In Celebration of the George Washington Presidential Library's Tenth Anniversary, Mount Vernon to Host Prestigious Democracy Symposium

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Sep 12, 2023, 15:00 ET

Distinguished Historians, Journalists, Academics, Business and Military Leaders Will Convene to Examine Challenges of Safeguarding Democratic Government

MOUNT VERNON, Va., Sept. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- On November 2 - 4, 2023, George Washington's Mount Vernon will assemble many of the nation's most respected and thoughtful historians, authors, journalists, and leaders for an important examination of American democracy. The Great Experiment: Democracy from the Founding to the Future will offer thoughtful discussions and insights on the history and future of democracy in the U.S., along with America's new challenges for protecting its democratic form of government. The event also will feature the release of a new report sponsored by The George Washington Presidential Library in partnership with the University of Virginia Center for Politics on Americans' views on the future of democracy.

Speakers include:

Jacqueline Alemany, The Washington Post Congressional Investigations Reporter
Rick Atkinson, Pulitzer Prize-Winning Author
John Avlon, CNN Anchor and Senior Political Analyst
Douglas Brinkley, Rice University Professor of History at Rice University and CNN Presidential Historian
Robert Costa, CBS News Chief Election & Campaign Correspondent
General Joseph Dunford, Jr., 19th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Joanne Freeman, Yale University Professor of American History and of American Studies
Annette Gordon-Reed, Harvard University Professor and Pulitzer Prize-Winning Author
Kenneth Griffin, Citadel Founder and CEO
Margaret Hoover, PBS Firing Line Host
General John Kelly, 5^th Secretary of Homeland Security and Former White House Chief of Staff
Brian Lamb, C-SPAN Founder
General Jim Mattis, 26^th Secretary of Defense
Trevor Potter, Campaign Legal Center President and Former Chairman of the Federal Election Commission
Heidi Przybyla, Politico National Investigative Correspondent
David Rubenstein, The Carlyle Group Co-Founder and Co-Chairman
Larry Sabato, University of Virginia Center for Politics Founder and Director

A current roster of speakers is available here.

The event will kick off on Thursday, November 2^nd, with a reception and black-tie dinner at the U.S. Department of State's Diplomatic Reception Rooms. Friday, November 3^rd, will feature a full day of conference speakers, a cocktail reception and open house at the George Washington Presidential Library, and dinner at Mount Vernon. Conference programming will continue for a full day on Saturday, November 4^th, followed by a cocktail reception and tours of the Mansion. The full agenda is available here.

Tickets to the three-day event are available here, with discounted pricing for members and donors, which includes all lectures, meals, and tours. A virtual ticket option also is available.

This event is hosted in celebration of the tenth anniversary of George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon. Through its collections and programs, the Library supports scholarly research and fosters new scholarship, provides a platform for educational outreach, and serves as a center for leadership training, conferences, and gatherings inspired by George Washington's example.

Mount Vernon, the home of George Washington, is owned and maintained by the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association, the oldest national historic preservation organization in the United States. The estate is open to visitors and includes the Mansion, a museum and education center, gardens, tombs, a working farm, a functioning distillery, and a gristmill. It also includes the George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon.

SOURCE George Washington's Mount Vernon