded their groundbreaking book, showcasing the evolutionary role of the First Lady and its historical importance in the American presidency. They shine a light on the influential women who broke barriers and made a mark on our country and, at times, our world, during their tenures in the White House. Anita McBride's White House service spans two decades and three presidential administrations. She served as director of White House Personnel under Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush and as director of the U.S. Speaker's Bureau at the United States Information Agency. She then served as assistant to President George W. Bush and chief of staff to First Lady Laura Bush. Diana Carlin co-founded the First Ladies Association for Research and Education. Nancy Kegan Smith is the retired Director of the Presidential Materials Division at the National Archives and Records Administration. She is vice president of the First Ladies Association for Research and Education. During their visit, the three co-authors sat down with the Reagan Foundation and Institute President and CEO Dave Trulio to discuss their book.

In this week's “A Reagan Forum” we present our Reaganism Podcast on GOP Foreign Policy. During the podcast, Reagan Institute Director Roger Zakheim sat down with Dr. Matthew Kroenig who serves as the Vice President and Senior Director of the Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security at the Atlantic Council, and with Dan Negrea who serves as the Senior Director of the Freedom and Prosperity Center at the Atlantic Council. They discuss Dr. Kroenig and Mr. Nagrea's new book, “We Win, They Lose: Republican Foreign Policy and the New Cold War.” This book provides a blueprint for Republican policymakers to engage with and win the great power competition with Communist China.

In this week's “A Reagan Forum” we present our Reaganism Podcast on AI, Autonomy, and Defense. During the podcast, Reagan Institute Director Roger Zakheim sat down with Doug Cameron, a reporter who covers the global aerospace and defense industry and the airline sector in The Wall Street Journal's Chicago bureau. During their conversation, they discussed Collaborative Combat Aircraft, the National Defense Industrial Strategy, emerging technologies, and the future of warfare.

For today's Reagan Forum podcast, we are going behind the scenes to share some of the inside stories of what we do here at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute. The Reagan Library opened on November 4, 1991, but the groundbreaking was held three years earlier, in November 1988. November 21, 2023, marked the 35th anniversary of the groundbreaking of the Reagan Library and Museum. To commemorate the day, the Foundation put together a video of how the Library was built and why Simi Valley was chosen.

On March 20, 2024, the Reagan Institute held its second annual National Security Innovation Base Summit in Washington, D.C. The event convened prominent thought leaders, current and former public officials, investors, and representatives of the most innovative industry and technology companies to discuss the important issues facing our annual National Security Innovation Base ecosystem. The program also unveiled the second iteration of its groundbreaking National Security Innovation Base Report Card which measures the health, effectiveness, and resilience of this ecosystem and provides recommendations for improvement. The program's keynote was the Honorable Kathleen Hicks, the 35th Deputy Secretary of Defense. Following her remarks, she sat down in conversation with Reagan Institute Director Roger Zakheim.

During his farewell address to the nation on January 11, 1989, President Reagan said, “An informed patriotism is what we want. And are we doing a good enough job teaching our children what America is and what she represents in the long history of the world?” Today, the Reagan Institute's Center for Civics, Education, and Opportunity stands at the nexus of civics and education policy answering President Reagan's call for an “informed patriotism” to ensure for a prosperous future for America. Educators and organizations committed to civic learning and engagement often feel hesitant, fearing they'll be labeled political. Meanwhile, parents may wonder about the distinction between active participation and advocacy, and whether their child's teacher is equipped to navigate these waters. To discuss these topics, the Reagan Institute held an online forum on March 13, 2024, specifically to discuss how to foster informed and engaged citizens in today's polarized climate. The panel took a deep dive into the nuances of "active citizenship" versus "activist citizenship," exploring how these concepts intersect and sometimes clash in educational settings.

Just a few days ago, the nation celebrated April Fool's Day. Although the day has been celebrated for several centuries by different cultures, its exact origins remain a mystery. Some historians speculate that April Fools' Day dates back to 1582 when France switched from the Julian calendar (which begins its new year around April 1 each year) to the Gregorian calendar (which begins its new year on January 1 each year). People who were slow to get the news or failed to recognize that the start of the new year had moved to January 1 and continued to celebrate it during the last week of March through April 1 became the butt of jokes and hoaxes and were called “April fools.” Today it's become a day for pranks, hoaxes, and jokes. And no one loved a good joke more than President Reagan. So we thought we'd spend today's Reagan Forum podcast celebrating the best of President Reagan and his humor.

