Washington Welcomes

Michael R. Beschloss, Author and Presidential Historian for NBC News, interviewed David M. Rubenstein on his third book, "The American Experiment: Dialogues on a Dream" on Tuesday, November 9, 2021.

In "The American Experiment," Rubenstein explores the diverse make-up of our country’s DNA through interviews with Pulitzer Prize-winning historians, diplomats, music legends and sports giants. The book brings the American spirit to life, revealing the setbacks, suffering, resilience, ingenuity, and social movements that continue to shape our vision of what America is and what it can be. It is a powerful and inspirational reminder of this country’s promise.

David Rubenstein interviewed The Honorable Joseph Manchin III, United States Senator for West Virginia, on Tuesday, October 26, 2021.

Senator Manchin was sworn into the United States Senate on November 15, 2010 and is currently serving in his third term. He remains committed to working with Republicans and Democrats to find commonsense solutions to the problems our country faces and is working hard to usher in a bipartisan spirit in the Senate and Congress. He serves as the Chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and also serves on the Senate Committees of Appropriations, Armed Services, and Veterans' Affairs.

Prior to joining the Senate, Senator Manchin served as the 34th Governor of West Virginia from 2005 to 2010 and the 27th Secretary of State of West Virginia from 2001 to 2005. Senator Manchin attended West Virginia University on a football scholarship and graduated with a degree in business administration in 1970.

The Honorable Gina M. Raimondo, Secretary, U.S. Department of Commerce, made remarks outlining her vision to increase American competitiveness on September 28, 2021. David M. Rubenstein then joined her for a conversation-style interview about her agenda.

Gina M. Raimondo serves as the 40th U.S. Secretary of Commerce and was sworn in by Vice President Kamala Harris on March 3, 2021. As Secretary of Commerce, she is focused on increasing American competitiveness by investing in America's communities, expanding workforce development and skills training, empowering entrepreneurs to innovate and grow, and ensuring American workers and businesses can compete on a level playing field.

Prior to joining the Administration, she was the 75th, and first woman, Governor of Rhode Island, serving from January 2015 to March 2021. During her time as Governor, Secretary Raimondo kick-started the state’s economy and made record investments in infrastructure, education, and job training.

David Rubenstein interviewed The Honorable Pete Buttigieg, U.S. Secretary of Transportation, on Tuesday, July 20, 2021.

Prior to joining the Biden-Harris Administration, in 2019, he launched his campaign for President. Throughout 2020, he campaigned for the Biden-Harris ticket and served on the advisory board for the presidential transition. In December, he was nominated by President-elect Biden to be the 19th Secretary of Transportation. He was confirmed by the Senate on February 2, 2021, becoming the first openly gay person confirmed to serve in a Presidential Cabinet.

Secretary Buttigieg served two terms as Mayor of his hometown of South Bend, Indiana from 2011 to 2019. Known as “Mayor Pete”, he worked across the aisle to transform South Bend’s future, establishing new resources to extend opportunity and access to technology for all residents. Under his leadership, household income grew, poverty fell, and unemployment was cut in half.

A graduate of Harvard University and a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford, Buttigieg served for seven years as an officer in the U.S. Navy Reserve, taking a leave of absence from the Mayor’s office for a deployment to Afghanistan in 2014.

Secretary Buttigieg lives with his husband Chasten and their rescue dogs, Buddy and Truman.

The Economic Club of Washington, D.C. hosted a virtual Signature Event on Tuesday, July 13, 2021. David Rubenstein interviewed Scott Kirby, Chief Executive Officer of United Airlines, Inc.

Scott Kirby served as the company’s President from 2016 to 2020 and was responsible for United’s operations, marketing, sales, alliances, network planning and revenue management. As President, he played a pivotal role in enabling United’s cultural transformation and executing the Company’s strategic growth plan. Elected in December 2020, Scott serves as the Chairman of the Star Alliance Chief Executive Board (CEB).

Prior to joining United, Mr. Kirby was president of American Airlines from 2013 to 2016 and president of US Airways from 2006 to 2013. He is an industry veteran, with a broad and accomplished three-decade-long career in significant leadership roles within the airline industry. Mr. Kirby started his career at the Pentagon and in the technology sector.

Mr. Kirby has bachelor’s degrees in computer science and operations research from the U.S. Air Force Academy and a Master of Science in operations research from George Washington University.

On Thursday, June 10, 2021, David Rubenstein interviewed John Stankey of AT&T on the digital divide, proposed broadband infrastructure legislation, and AT&T's recently announced deal to spin-off WarnerMedia into a co-owned company with Discovery.

The Economic Club of Washington, D.C. hosted a virtual Signature Event on Tuesday, May 25, 2021. David Rubenstein interviewed Mellody Hobson, Co-CEO & President of Ariel Investments, LLC.

As Co-CEO of Ariel Investments, Mellody is responsible for management, strategic planning and growth for all areas of Ariel Investments, outside of research and portfolio management, for the nearly $15 billion dollar company. Additionally, she serves as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Ariel Investment Trust—the company’s publicly traded mutual funds. Prior to being named Co-CEO, Mellody spent nearly two decades as the firm’s President.

She is also Co-Founder of Ariel Alternatives, LLC, a private asset management firm founded in February 2021. Its first initiative, Project Black, aims to scale sustainable minority-owned businesses.

Mellody is the incoming Chair of the Board of Starbucks Corporation and is also a director of JPMorgan Chase. She received her AB from Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson School of International Relations and Public Policy.

The Economic Club of Washington, D.C. hosted a Signature Event on Thursday, May 13, 2021. David Rubenstein interviewed, in two separate segments, The Honorable Rochelle P.  Walensky,  MD,  MPH, Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and The Honorable Muriel E. Bowser, Mayor of Washington, D.C.

On Wednesday, April 14, 2021, David Rubenstein interviewed the Chair of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, The Honorable Jerome Powell, on the current state of the U.S. economy, the unprecedented actions taken by the Federal Reserve during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the economic indicators guiding the Federal Reserve's actions as the economy recovers.

The Economic Club of Washington, D.C. hosted a virtual Signature Event on Wednesday, April 7 2021. David Rubenstein interviewed Gregory J. Hayes, Chief Executive Officer of Raytheon Technologies Corporation. One year ago in April, Greg Hayes led the all-stock merger of United Technologies Corporation with Raytheon Technologies, creating one of the world's largest aerospace and defense companies with 180,000 employees and $57 billion in net annual sales.