Institute of Politics

A conversation with Michelle Rhee; Founder, StudentsFirst; Chancellor, Washington, D.C. Public Schools (2007-2010) Paul Reville (Moderator Francis Keppel Professor of Practice of Educational Policy and Administration, Harvard Graduate School of Education Founder of StudentsFirst and former Chancellor of Washington D.C. Public Schools, Michelle Rhee joined Paul Reville, a professor of Practice of Education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, for a conversation about the future of education policy. She spoke regarding the prevalence of standardized testing, emphasizing that no education reformer considers standardized tests to be an exhaustive measure of a student’s ability. She continued that the teacher would always look beyond mere test scores to gauge a student’s ability, yet standardized tests do provide the initial value of comparing where students stand. Maggie Williams, Director of the Institute of Politics at the Harvard Kennedy School, introduced the program.

A Conversation with Thomas Joscelyn Senior Fellow, Foundation for Defense of Democracies Alberto Mora Senior Fellow, Carr Center for Human Rights Policy Barbara Starr (Moderator) Pentagon Correspondent, CNN

A Public Address by Ray Mabus, United States Secretary of the Navy. With welcoming remarks by Drew Gilpin Faust, President, Harvard University.

Peter Maurer President, International Committee of the Red Cross Michael Ignatieff Edward R. Murrow Professor of the Practice of Politics and the Press, HKS Jackie Bhabha (Moderator) Professor of the Practice of Health and Human Rights, HSPH Jeremiah Smith Jr. Lecturer, HLS Director of Research, FXB Center for Health & Human Rights

Former Chief Secretary for Administration of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Anson Chan joined Daewoo Professor of International Affairs Anthony Saich in at the John F. Kennedy Jr. Forum. Discussion centered around the recent conflicts between Hong Kong and Mainland China including the umbrella movement. Anson Chan proposed the difference in cultural, lifestyles, and ideologies of government officials in Mainland China and Hong Kong, and the lack of confidence of Hong Kong officials in those in Mainland.

The Honorable Karen Weaver Mayor of Flint, Michigan Christopher Robichaud (moderator) Lecturer in Ethics and Public Policy Harvard Kennedy School Mayor Karen Weaver joined Christopher Robichaud for a conversation on the Flint water crisis. The honorable mayor described the conditions in which Flint, Michigan found itself when declared under a state of emergency. The conversation touched upon the racial and class-related implications of the current situation.

U.S. Representative Joaquin Castro joined David Gergen for a conversation on the House Foreign Affairs and Armed Services Committees. He spoke of the Latino population in the United States as an aspirational community working its way up the American socioeconomic ladder, and was hopeful for a compromise between both parties in Congress for a path to citizenship. He also elaborated on his theory of the American infrastructure of opportunity, including good schools, healthcare, and an economy built around well paying jobs. Douglas Elmendorf, Dean of the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, introduced the program.

Gary Locke United States Ambassador to China (2011-2014) United States Secretary of Commerce (2009-2011) Governor of Washington State (1997- 2005) Institute of Politics Spring 2016 Visiting Fellow Karen Gordon Mills (Moderator) Administrator, U.S. Small Business Administration (2009- 2013) Senior Fellow, Harvard Business School and Harvard Kennedy School

Panelists John Deutch, MIT Emeritus Institute Professor and former CIA Director (1995-96), and Jonathan Zittrain, the George Bemis Professor of International Law at Harvard Law School and Co-Founder, Director and Faculty Chair of the Berkman Center for Internet and Society, joined moderator Archon Fung, Academic Dean of the Harvard Kennedy School of Government and the Ford Foundation Professor of Democracy and Citizenship, for a panel discussion to reflect on the current standoff between Apple and the FBI regarding the lawsuit by law enforcement to force the technology giant to create a "back door" to access the locked iPhone of the San Bernardino shooter. The panelists discussed the vital, yet often conflicting, values of privacy and security in our democratic and pluralistic society, the role of courts in settling such conflicts and the prudence of establishing a precedent of government-mandated "backdoor" access that could allow for potential future abuse.