On March 8, 2024, the Reagan Foundation hosted a virtual event with bestselling author Craig Shirley. Craig Shirley is the author of four critically praised bestselling books on President Reagan, Reagan's Revolution: The Untold Story of the Campaign That Started It All, Rendezvous with Destiny: Ronald Reagan and the Campaign that Changed America, Last Act: The Final Years and Emerging Legacy of Ronald Reagan, and Reagan Rising: The Decisive Years, 1976-1980. He joined us on March 8 to discuss his latest book on Ronald Reagan, The Search for Reagan: The Appealing Intellectual Conservatism of Ronald Reagan. The new book chronicles what Craig Shirley believes is the untold secret of Reagan's success: strong moral compassion and the vast but underrated intellect of a philosopher-president. "A true leader has a moral, physical, and intellectual presence," Craig said. He continued, “I was in the room with Reagan many, many times. He was always the one person in the room who was the moral, physical, and intellectual leader." During the program, Craig Shirley sat down in conversation with Reagan Foundation and Institute Chief Marketing Officer Melissa Giller.

At the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute, our education programs are dedicated to cultivating the next generation of citizen leaders. Each year, we work with thousands of teachers and tens of thousands of students from across the country to help foster the engaged, informed citizens that President Reagan knew were so vital to a healthy America. In keeping with our vision of promoting civic engagement, on February 26, 2024 we were honored to once again partner with the Simi Valley Youth Council to present the annual Youth Town Hall. At the Youth Town Hall, Ventura County middle and high school students have the opportunity to hear public officials discuss local and statewide civic matters ranging from education to policy-making. To maximize participation, student attendees can pose their questions in person or share their concerns anonymously via social media.

The Medal of Honor is the United States' highest award for military valor in action. At the time of this recording, only 3,536 military personnel have received this award since it was established during the Civil War, and there are fewer than 100 recipients living today. And while over 150 years have passed since its inception, the meaning behind the Medal has never tarnished. Etched within are the very values that each Recipient displayed in the moments that mattered—bravery, courage, sacrifice, integrity, a deep love of country, and a desire to always do what is right. Every year, the Reagan Foundation hosts an event, in partnership with the Medal of Honor Foundation, to bring together Medal of Honor recipients with high school students. The Medal of Honor recipients share their stories of courage and sacrifice, exploring such themes as patriotism, citizenship, and integrity. Following their remarks they engage in an open audience question and answer session with the students. This year's program was held on February 8, 2024, and was with Staff Sergeant David Bellavia, who was awarded the Medal of Honor in 2019 for his brave actions in Iraq during Operation Phantom Fury.

In this week's Reagan Forum podcast, we go back just over a week to our February 20, 2024, in-person program with Senator Rand Paul for a discussion on his latest book, Deception: The Great COVID Cover-up. A physician himself, Senator Rand Paul was one of the few leaders who dared to challenge what America was being told about COVID. In Deception, Senator Paul presents evidence that COVID was likely started by research at the Wuhan lab in China – research funded in part by the US Government without regulatory review. Senator Paul makes the case of why we shouldn't fund dangerous bioengineering in a totalitarian country and how if we don't heed this warning, the next pandemic could be worse. While at the Reagan Library, Senator Paul was joined in conversation by the Reagan Foundation and Institute President and CEO David Trulio.

In this week's Reagan Forum, we go back just three days to Presidents Day when we held a groundbreaking ceremony for the Reagan Library's new Charters of Freedom Monument, the first in California to install the Monument. In addition to the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights, and the Constitution, the Charters of Freedom Monument now also has a case on Civil Rights which includes the following 5 Constitutional Amendments: 13, 14, 15, 19, and 24.

Last week we brought to you our February 6, 2024, 113th birthday celebration for President Reagan with keynote remarks by Lech Walesa, the former President of Poland. In this week's Reagan Forum, we are doing something a little different. We're bringing you a playback of our live video from February 7th where we looked at past birthday celebrations and listened to excerpts of various keynote speakers since 2010.

