Past Events

Clinton 25

November 6, 2017

From November 3rd to 6th, GU Politics hosted former President Bill Clinton, members of his administration, and various special guests for a conference covering the 25th anniversary of his election.

Celebrating the 25th anniversary of President Bill Clinton’s election, Georgetown hosted various members of the Clinton administration, analysts, and the former President to reflect on what they accomplished and how the world changed through the 1990s. The multi-day symposium included sessions with former campaign and administration officials and other guests looking back on Clinton’s journey from the Hilltop to the White House, his time as President and his vision for the country and the world. Clinton (SFS ’68), on coming back to his alma mater, said, “I’m grateful for the opportunity to return and continue our discussion on what it means to live a life of public service – I believe it’s more important than ever.”

Panelists across three sessions included such luminaries during the former Clinton administration as President of Mexico Ernesto Zedillo; Secretary of State and Georgetown professor Madeleine Albright; Secretary of Transportation Rodney Slater; Deputy Secretary of State Strobe Talbott; Senior Strategists James Carville and Paul Begala; Media Advisor Mandy Grunwald; former White House chiefs of staff Mack McLarty, Erskine Bowles and John Podesta; Deputy Chief of Staff Maria Echaveste; Director of White House Political Affairs Minyon Moore; Senior Advisor for Policy and Strategy Rahm Emanuel; Chief Domestic Policy Advisor Bruce Reed; and Clinton Foundation Chief of Staff Maggie Williams.

Friday to Monday, events reviewed the ’92 campaign and election night, Visions of America, the World, and Leadership & Service, and the former President’s keynote address. As well, faculty and guests looked back at Georgetown University during the ’90s and how Clinton’s years here shaped the leader he would become.

Watch the keynote and read more below!

Clinton Keynote

During his address, Clinton covered a wide range of contemporary issues. He particularly focused on the recent “gutting” of 1965’s Voting Rights Act and growing sentiments of cross-party depersonalization. “How many voters do we have to disenfranchise before we’re not American anymore?”

Event Schedule

 

This three-day conference started on the night of Friday, November 3rd, with a watch party reenacting Election Night ’92 where attendees and former Clinton campaigners analyzed how the election was run and the outcome that fateful night. Then, on Sunday, GU Politics Executive Director Mo Elleithee moderated a conversation with campaign architects James Carville and Paul Begala, alongside Mandy Grunwald – Media Advisor and Rodney Slater – Deputy Campaign Manager. They focused on the campaign’s revolutionary strategy and messaging before screening The War Room, a documentary covering the Clinton campaign and presidential election.

Monday was sectioned into three parts: Vision of America, Vision of the World, Vision of Leadership and Service. Afterwards, the conference concluded with Clinton’s Keynote Address to his alma mater where he shared views on two decades of changing dynamics at play in America.

 

Campaign ’92

Elleithee moderated a lively, light-hearted, and engaging discussion on the legacy of the 1992 Clinton Campaign; panelists analyzed their particular challenges and successes over the course of the campaign. As well, they delved into the decisions behind taking the “third way” – taking a moderate approach to campaigning and governance above the everyday fray.

Vision of the World

This panel included Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, former President of Mexico Ernesto Zedillo, and Deputy Secretary of State Strobe Talbott and covered such notable foreign policy efforts as working with Boris Yeltsin and the negotiation of NAFTA.

Vision of Leadership and Service

Moderated by Professor Judy Feder, former Clinton healthcare staffer, this panel brought the Clinton White House’s three Chiefs of Staff Mack McLarty, Erskine Bowles, and John Podesta. They discussed working with a Republican-controlled Congress and effectiveness at the Cabinet level.

 

Read more: The Hoya – Georgetown Voice – CBS News – Washington Examiner

Watch all videos:  Playlist

Hashtag: #Clinton25

Photo album: Flickr

 

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