2008 John F. Kennedy Library Forums

For reservations and information: All forums are free and open to the public. Reservations are required. Reservations guarantee a seat in the building but not the main hall. Doors to the main hall open one hour before the program begins. To make a reservation, please call 617.514.1643. Speakers’ schedules may change, so please call 617.514.1642 to confirm all forums before coming to the Library. For more information and transcripts of past forums, please visit www.jfklibrary.org. | (Fall 2003 Forums | 2004 Forums | 2005 Forums | 2006 Forums | 2007 Forums | 2008 Forums)

A Conversation with Barney Frank | Click to listen (RealAudio) | Right-click to download (MP3)
April 28, 2008
Congressman Barney Frank discusses the federal government's role in addressing economic and social problems, particularly growing inequality in our society, with New York Times columnist Paul Krugman.

Saving the Environment | Click to listen (RealAudio) | Right-click to download (MP3)
April 7, 2008
How have business, religious and community leaders raised the consciousness of citizens to become environmentally responsible? Gary Hirshberg, the founder and CEO of Stonyfield Farm; Richard Cizik, Vice President for Governmental Affairs of the National Association of Evangelicals; Robin Chase, Founder of ZipCar; and, Mindy Lubber, President of Ceres, share their innovative approaches. Renee Loth, Editor of the Editorial Page of The Boston Globe, moderates.

Challenges for the UN | Click to listen (RealAudio) | Right-click to download (MP3)
March 24, 2008
Pulitzer Prize-winning author Samantha Power discusses her new book Chasing the Flame: Sergio Vieira de Mello and the Fight to Save the World, with John Shattuck, CEO of the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation and former Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor under President Clinton.

Carol Johnson | Click to listen (RealAudio) | Right-click to download (MP3)
March 20, 2008
Boston's new School Superintendent Carol Johnson discusses the challenges facing our public schools with David Boeri, host of WBUR's Radio Boston. Mayor Menino introduces the forum.

Robert Kennedy and the 1968 Campaign
Part 1 | Click to listen (RealAudio) | Right-click to download (MP3)
Part 2 | Click to listen (RealAudio) | Right-click to download (MP3)
March 16, 2008
March 16, 2008 marks the 40th anniversary of Robert F. Kennedy's announcement to run for President of the United States. Join Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, Peter Edelman, Dolores Huerta, Rafer Johnson, Gerard Doherty, William vanden Heuvel, Haynes Johnson, Jules Witcover, Elaine Jones, Michael Sandel, and John Seigenthaler as they share memories of the campaign and reflect on the legacy of RFK. Senator Edward M. Kennedy delivers the closing remarks.

Race, Class and Public Education | Click to listen (RealAudio) | Right-click to download (MP3)
March 3, 2008
Boston Globe reporter Neil Swidey joins University of Massachusetts Boston Chancellor Keith Motley and other educators in a discussion about the plight of our inner-city schools. Swidey's book, The Assist: Hoops, Hope and the Game of Their Lives, examines this issue through the lives of the Charlestown High School basketball team. Bill Littlefield, host of WBUR's Only A Game, moderates.

Freedom for the Thoughts We Hate | Click to listen (RealAudio) | Right-click to download (MP3)
February 25, 2008
Pulitzer Prize-winning author Anthony Lewis discusses his new book, Freedom for the Thoughts We Hate, with Harvard Law Professor Martha Minow.

Electing a President | Click to listen (RealAudio) | Right-click to download (MP3)
February 18, 2008
Madeleine Kunin, the first woman Governor of Vermont and the author of the upcoming Pearls, Politics, & Power: How Women Can Win and Lead; David Yepsen, Political Columnist for The Des Moines Register; and, former Boston Globe columnist Tom Oliphant share their insights about this unprecedented 2008 presidential campaign.

Poet Laureate | Click to listen (RealAudio) | Right-click to download (MP3)
January 28, 2008
Former Poet Laureate Robert Pinsky and new Poet Laureate Charles Simic discussed poetry and read their favorite poems.

Civil Rights Milestone | Click to listen (RealAudio) | Right-click to download (MP3)
January 21, 2008
On June 11, 1963, two African American students -- James Hood and Vivian Malone -- were barred entry to the University of Alabama by Governor George Wallace. In response, President Kennedy called out the National Guard, Governor Wallace stepped aside, and the President delivered a major civil rights address to the nation. After President Kennedy's speech, the civil rights leader, Medgar Evers, was tragically murdered in his home. James Hood, Myrlie Evers-Williams, Nick Katzenbach, and Ted Sorensen discuss the events of this historic turning point in American history. Callie Crossley moderates.

Madeleine Albright | Click to listen (RealAudio) | Right-click to download (MP3)
January 14, 2008
Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright discusses her new book, Memo to the President Elect: How We Can Restore America's Reputation and Leadership with Harvard University Professor Joseph Nye.

American Idealist | Click to listen (RealAudio) | Right-click to download (MP3)
January 13, 2008
Maria Shriver will introduced American Idealist, a new documentary chronicling the accomplishments of her father, R. Sargent Shriver, who started several programs in the Kennedy and Johnson administrations, including Peace Corps and Head Start. Following the screening, there was a conversation with the film director, Bruce Orenstein; Shriver's biographer, Scott Stossel; and William Josephson and Edgar May, friends of Sargent Shriver's. This forum was presented in partnership with Facing History and Ourselves.