America Decides
The Issues and Dynamics of the 2008
Presidential Election
May 11 - 18, 2008
This
conference will focus on the critical issues of the 2008 presidential
election. College students will come to Washington, DC to engage
journalists, political parties, think tank analysts, and candidates'
representatives in a series of interactive sessions. The program will be
divided into topics of critical importance and all sides of the political
divide will be allowed a voice:
- The students will have the opportunity to ask vital questions, such as:
- What are the US prospects for economic recovery?
- What role should the US play in the world?
- Will the Health Care system be improved?
- Should the media monitor campaign truthfulness?
- Will the culture wars continue?
- What role does character play in presidential leadership?
- What is President Bush's legacy?
The highlight of the program will be student speakers "making the case" for a particular candidate. There will be student teams set up to examine the viable candidates and the teams will nominate speakers. Student presentations will be voluntary, but there will be a limit of four students selected to give 15 minute presentations.
Featured speakers:
- Marvin Kalb, The Sorenstein School of Media and Politics, Harvard University
- Robert Hunter, Former Ambassador to NATO
- Mark Williams, President of Ideal Image
- Audrey Spolarich, former Director of Research, Revolution Health
- Kiki McLean, Hillary Clinton Campaign Press Secretary
- Staffers from the RNC and the DNC
Background information on American Elections.
A joint program with the Washington Internship Institute.
America Decides Schedule
Sunday, May 11
7:00PM Reception at Room 500, 1717 Mass.
Monday, May 12
10:00AM Tour of the Area
10:30AM Shelly Williams: Intro to the Program
1100AM Rebecca Blank, Senior Brookings Fellow, Economic Issues in the Election
12:00PM Lunch break
1:00PM
Laura Williamson, Texas Student Field Coordinator
for Obama
Brandon Guiliano Precinct Chair for McCain Clinton
student, (TBA)
3-5PM Woodrow Wilson Center: Can Social Security Be Saved?
Tuesday, May 13
10:00AM Shelly on Media Coverage
11:00AM Visit CSPAN and meet Steve Scully, Senior Executive Producer
12:15-1:45PM
New America Foundation 1630 Connecticut Ave, NW, 7th Floor
Foreign Policy Follies, Matthew Yglesias
Associate
Editor, Atlantic Monthly
Why Both
Parties' National Security Visions Still Beg the Question
3:00PM Captain Philip R. Kreck, SAIS student, McCain for President!
4:00PM William Galston, Brookings Senior Fellow on Politics, "Campaign 2008 and What It Means"
7-8:30PM
Iwo Jima Memorial, The
Marine Corps
presents the Marine Sunset Review Parade
Location –The Iwo Jima Memorial is located about six blocks
from the Rosslyn Metro Station.
The
Netherlands Carillon, a bell tower and park are adjacent
to the memorial.
Visit Your Congress person!
Wednesday, May 14
10:30AM Old Exec Office Building, Tim Kennedy, "What Presidents Can and Can't do"
12-1:30PM
Center for National Policy, “Cutting
the Tether: Waging War Without Oil”
One Massachusetts Avenue NW, Suite 333, Washington, DC 20001
Sherri Goodman Former Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for
Environmental Security and Vijay V. Vaitheeswaran, Energy and
Environment correspondent for The Economist
3-5:00PM Woodrow Wilson Book Launch
“The Age of Impeachment: American Constitutional Culture
since 1960”
David E. Kyvig, Distinguished Research Professor, Department
of History,
Northern Illinois University, author; commentators Linda
Greenhouse, Supreme Court Reporter,
The New York Times; James Reston Jr., Independent Writer, and
Senior Scholar,
Woodrow Wilson Center.
Thursday, May 15
9:00AM Barry Lowenkron, former Assistant Secretary of State, "Foreign Policy in this Election.
11:00AM Paul Hughes, Senior fellow, US Institute of Peace "Iraq in this Election"
12:00PM Lunch break
1:00PM Robert Ebel, CSIS senior fellow, "Energy as an Issue in the 2008 campaign"
2:00PM Obama for President!
Friday, May 16
10:00AM Marvin Kalb, Director of Harvard's Shorenstein DC Program on Media and Politics, "Covering this Campaign"
12:00PM Lunch break
2:00PM
Kiki McClean, Hillary Clinton's Campaign Press
Secretary, Clinton for President!
Rome
102, SAIS
1640
Massachusetts Ave, NW
3:30PM
Washington Intern Institute --Working in Washington
Rome
102, SAIS
1640
Massachusetts Ave, NW
Saturday, May 17
10 -12PM Student presentations and discussion
Housing
Conference housing will be arranged with the Doubletree Hotel in Downtown Washington, DC. The Doubletree Hotel is located two blocks from the conference facilities, three blocks from Dupont Circle, six blocks from the White House, and five miles from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
Hotel amenities include the business center, high-speed Internet access, courtyard, and 15 ria Restaurant and Lounge. The hotel also offers room service, valet parking, and babysitting.
Doubletree Hotel
1515 Rhode Island Ave NW
Washington,
DC 20005
Phone:
202-232-7000
Conference Fees and Cost Sheet (2008)
Housing $700 (optional)
Program $625
Total
$1,325
POLICIES REGARDING FEES:
- Program fee – April 25, 2008 (not refundable after the due date)
- Housing fee (optional) – April 25, 2008 (not refundable after the due date)
WAIVER: Each student must provide his or her own medical insurance, and each student is responsible for observing the laws of Washington, D.C. and the rules and procedures of the hotel. Students must sign waivers upon arrival to the Osgood Center.
Registration for “America Decides” will remain open until May 5, 2008. However, enrollment at a later date is not guaranteed due to limited space.
For more information, please write:
America Decides
The Osgood Center
for International Studies
1740 Massachusetts Ave, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20036
gmanukyan@osgoodcenter.org or call: (202) 663-5872
© 2008 Osgood Center