Walter Isaacson addressed the John F. Kennedy Jr. Forum after reporters from the Associated Press were awarded the annual Goldsmith Prize for Investigative Reporting for their work on “Seafood from Slaves.” He spoke about the intersection of technology and journalism in an increasingly interconnected global community. Isaacson discussed the broken business model of journalism, which he argues needs more support from journalism users rather than simply subscription models and advertisements.

His Excellency Paul Kagame, President of Rwanda, addressed the John F. Kennedy Jr. Forum on a range of domestic and foreign policy issues affecting his country and neighboring African nations, from gender equality to economic infrastructure. President Kagame's remarks emphasized the growth of development and democracy in Rwanda under his leadership as president over the past sixteen years, as well as the marked healing from past genocide and sectional tension. The Forum was moderated by Dean Archon Fung.

Panelists Helen Branswell, Senior Writer at STAT, Michael VanRooyen M.D., Director of the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative, and Howard Zucker M.D., New York Commissioner of Health joined moderator Sheila Burke, Lecturer in Public Policy at the Harvard Kennedy School, for a panel discussion to reflect on the recent outbreaks of Zika virus and global implications. The panelists discussed the origins, scope, and severity of the Zika virus, as well as U.S. preparedness to contain its spread."

Tom Jackman, Garry McCarthy, Brittany Packnett, and Annise Parker joined moderator Candy Crowley for a conversation on the role of the police in their communities. The speakers addressed topics ranging from public safety and police brutality to the feasibility of systematic changes in policing procedures.

Max Finberg, director of AmeriCorps VISTA, joined Douglas Elmendorf, Dean of the Kennedy School and the Don K. Price Professor of Public Policy, to discuss the career path that lead to Finberg’s work with AmeriCorps. From his initial experiences working with non-profits, to the sacrifices his career requires of him, to the work he is doing now, Finberg gave the audience a window into what a non-profit leadership career is like.

Panelists Bernard Haykel, Director of the Institute for Transregional Studies at Princeton, and Karim Sadjapour, Senior Associate of the Middle East Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, joined moderator Meghan O'Sullivan, Professor of the Practice of International Affairs at the Harvard Kennedy School for a discussion of the persisting tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia. The panelists discussed geopolitical and sectarian explanations for the rivalry, discussed its global implications, and questioned the potential for reconciliation between the two nations.

Zena Agha, Iraqi-Palestinian Poet, Mariah Al Abdeh, Syrian Activist and Director of Women Now for Development, Fouad Faris, Syrian Activist and refugee, Douglas Johnson, Director of the Carr Center for Human Rights Policy, and Curt Rhodes, Founder and International Director of Questscope, joined moderator Marco Werman, Host of PRI’s The World, for a discussion on the Syrian Refugee Crisis. The speakers addressed topics ranging from the world’s perception of refugees to the necessary next steps in solving and minimizing the damage of the conflict.

Panelists Drew Faust, President of Harvard University, Daniel Bodansky, Foundation Professor of Law at ASU’s Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, Coral Davenport, Energy and Environmental Correspondent for The New York Times, Zou Ji, Deputy Director of China’s National Center for Climate Change Strategy, and Robert Stavins, Albert Pratt Professor of Business and Government at HKS, joined moderator Candy Crowley, Fall 2015 IOP Fellow and Former CNN Chief Political Correspondent for a discussion on climate change. The conversation centered around a global approach to the environmental problems we face and how countries like China and India reconcile the urgency of climate change with their desire for economic growth.

Celebrated Architect, Frank Gehry, joined Hauser Leader-in Residence, Deborah Borda for a conversation at the John F. Kennedy Jr. Forum. The discussion highlighted some of the successes and failures of Frank Gehry’s career, in addition to how he has transformed contemporary architecture through artistry, technology, resiliency and humanity.