February 6, 2024, marked the 113th anniversary of the birth of Ronald Wilson Reagan. He used to love to joke that each birthday was the anniversary of his 39th birthday, so 2024 would have marked the 74th anniversary of his 39th birthday! Since President Reagan's passing on June 5, 2004, the Reagan Foundation has worked with the United States Marine Corps Camp Pendleton to hold a birthday celebration on February 6 of each year to honor the life and legacy of our nation's 40th president. Each year the program includes live musical entertainment from the 1st Marine Division Band, an honor guard, a rifle guard, and the official laying of the White House Presidential Wreath on President Reagan's gravesite. Keynote speakers in prior years have included Ed Meese, Elizabeth Dole, James Baker, and Henry Kissinger. In this week's A Reagan Forum podcast, we listen in to the ceremony held on February 6, 2024, with special keynote speaker Lech Walesa, who shared President Reagan's commitment to securing and preserving human rights, democracy, and freedom around the world. As the leader of the Solidarity movement, Lech Walesa's role in the Cold War helped defeat the Soviet Union.

In 1984, while speaking at Memorial Day ceremonies honoring an unknown serviceman of the Vietnam Conflict, President Reagan said, “We know why he died. He saw the horrors of war but bravely faced them, certain his own cause and his country's cause was a noble one; that he was fighting for human dignity, for free men everywhere. Today we pause to embrace him and all who served us so well.” To honor the values and ideals for which our country's sons and daughters sacrificed, to honor their commitment to duty and country, to thank them for their service and our freedom, and to make sure that they are never, ever, forgotten, the Reagan Library was honored to install a new Gold Star Families Memorial Monument honoring the families of servicemen and women who sacrificed their lives while serving in the military. In this week's A Reagan Forum podcast, we go back to November 12, 2018, for the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Memorial's unveiling. Program participants included Medal of Honor Recipient Hershel Woody Williams, actor and humanitarian Gary Sinise, singer John Ondrasik from the band Five for Fighting, and local Gold Star Family members.

As part of our Auschwitz. Not long ago. Not far away. exhibit, the Reagan Foundation has been hosting authors whose books cover the atrocities of the holocaust, mainly told through survivor's eyes. In this week's Reagan Forum podcast, we go back to our in-person event with Audrey Birnbaum, who shares with us the story of her grandfather and his time growing up amidst the rubble and antisemitism of war-torn Nazi Berlin in her latest book, American Wolf: From Nazi Refugee to American Spy. During this program, Audrey sat down in conversation with Reagan Foundation and Institute Chief Marketing Officer Melissa Giller to discuss American Wolf which is an electrifying true account brimming with last-minute rescues and life-and-death struggles that defy the impossible. They discuss how the book is not just a tale of survival, but a profound coming-of-age story, delving into the complexities of family dynamics and the search for national identity.

In this week's “A Reagan Forum” we present former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich. Speaker Gingrich is well known as the architect of the “Contract with America” that led the Republican Party to victory in 1994, creating the first conservative majority in the House in 40 years. He is also recognized internationally as an expert on world history, military issues, and international affairs, as he is the longest-serving teacher of the Joint Warfighting course for Major Generals. Speaker Gingrich is the author of over 40 books. He specifically came to the Reagan Library a week ago to discuss his latest book, March to the Majority: The Real Story of the Republican Revolution, which takes readers behind the scenes of the Republican Revolution in 1994 and the rise of the modern GOP to show how we can lead America toward a more conservative, prosperous future. The book shares never-before-told stories about Ronald Reagan, Richard Nixon, Tip O'Neill, George H.W. Bush and other political figures.

Over the last month we have shared with you two of our keynotes at last month's Reagan National Defense Forum. We shared with you the Forum's keynote address with Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, as well as the fireside chat with Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. In this week's Reagan Forum Podcast we are going to share the Forum's final panel, which celebrated the Forum's 10th anniversary. The panel, entitled “a discussion on peace through strength with former national security leaders” featured former US National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley, former US National Security Advisor Robert O'Brien, and former US Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta. The panel was moderated by Fox News Channel's Bill Hemmer. During the conversation, panelists discussed Ukraine and if the U.S. and other allies should continue to provide weapons, the U.S. take on Tehran, how far the U.S. should or shouldn't go in assisting Israel, rising tensions between China and Taiwan, and more.

For the last nine months, we have been bringing you programming as part of our Auschwitz. Not long ago. Not far away. exhibit. Now that the exhibit is almost over, we wanted to share some of the most memorable interviews we've held with survivors and their family members over the past year. Each one is unique in its own way – told by survivors of many different camps in Europe and Indonesia, survivors who lived because they were hid, a survivor who lived because she was on Schindler's List, and more. The first story we are going to share is our most recent. On Tuesday, November 28, 2023, we hosted two remarkable men. The first – a 95-year-old survivor of Auschwitz whose story of perseverance and optimism got him through his horrific time in the camps. The second, a 26-year-old Israeli who survived the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack. We brought the two men together to tour our Auschwitz exhibit and to talk with media about how “Never Again” has tragically become “Now.”

