The Dilenschneider Group kicks off its 2012-13 lecture series under the theme of “Civility in America” on Sept. 24 at The Ferguson Library in Stamford, Conn., featuring James Cuno, president of the J. Paul Getty Trust.
Cuno is set to take on civility in the arts, followed by bi-weekly lectures by Fox 5 news anchor Ernie Anastos (Oct. 3 civility in media), Sen. Olympia Snowe (Oct. 17, politics), Kroll chairman and former police chief of New York, Boston and Los Angeles William Bratton (Nov. 13, law enforcement), and American Management Assn. president and CEO Ed Reilly (Dec. 4, management).
TDG president Bob Dilenschneider said the theme is “particularly timely” during the presidential campaign season. He is circulating a copy of an essay by Catholic University president John Garvey, which notes a history of acrimony and incivility and urges common ground.
“From civil rights to women’s suffrage to prohibition to the Iraq war, the issues that inspire great political change in American have also inspired reactions ranging from polite dissent to unlawful retaliation,” writes Garvey. “For that reason the history of civility in American politics is best described as one of hills and valleys across the decades, rather than one of sharp decline in our own generation.”
Speakers lined up as the series continues in 2013 include former Major League Baseball Commissioner Fay Vincent and News Corp. education division CEO Joel Klein, among others.
TLD is hosting the series with the City of Stamford. Registration: cityofstamford.org.