Ta-Nehisi Coates, journalist and National Correspondent for The Atlantic, joined moderator Bruce Western, Professor of Sociology at Harvard University and Director of the Malcolm Wiener Center for Social Policy at HKS, as well as Kathryn Edin, Distinguished Bloomberg Professor at Johns Hopkins University, and William Julius Wilson, Lewis P. and Linda L. Geyser University Professor at Harvard University for a conversation on race relations in the U.S. The discussion touched on a host of topics including mass incarceration, policing in high crime areas, and reparations.

David Gergen and Nancy Gertner moderated a conversation with Justice Stephen Breyer. Breyer discussed his opinions on the role of the Constitution, his experiences on the Supreme Court, the politicization of the Court and how to avoid this, as well as the longevity of a lifetime appointment with all it brings.

Jill Lepore presented David Nyhan Prize for Political Journalism to Gary Younge, a columnist for The Guardian. The pair engaged in a discussion of issues ranging from the effects of reading, the psychology of the press, and how the press can steer voting opinion in an article, as well as how to avoid this.

Moderator, Mary Sarotte joined Niall Ferguson for an exciting and at times tense discussion on Kissinger. Among the topics discussed were US past Foreign Policy, the Soviet Union, the contrasts between the prosperity of South Korea against North Korea, and the third world as a scene of multiple proxy wars.

His Excellency Lars Løkke Rasmussen, Prime Minister of Denmark addressed the John F. Kennedy Jr. Forum on a range of Nordic solutions and challenges affecting the state of Denmark. Prime Minister Rasmussen discussed the Scandinavian welfare model and also fielded questions on Denmark’s role in the current EU immigration crisis. The Forum was moderated by Archon Fung.

Panelists Charles Bolden, Administrator of NASA (2009-present), and Mae Jemison, Principal of The 100 Year Starship Project and the first African-American woman to travel to space, joined moderator Archon Fung, Acting Dean at HKS, for a discussion on space exploration and interstellar travel. Among the topics of conversation were SpaceX, exploration of Mars, the essential relationship between humans and robotics in space travel, the future of space travel, and science education.

White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest joined IOP Resident Fellow Brent Colburn in a conversation at the John F. Kennedy Jr. Forum. Mr. Earnest discussed the process of becoming Press Secretary, the duties of the office, the role of media in politics, and his experiences on the Obama campaign.

Former U.S. Representative from Massachusetts Barney Frank delivered the annual Glauber Lecture and focused on the topic of intentionally declining U.S. power abroad. His address made the argument that the United States can and should spend less on defense, ought to meddle in international affairs less and can’t address domestic problems while overextending itself around the world.

Rosi Orozco, Mira Sorvino, Rachel Lloyd, Swanee Hunt, and Siddhartha Kara joined Richard Quest for a discussion on modern slavery in conjunction with CNN. The speakers addressed topics ranging from sex trafficking in the U.S. to international slave labor. The event, as part of the CNN Freedom Project, encouraged participation in the movement to raise awareness of the prevalence of the slavery problem, both within the U.S. and abroad, by writing issue-advancing pledges on paper airplanes, then nominating others to make a pledge via social media posts.

Panelists Margaret Marshall, Chief Justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (1999-2010), Andrew Sullivan, writer, editor, and blogger, and Matthew Vines, author of "God and the Gay Christian" and founder of The Reformation Project, joined moderator Dana Born, HKS lecturer and retired Air Force Brigadier General, for a nuanced discussion on marriage equality from a conservative perspective. The conversation touched on engagement with conservative Christians, the biblical connection with marriage and sexuality, and the future of the LGBTQ civil rights movement.

Behavioral economist Dan Ariely, the James B. Duke Professor at the Duke University Fuqua School of Business, joined Francesca Gino, Tandon Family Professor of Business Administration at HBS, and Mike Norton, Harold M. Bierley Professor of Business Administration at HBS, in conversation at the John F. Kennedy Jr. Forum. Given the recent release of the documentary The (Dis)honesty Project, Professor Ariely discussed his research investigating the causes and effects of lying in government, business, and day-to-day life.

