I spoke at the School of International Service, American University, on Thursday, November 5, 2009. Hosted by the International Communication Program and with the co-sponsorship of the Public Diplomacy Council, this 1-day conference explored a fundamental question:

What is the role of “culture” in the work of cultural diplomacy? Speakers included James Glassman, former U.S. Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs; Richard Kurin, Under Secretary for History, Art and Culture, Smithsonian Institution; and Frank Hodsoll, former Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts.

I was delighted to see Harriet Fulbright of the Fulbright Center and former USIA Director Joseph Duffey in attendance.  We later had a lively dinner at the Cosmos Club.  

I attended the book launch party for Slate editor Jacob Weisburg's The Bush Tragedy at the Brentwood home of Arianna Huffington. New York-based Radar magazine IDed me a wonk, slang for "a person who studies a subject or issue in an excessively assiduous and thorough manner: a policy wonk." Wow.  I need to get out more! Here's a picture of the party wonks Wendy Krueger, myself, and Chicago's own Steve Weinshel.