In this week's Reagan Forum podcast we back to our in-person event with Nechama Birnbaum, who shares with us the story of her grandmother and her time in Auschwitz in Nechama's latest book, The Redhead of Auschwitz: A True Story. During this program, Nechama sat down in conversation with Reagan Foundation and Institute Chief Marketing Officer Melissa Giller to discuss The Redhead of Auschwitz which is a book as full of life as it is of death. It is about the intricacies of Jewish culture that still exist today and the tender experiences that are universal to all humanity: family, coming of age, and first love. It is a story that celebrates believing in yourself no matter the odds. This is a story about the little redheaded girl who thought she could, and so she did.

Two weeks ago we came to you with our Reagan National Defense Forum keynote address with Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin. Today we will share our fireside chat with Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. This was the Defense Forum's first time hosting the Secretary of Commerce and we were honored to host her. Under Secretary Raimondo's leadership, the Department of Commerce has intensified its emphasis on enhancing the global competitiveness of U.S. businesses, improving the security of America's supply chains, and decreasing reliance on China for products and technologies essential to our national security. Secretary Raimondo has been instrumental in the implementation of the CHIPS and Science Act, which lays out a long-term vision for building America's technological leadership to pace the threat from China by funding programs across all U.S. manufacturing sectors. The fireside chat focused on the nexus of America's economic and technological competitiveness with national security.

As part of our Auschwitz. Not long ago. Not far away. exhibit, the Reagan Foundation has been hosting authors whose books cover the atrocities of the holocaust, mainly told through survivor's eyes. In this week's Reagan Forum podcast we back to our in-person event with Richard Hurowitz for a different look at the Holocaust – this time to focus on heroics rather than despair – for Richard's latest book, In the Garden of the Righteous: The Heroes Who Risked Their Lives to Save Jews During the Holocaust. “It is an understatement to say this book is timely,” said Kirkus Review. During this program, Richard sat down in conversation with Reagan Foundation and Institute President and CEO David Trulio to discuss In the Garden of the Righteous, which chronicles extraordinary acts at a time when the moral choices were stark, the threat immense, and the passive apathy of millions predominated. Deeply researched and astonishingly moving, it focuses on ten remarkable stories of those who provided hiding places, participated in underground networks, refused to betray their neighbors, and secured safe passage. They repeatedly defied authorities and risked their lives, their livelihoods, and their families to save the helpless and the persecuted.

On December 1 and 2, 2023, the Reagan Foundation and Institute held its annual Reagan National Defense Forum, one of our nation's premier gatherings for defense and national security experts. In an era where the threats to our national security are increasing in number and complexity, the Reagan National Defense Forum allows senior leaders from the defense community to come together with viewpoints on how best to deal with these challenges. As this was our 10th annual forum, this year's theme was 10 years of promoting Peace Through Strength. This annual convening of the top minds within the defense space provides for unique perspectives via high-level conversations with people who are ‘in the room' where decisions are made. The Reagan National Defense Forum's primary objective is to review and assess policies that strengthen America's national defense in the context of a global threat environment. Just like the past two years, this year's Defense Forum's keynote address was delivered by the U.S. Secretary of Defense, the Honorable Lloyd Austin.

In this week's Reagan Forum podcast we go back to our in-person event with Oren Schneider, the grandson of a Holocaust survivor, for his recent book The Apprentice of Buchenwald: The True Story of the Teenage Boy who Sabotaged Hitler's War Machine, a true story of inner strength, resourcefulness and optimism. Of his grandfather's life in the concentration camps, Elie Wiesel's son once said, “Being an inmate of a Nazi concentration camp did not stop Alexander Rosenberg. It did not stop him from doing whatever he could to keep his father alive. And it did not stop him from sabotaging the Nazi war effort by subtly tampering with the weaponry he assembled.” In today's program, Oren discussed his book with Reagan Foundation and Institute Chief Marketing Officer Melissa Giller.

It's November and, of course, the month to celebrate Thanksgiving. From all of us at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute, we wish you and your family the happiest and healthiest of Thanksgivings. In this week's A Reagan Forum Podcast, we're going to go back to 2018's “Words to Live By” podcast featuring President Reagan's thoughts and messages to the American people on thanksgiving.