The JFK Jr. Forum hosted a HUBweek event focused on answering the question: Is social media ruining politics? It took the form of a panel discussion featuring Nicholas Carr,Author and contributor for The Atlantic, the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times, John Della Volpe, Director of Polling at the Institute of Politics, Mindy Finn, Director of New Media, Romney 2008 and Shira Center (Moderator), the Boston Globe’s political editor.

IOP Fellow and Undersecretary for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman joined New York Times National Security Correspondent David Sanger for a conversation at the John F. Kennedy Jr. Forum. Undersecretary Sherman discussed the 2015 Iran Nuclear Deal and the upcoming implementation associated with the recently finalized negotiations. The conversation also brought about discussion of the presence of the media and the role of the United States’ oil and financial sanctions during the negotiations. Maggie Williams introduced the night’s program.

Lawrence H. Summers, the Charles W. Eliot University Professor of Harvard University, joined Senior Investment Columnist for the Financial Times John Authers for a discussion of inclusive growth, income inequality and the challenges facing investors and governments around the world as they attempt to create a system that benefits all people.

The Harvard Black Men’s Forum and the Institute of Politics hosted a discussion between linguist, political activist and MIT professor Noam Chomsky and Havard Professor Brandon Terry. The two covered a wide range of topics, including the Black Lives Matter movement, Bernie Sanders’ presidential run, income inequality and the power of organized, grassroots movements to effect social and political change.

Former Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Barak, joined Graham Allison, Director of the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs and the Douglas Dillon Professor of Government at the Harvard Kennedy School, in conversation at the John F. Kennedy Jr. Forum. Prime Minister Barak discussed the impact of the upcoming Iran deal, the security of Israel, and Middle East relations.

Panelists Maziar Bahari, journalist and filmmaker, and Tim Greenberg, Executive Producer of The Daily Show, joined moderator Candy Crowley, former political correspondent and host of State of the Union with Candy Crowley, for a discussion on the rights of journalists. The panelists discussed their personal experiences with arrest, repercussions from their past productions and works, and the state of human rights for journalists across the globe.

Retired four-star Army general and former CIA director David Petraeus was joined by Susan Hockfield, MIT President from 2004 to 2012, and Boston-area management consultant (and HBS graduate) Paras Bhayani for a conversation about the intersection between technology and security, moderated by Belfer Center director Graham Allison. The discussion focused on areas where defense spending and innovation investment overlap, as well as the unique 21st-century challenges posed by the spread of advanced technology and deployment.

Panelists Sam Harris, Co-founder and Chief Executive of Project Reason and Maajid Nawaz Founding Chairman of Quilliam, joined moderator Juliette Kayyem, Lecturer in Public Policy at the Harvard Kennedy School, for a panel discussion to reflect on the future of Islam and tolerance regarding it. The panelists discussed many topics regarding Islam in modern society, such as Islam's place in modern culture, the events leading up to the modern public perception of Islam, and Islamic extremism. These topics were put forth with the final goal of collaborating to ensure a stable future of tolerance in the world.

Panelists R. Nicholas Burns, Director of the Future of Diplomacy Project, Matthew Bunn, Professor of Practice at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government, and William H. Tobey, Senior Fellow at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs joined moderator David Sanger, National Security Correspondent for the New York Times for a panel discussion to reflect on the upcoming Iran Nuclear Deal. The panelists discussed recent events and atmosphere leading up to the deal, the pros and cons of the same, and the consequences such a deal will have on the Middle East.

Eric Schmidt, Executive Chairman of Google, discussed his views on innovation, technology and entrepreneurship with moderator CNN’s David Gergen. Schmidt answered questions about the critical role Google plays in digital enterprises, job creation, and the future of society.

