JFK Library Forums

Panelists including Mara Liasson, NPR national political correspondent, Mark Preston, CNN executive director of political programming and senior political analyst, and Kate Zernike, political reporter for The New York Times interpret the results of the 2018 midterm elections. Nancy Cordes, chief congressional correspondent for CBS News, moderates.

Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Doris Kearns Goodwin discusses her new book, Leadership in Turbulent Times, which explores the leadership of Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Lyndon B. Johnson, with Robin Young, co-host of WBUR's Here and Now. This program is supported in part by Frank F. Islam and Debbie Driesman.

Panelists including Tom Nichols, professor of national security affairs at the US Naval War College, Alina Polyakova, David M. Rubenstein Fellow for foreign policy at the Brookings Institution, and Nina Tumarkin, profesor of Slavic studies and history at Wellesley College, examine US foreign policy issues concerning Russia with Alexandra Vacroux, executive director of the Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies at Harvard University.

The Kennedy Library and Discovery partner for an exclusive preview and discussion of Above and Beyond: NASA's Journey to Tomorrow, a new documentary by Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Rory Kennedy. Meghna Chakrabarti, host of NPR and WBUR's On Point, moderates. This program is presented in conjunction with the 2018 GlobeDocs Film Festival and HUBweek.

Kerry Kennedy, president of Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, Marian Wright Edelman, founder and president of the Children's Defense Fund, and LaDonna Harris, founder and president of Americans for Indian Opportunity, discussed Kennedy's new book, Robert F. Kennedy: Ripples of Hope, a collection of interviews with world leaders, activists, and celebrities about her father's influence. Peter Edelman, Georgetown law professor and former advisor to Senator Robert F. Kennedy, moderated.

James and Deborah Fallows, authors of Our Towns: A 100,000 Mile Journey into the Heart of America, and Hillary Frey, executive editor of HuffPost, discussed contemporary issues facing the heart of America with Ellen Fitzpatrick, professor of history at the University of New Hampshire.

Wellesley professor of Asian studies and political science Katharine H.S. Moon and senior fellow for Japan studies at the Council on Foreign Relations Sheila A. Smith discussed US foreign policy issues in Asia with Ambassador (Ret.) Nicholas Burns, Harvard professor of diplomacy and international relations.

In honor of the Leonard Bernstein centennial, Harvard professor of music Thomas Forrest Kelly explored the impact of the relationship between Bernstein and the Kennedy Administration, which continues to influence the artistic and cultural life of America. Due to copyright restrictions, this recording does not include the performance by the Boston Lyric Opera.

Former longtime CBS journalist Bob Schieffer discussed his new book, Overload: Finding the Truth in Today's Deluge of News, with Harvard professor of history and author of These Truths: A History of the United States, Jill Lepore.

Tony and Emmy Award-winning actor, author, and musician John Lithgow discussed his distinguished career and the importance of the arts with Robin Young, co-host of WBUR's Here and Now. This program was supported in part by the Mass Cultural Council.