What is the American Idea? And what do its enduring principles tell us about today’s policy choices and tomorrow’s America? These questions were the focus of a day-long series of conversations at historic Lincoln Cottage, where President Lincoln first drafted the Emancipation Proclamation. Three panel discussions explored these themes:
Session I: Leadership for the American Idea
“It is impossible to talk about the ideas behind American foreign policy without beginning with the American idea, what it means to us at home.” – Jack Kemp, 1996
Session II: Growth, Growth, Growth!
“Every generation faces choices: hope or despair, the plan for scarcity or to embrace the possibilities. Societies throughout history believed they had reached the frontiers of human accomplishment, but in every age those who trusted that divine spark of imagination discovered that vastly greater horizons still lay ahead.” – Jack Kemp, 1996
Session III: Freedom, Dignity, and Opportunity
“The American idea was never that everyone would be leveled to the same position in life. The American idea was that each individual should have the same opportunity to rise as high as his effort and initiative and God-given talent could carry him. If you were born to be a master carpenter, or a mezzo-soprano — or even a pro football player — here in America you could make it.” – Jack Kemp, 1980
Opening remarks were delivered by Rich Lowry (author of Lincoln Unbound), closing remarks by Mort Kondracke (co-author of forthcoming book on Jack Kemp), and Keynote Speaker Garry Kasparov–Russian pro-democracy leader, Chess Grand Master and Former World Champion.
Date
Friday, May 16, 2014 – 9:45am-4:30pm EST
Participants
Rich Lowry (National Review)
William Kristol (The Weekly Standard)
Peggy Noonan (The Wall Street Journal)
Garry Kasparov (United Civil Front)
Bob Schoultz (Fifth Factor Leadership)
Fred Barnes (The Weekly Standard)
George Gilder (Discovery Institute)
Amity Shlaes (Journalist/Author)
Deborah Wince-Smith (Council on Competitiveness)
Juan Williams (Fox News Channel)
Arthur Brooks (American Enterprise Institute)
Wayne Frederick (Howard University)
Ron Christie (Christie Strategies)
Mort Kondracke (Journalist/Author)