Christopher Dodd, Chairman and CEO of the Motion Picture Association of America and former US Senator of Connecticut and Barney Frank, former Representative of Massachusetts to Congress joined moderator Lois Romano to discuss the 2010 legislation that brought changes to financial regulation in the U.S. in response to the financial crisis.

United States Senator from Kentucky Rand Paul addressed the JFK Jr. Forum on recent controversies surrounding national security including wire tapping, profiling, and imprisonment of suspected terrorists. In the question and answer period moderated by Institute of Politics Director, Trey Grayson, touched on Senator Rand’s opinions concerning Obamacare, tax policy, privacy, and libertarianism.

Arizona senator and 2008 Presidential candidate John McCain joined CNN Foreign Affairs Correspondent Jill Dougherty in conversation at the John F. Kennedy Jr. Forum. Senator McCain discussed the current Russia-Ukraine conflict, foreign relations with Syria, Afghanistan, and Iraq, immigration and campaign finance reform, and the importance of compromise and bipartisanship in increasingly polarized U.S. politics.

Joan Blades, the co-founder of MoveOn and a MomsRising.org, joined National Tea Party Patriots co-founder and Citizens for Self Governance founder Mark Meckler for a “Challenges to Democracy” discussion. The panel was moderated by Harvard Kennedy School Professor and Ash Center Co-Director Archon Fung and focused on the importance of hearing from different perspectives, democratic participation, and the common ground between conservative and liberal opinions.

Former Arkansas Governor and Republican Presidential candidate Mike Huckabee joined Institute of Politics Director Trey Grayson for a conversation surrounding his career, political life, and religious persuasions. Governor Huckabee also reflected on his pastoral work and answered several questions from the audience regarding his position on gay marriage.

Lisa Monaco, the Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism, delivered an address to the JFK Jr. Forum on community-based methods to reduce terrorism. She was joined after by a panel including activist Rev. Jeffrey Brown, Director of Muslim Public Affairs, Haris Tarin, Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security, Alejandro Mayorkas, and Farah Pandith, who discussed their experiences working on a community-level to counter violence.

Panelists Andrea J. Cabral, MA Executive Secretary of Public Safety, Edward F. Davis, the former Boston Police Commissioner, Thomas Grilk, Executive Director of Boston Athletic Association, and Major General Scott Rice, Adjutant General of the Massachusetts National Guard joined moderator Herman “Dutch” Leonard for a panel discussion to reflect on the emergency system response to the Boston Marathon Bombing. One year later, the panelists addressed balancing macro- and micro- levels of leadership, police presence, and public safety.

John Deutch, former Director of Central Intelligence, Jane Harman, former House of Representatives member, University professor Joseph Nye, Chief Washington Correspondent of the New York Times David Sanger, and National Public Radio’s Counterterrorism Correspondent Dina Temple-Raston, joined moderator Graham Allison for a panel discussion on NSA secrecy and national security. The panelists voiced opinions regarding the freedom of the press in terms of publishing secrets that could threaten national security, the ethical boundaries of government phone tapping, and Edward Snowden's criminal status.

His Excellency Rafael Correa, President of Ecuador addressed the John F. Kennedy Jr. Forum on a range of domestic policy issues affecting his country and the Latin American community. President Correa discussed Ecuador’s focus on reducing poverty and the role of government in promoting fair, equitable growth.

Former Director of the Mossad, Meir Dagan, Former Director of the CIA David Petraeus, and current Belfer Center Director Graham Allison discussed the possibility of peace in the Middle East with regard to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Iran’s nuclear program, and the changing nature of national security organizations.

Ambassador R. Nicholas Burns moderated a John F. Kennedy Jr. Forum on the ongoing crisis in Syria with Former Deputy National Security Advisor to President George W. Bush, Elliot Abrams, former Special Representative to Muslim Communities Farah Pandith, and former Knesset member and co-founder of Israel’s “Peace Now” movement Avshalom Vilan. Panelists discussed the possibility of a U.S. intervention, either financially or militarily, along with regional instability and future geopolitical implications.