A Reagan Forum Podcast

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Chris Matthews Aug 05, 2021

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In this week’s Reagan Forum podcast we go back to July 8, 2021 for our virtual conversation with bestselling author and former MSMBC Hardball host Chris Matthews. Chris Matthews has been following American politics since the first Eisenhower campaign. Following two post-college years in the Peace Corps, Chris served on several staffs on Capitol Hill. He traveled down Pennsylvania Avenue to serve as a White House speechwriter to President Carter before returning to the Hill as a senior aide to House Speaker Tip O’Neill. That means that Chris saw up close the defining friendships of American history… the friendship of Ronald Reagan and Tip O’Neill. In the late 1980s, Chris switched to full-time journalism, serving as Washington Bureau Chief for the San Francisco Examiner and then beginning his career on television in 1994. In all the years Chris has been involved in the country’s public life he’s kept an abiding faith in electoral politics, his quadrennial hope that the American people will make the best judgment on who should lead. He has kept that faith through war and peace, good times and bad, through great leaders and not-so-great. He has never lost his vigorous love of democracy and how it can serve to make this country, through all its challenges, a more perfect union. Chris Matthews was joined in conversation with Reagan Foundation and Institute executive director John Heubusch to discuss his brand-new book, This Country: My Life in Politics and History, a sweeping memoir of American politics and history.

Mike Pompeo Jul 29, 2021

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In this week’s Reagan Forum podcast we go to our July 26, 2021 in-person event with former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who was the Foundation’s third speaker in its Time for Choosing Speaker Series, a new forum for leading voices in the conservative movement to address critical questions facing the future of the Republican Party. Michael Pompeo is an American politician, diplomat, businessman, and attorney who served under President Donald Trump as Director of the CIA from 2017 to 2018 and as the 70th United States Secretary of State from 2018 to 2021. He is also a former United States Army officer, and a former member of the United States House of Representatives from 2011 to 2017, when he represented Kansas’s 4th congressional district.

Robert Gates Jul 23, 2021

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In this week’s Reagan Forum podcast we go back to June 21, 2021 for our virtual conversation with former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates. Robert Gates is an American intelligence analyst, and university president who served as the 22nd United States secretary of defense from 2006 to 2011. He was originally appointed by President George W. Bush and was retained for service by President Barack Obama. He served in the U.S. Air Force as a Second Lieutenant from 1967-1969. Secretary Gates joins us today for a conversation on the paperback release of his latest book, Exercise of Power: American Failures, Successes, and a New Path Forward in the Post-Cold War World.

Tear Down This Wall Jul 15, 2021

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On June 12, 1987, President Ronald Reagan stood steadfastly in front of the Brandenburg Gate in West Berlin, Germany and boldly told General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev to “Tear Down This Wall.” And, as we all know, on November 9, 1989, approximately 2 ½ years after President Reagan’s most historic speech, the Berlin Wall fell. Last month marked the 34th anniversary of that speech. To mark this anniversary, the Reagan Institute partnered with the Hoover Institution for a virtual panel event which reflected on the speech and discussed its continuing relevance to the challenges we face today. The virtual conversation featured the author of the speech, Peter Robinson, as well as Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster, former National Security Advisor, Dr. Will Inboden, Director of the Clements Center for National Security, and Jamie Fly, President and CEO of Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty. Let’s listen.

Virtual 4th of July Jul 08, 2021

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For over 20 years, the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum has hosted a day-long 4th of July commemoration fun for the entire family. Over 3,500 people come up to our hilltop each year to enjoy games, activities, arts and crafts, presidential lookalikes and patriotic music. When COVID19 closed our Museum to the public in 2020 our thoughts quickly turned to our joyous event and how we might be able to still celebrate it while still conforming to new policies and guidelines about social distancing and limited group sizes. So in July of 2020 we hosted our first ever virtual 4th of July event, and over 40,000 people tuned in to watch! Although COVID restrictions are lifting in California, we chose to remain virtual this year, although we do look forward to holding an in-person event in 2021! During our 2021 virtual program, we bring you music from the 562nd Air Force Band, American Flag trivia from our Betsy Ross re-enactor, and Declaration of Independence trivia from our Benjamin Franklin re-enactor. It might now be almost an entire week after the 4th of July, but it’s never too late for engaging patriotic content. Let’s listen.