Last week was Veterans Day – a day to honor our nation's military veterans. Commemorating this day on November 11th each year not only preserves the historical significance of the date, but also helps focus attention on the important purpose of Veterans Day: A celebration to honor America's veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good. In this week's Reagan Forum Podcast we go back one week to the Reagan Library's Veterans Day Program, which included an honor guard, live music, and keynote remarks by LtCol Scott Mann (retired). LtCol Mann is a former U.S. Army Green Beret with tours all over the world, including Columbia, Iraq, and multiple tours in Afghanistan. He is also the bestselling author of Operation Pineapple Express, which is an edge-of-your-seat true story thriller about a group of retired Green Berets who come together to save a former comrade—and 500 other Afghans—being targeted by the Taliban in the chaos of America's withdrawal from Afghanistan.

In this week's “A Reagan Forum” we present Bret Baier - a number one bestselling author and award-winning anchor of Fox News Channel's Special Report with Bret Baier. Bret had previously spoken at the Reagan Library four times, the last time in 2019 for his book, Three Days at the Brink: FDR's Daring Gamble to Win WWII which was part of his Three Days series. This time Bret came to discuss his latest book, To Rescue the Constitution: George Washington and the Fragile American Experiment, which showcases how George Washington rescued the nation and the Constitution three times: first by winning the Revolutionary War, second by presiding over the Constitutional Convention and ushering the Constitution through a fractious ratification process, and third by leading the nation as president in its first years. While at the Reagan Library, he sat down in conversation with Janet Tran, the Reagan Foundation and Institute's Director of the Institute's Center for Civics, Education, and Opportunity.

In this week's Reagan Forum podcast, we go back just over a week to our October 21, 2023  in-person program with top rated Talk radio host and bestselling author Mark Levin for a conversation on his latest book, The Democrat Party Hates America. While at the Reagan Library, Mark was joined in conversation by Reagan Foundation and Institute President and CEO David Trulio to discuss what Mark calls the radically dangerous Democrat agenda that is upending American life. During the conversation, Mark Levin discusses the destruction he believes this country is facing, and rallies Americans to defeat the threat he sees in front of us.

In this week's Reagan Forum Podcast we go back just one week to October 17th when we hosted former second lady Karen Pence for a program and book signing on her latest book, When it's your turn to serve: Experiencing God's grace in his calling for your life. As she has said about this book, “This is not a memoir, not a book about Karen Pence, but rather a story about how God used me in a mighty way and how he gently and patiently showed me how to wear the mantle he was placing on my shoulders.” During this program, she sat down in conversation with Chief Marketing Officer Melissa Giller to discuss her book, her life, and her connection with God.

In this week's Reagan Forum Podcast we are replaying a favorite from 8 years ago this week, when football legend Terry Bradshaw shared stories with our sold-out audience.  He spoke at the Library as part of our special exhibition which featured football and he didn't disappoint.

In this week's Reagan Forum Podcast we go back to an event our Reagan Institute offices held on September 7th to bring attention to the plight of Jimmy Lai. Jimmy Lai is a Hong Kong businessman. A prominent critic of the Chinese Communist Party, he was arrested in 2020 by Hong Kong police where he currently is serving in prison for organizing illegal protests. During our program, which was co-sponsored by the Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong Foundation and the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, the audience watched the documentary, “The Fight for Freedom: Jimmy Lai and Democracy in Hong Kong.” Following the screening, a panel discussed his case and the state of freedom in Hong Kong today.

When President Reagan dedicated the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum on November 4, 1991, he said that he wanted the Library to be more than just a place where scholars interpret the past, but that he wanted it to be a dynamic intellectual forum where policy makers debate the future. What better way to honor his vision than to host presidential debates at his Library? Since 2007, the Reagan Foundation has hosted 5 republican primary candidate presidential debates: 2 in the 2008 presidential election cycle, 1 in the 2012 presidential election cycle, 1 in the 2016 presidential election cycle, and then our 5th one, just last week, as part of the 2024 presidential election cycle. At our debate, which was broadcast on Fox Business and was in partnership with Univision, Rumble and the RNC, six candidates took the stage. They were, in alphabetical order, Chris Christie, Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley, Mike Pence, Vivek Ramaswamy, and Tim Scott. Approximately 700 guests watched the debate live in our Air Force One Pavilion, with another 500 members of the media on our campus watching in the filing center and spin room. In this week's Reagan Forum Podcast we are replaying this debate.