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How did the United States Army Chief of Staff under Harry Truman and Franklin D. Roosevelt—the man Winston Churchill dubbed “the Organizer of Victory”—develop his impeccable leadership qualities? In a story of bravery, pragmatism, and discipline, Josiah Bunting reveals the character of one of history’s most revered generals, George C. Marshall, uncovering the General’s role in cultivating a generation of leaders dedicated to public service and commitment to their country.

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Just three weeks after Lee surrendered to Grant at Appomattox and two weeks after Booth killed Lincoln in Washington, General Joseph Johnston surrendered the rest of the Confederate army to William Tecumseh Sherman at Greensboro, NC. But Union officials rejected Sherman's over-generous terms—a move that undermined the newly restored peace and threatened to reignite the Civil War. Experts discuss the consequences of this pivotal moment.

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9–9:30 am: Registration and Continental Breakfast
9:30–11 am: Program

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Filmmaker Ric Burns presents his breathtaking historical documentary Into the Deep which traces the 300-year trajectory of the whaling industry—a major driver of early American commerce and culture—from its origins in 17th-century coastal New England to its demise following the Civil War. Join us for a talk featuring Ric Burns followed by a complete screening of the film.

Ric Burns, founder of Steeplechase Films, is the director of Into the Deep: America, Whaling & the World.

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The Founding Fathers’ crowning accomplishment—the Constitution—is revered today as the touchstone of our democracy. Less widely known, however, is the extent to which the process of ratification represented a tumultuous and precarious battle between rivaling interests. In a dynamic conversation, experts present a new perspective on the Nation’s shaping.

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In conjunction with New-York Historical’s retrospective Tattooed New York, architectural historian Barry Lewis explores the development of New York’s entertainment hub, Coney Island—an epicenter of tattoo culture, particularly among stars of the famous Coney Island sideshows.

Barry Lewis, an architectural historian who teaches at Cooper Union Forum, is the former co-host of a popular walking tour series on PBS.

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The Union expected the 1861 Battle of Bull Run—the first major land battle of the American Civil War—to lead to a swift end to the conflict. Instead, it turned out to be a Confederate victory, a humiliation for the Union forces, and a harbinger of a longer war to come. In 1862, an even deadlier battle would take place on that very spot, resulting in another crushing defeat for the Union. Acclaimed historians of the era discuss these consequential battles.

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10–11 am: Registration and Continental Breakfast
11 am–12 noon: Program

The United States and New York City have welcomed new immigrants to this country for generations. But how does America protect the civil and political rights of newcomers? Legal experts discuss the inclusion and participation of immigrants as active members of the body politic through the lens of one of the cornerstones of American democracy: the right to vote.

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Esteemed legal scholar Akhil Reed Amar sheds light on three controversial and defining moments in recent constitutional history—the impeachment of Bill Clinton, the contested election of George W. Bush, and the fight over Barack Obama’s Affordable Care Act—revealing how the founding document shapes contemporary politics.

Akhil Reed Amar, Sterling Professor of Law and Political Science at Yale University, is the author of The Constitution Today: Timeless Lessons for the Issues of Our Era.

Note: This event is sold out