Mike Pence Jul 01, 2021

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Like Ronald Reagan, Mike Pence started out young in life as a democrat. He has been quoted as saying that Ronald Reagan’s ideals inspired him to eave the party of his youth and to become a Republican like President Reagan had. During his Time for Choosing speech at the Reagan Library, former Vice President Mike Pence his thoughts about the republican party, perhaps inspiring other young adults to embrace the future and become republicans as well. Let’s listen.

Sebastian Junger Jun 24, 2021

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Sebastian Junger is most known for his bestselling books The Perfect Storm and War, as well as his academy award nominated documentary, Restrepo. In his latest book, Freedom, Sebastian Junger examines the tension that lies at the heart of what it means to be human. For much of a year, Junger and three friends—a conflict photographer and two Afghan War vets—walked the railroad lines of the East Coast. It was an experiment in personal autonomy, but also in interdependence. Dodging railroad cops, sleeping under bridges, cooking over fires, and drinking from creeks and rivers, the four men forged a unique reliance on one another. In Freedom, Junger weaves his account of this journey together with primatology and boxing strategy, the history of labor strikes and Apache raiders, the role of women in resistance movements, and the brutal reality of life on the Pennsylvania frontier. Written in exquisite, razor-sharp prose, the result is a powerful examination of the primary desire that defines us. Sebastian Junger was joined in conversation with General Stanley McChrystal and Reagan Foundation and Institute executive director John Heubusch. Let’s listen.

Shannon Bream Jun 17, 2021

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In this week’s Reagan Forum podcast we go back to Mother’s Day weekend for a virtual event about the power of strong and resilient women on May 8, 2021 with Fox News Anchor Shannon Bream and her mother, Marie Norris. The conversation centered around Shannon Bream’s brand-new book, The Women of the Bible Speak, 16 women and their lessons for today. Shannon last did an event with the Reagan Library in May of 2019 for her book, Finding the Bright Side. Shannon loves playing piano, fly fishing, watching college football, going to the beach, and spending time, every day, studying the bible and praying. So it’s no surprise that her latest book shares her passion for prayer and the Bible. In The Women of the Bible Speak, Shannon Bream opens up the lives of 16 Biblical women, arranging them into pairs and contrasting their journeys. In pairing their stories, Shannon helps us reflect not only on the meaning of each individual’s life, but on how they relate to each other and to us. In broadening each woman’s individual story, Shannon offers us a deeper understanding of each, and wisdom and insights that can transform our own lives today. Shannon Bream currently serves as anchor of FOX News Channel's FOX News @ Night with Shannon Bream. She was crowned Miss Florida in 1994 and Miss Virginia in 1990. Shannon and her mother Marie were joined in conversation with Reagan Foundation and Institute executive director John Heubusch. Let’s listen.

Marcus Brotherton Jun 10, 2021

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In this week’s Reagan Forum podcast we go back to Memorial Day – May 31, 2021 – for our virtual conversation with New York Times Best Selling author Marcus Brotherton for the paperback release of his book, Blaze of Light: The Inspiring True Story of Green Beret Medic Gary Beikirch, Medal of Honor Recipient, a biography about Green Beret Army medic Gary Beikirch who received the medal of honor for his actions of valor during the siege of Dak Seang. Let’s listen.

Paul Ryan Jun 03, 2021

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In this week’s Reagan Forum podcast we go back one week to May 27, 2021 for our in-person event with former Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, who was the Foundation’s first speaker in its new Time for Choosing Speaker Series, a new forum for leading voices in the conservative movement to address critical questions facing the future of the Republican Party. Upon launching the Time for Series Speaker Series, Paul Ryan said, “It is a great honor to kick off the Time for Choosing series. I look forward to addressing these fundamental and timely questions, but more importantly, I am eager to hear how other Republican and conservative leaders, each with their own convictions and priorities, address the same questions. I am confident that our substantive, reasoned dialogue will do a service to the legacy of President Reagan and the party he once led.” Let’s listen.

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