RANCHO MIRAGE WRITERS FESTIVAL - SIXTH ANNUAL JANUARY 30-FEBRUARY 1, 2019
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steven spielberg
a life in films
m o l ly h a s k e l l
Jewish Lives
SIXTH ANNUAL
RANCHO MIRAGE
WRITERS FESTIVAL
AT THE RANCHO MIRAGE LIBRARY AND OBSERVATORY
JA N UA RY 3 0 – F E B R UA RY 1 , 2 0 1 9
Welcome to the RANCHO MIRAGE WRITERS FESTIVAL!
We are celebrating year SIX of this exciting Festival in 2019! This is where readers meet authors and authors get to know
their enthusiastic readers. We dedicate all that happens at this incredible gathering to you, our Angels and our readers.
The Rancho Mirage Writers Festival has a special energy level, driven by ideas and your enthusiasm for what will feel like
a pop-up university, where the written word and those who write have brought us together in a most appropriate venue—
the Rancho Mirage Library and Observatory. The Festival starts fast and never lets up, as our individual presenters and
panels are eager to share their words and their thoughts. This is the excitement of books.
Our objective is important and clear—to bring the best authors, their books, and our readers together in this beautiful
Aaron Espinosa Jamie Kabler resort city. We start two years before each Festival, working to get the best authors for our readers. We never stop making
LIBRARY DIRECTOR FESTIVAL FOUNDER each year better than the last.
The writers you read and the books that get us thinking and talking converge at the Festival to make January in the
desert not only key to our season but a centerpiece of our cultural life.
The Rancho Mirage Writers Festival honors the value of books in our national tradition of sharing ideas and the freedom
to express them. You have helped to build the “intellectual village” we will share for the next three days.
Thank you to our 43 authors. We are delighted to offer you the opportunity to be with our 1000 Angels and Readers.
Let the 2019 Rancho Mirage Writers Festival begin!
to the
Sixth Annual Rancho
Mirage Writers Festival
AMERICA’S BEST WRITERS FESTIVAL
2
For the 2019 RMWF theme, we originally considered the topic of “Great Wars.” Then we received a call from Susan Eisenhower reminding
us that June 6, 2019, is the 75th anniversary of the Normandy landings. We had just confirmed two leading World War II historians—Rick
Atkinson and Sir Antony Beevor—and so our theme evolved into World War II and the anniversary of D-Day, a subject of never-ending
fascination. In addition, we are pleased to bring you these acclaimed authors, all discussing specific aspects of the war: Douglas Brinkley on
Werner von Braun and the V-2 rocket, H.W. Brands on America’s involvement in World War II, Jon Meacham on Franklin and Winston’s
special relationship, Lynne Olson on London during the bombings, Anne Sebba on Nazi-occupied Paris and Emily Yellin on American
women’s role during the war.
Putting together the Festival programming took an entire year, and we hope you enjoy the results. Our full-color, illustrated program is
unique to writers’ festivals and something we are quite proud of. We hope you will hold on to it as a keepsake and refer back to it often after
the Festival ends. If you find that you have missed sessions, use this program as a reference to find full-length videos of every session on our
website and YouTube channel. This year we will also include recorded highlights from our Angel Evening.
Our mission continues to be bringing you the finest authors and experts in their field on a wide variety of subjects. We hope you find
something of interest every hour in every room over these next few days and that you leave having learned something new! Deborah Dejah
(For a sneak peak at some of the writers we have already booked for 2020, see page 63.) DIRECTOR OF
PROGRAMMING
Deborah Dejah
Director of Programming
As we start the 2019 Festival, I am so proud of how we have grown over the last six years. From 2014 when it started with just a few
authors and a couple hundred readers, we have now grown into a Festival of 1000 devoted readers and 43 of the most prolific and
popular authors of the day.
It is my job to make sure that everyone is able to seamlessly participate in this great festival for the mind. To that end, we are striving
to make the experience better and better each year.
New this year:
• Additional video monitors in the Steinbeck Room for better visibility.
• Videotaping of all of the sessions, so you don’t have to miss any of your favorite authors.
• Additional lunch at the conclusion of the Festival on Friday.
• Pop-up store selling RMWF merchandise—see page 62.
• Rancho Mirage Writers Festival Book Club with 10 high quality sessions annually—see page 50 for details.
• Rancho Mirage Writers Festival Writers Series—see page 50 for details.
• Rancho Mirage Writers Festival Film Club—see page 50 for details.
From complimentary valet parking when you arrive, a courteous and friendly staff to guide you, and comfortable seating in all five
rooms, we hope your experience is a great one. Debbie Green
EXECUTIVE
I personally want to thank the Angels, Readers, and Writers for your participation and I look forward to greeting you each day. Please PRODUCER
thank our staff when you see them… they all work hard to make the Festival a success and better each year. Enjoy!!
Debbie Green
Executive Producer
3
ANGEL NIGHT 2019
An exclusive evening just for Angels January 29th with very special g
uest speakers
Tom Hanks is one of Hollywood’s most well-loved and respected actors as well as a successful
director, producer, and screenwriter. He is known for his comedic and dramatic roles in such films
as Splash, Big, A League of Their Own, Sleepless in Seattle, Apollo 13, You’ve Got Mail, Saving Private
Ryan, The Green Mile, Cast Away, Captain Phillips and Sully. He also voices Sheriff Woody in the
Toy Story film series.
Hanks has been nominated for numerous awards during his career. He won a Golden Globe Award
and an Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in Philadelphia, as well as a Golden Globe, an
Academy Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and a People’s Choice Award for Best Actor for Forrest
Gump. In 1995, Hanks became one of only two actors who
won the Academy Award for Best Actor in consecutive years.
In 2014, he received a Kennedy Center Honor and, in 2016,
he received a Presidential Medal of Freedom from President
Barack Obama.
Maureen Dowd is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and
op-ed columnist who has written for The New York Times and
Time Magazine. Dowd covered four presidential campaigns
while serving as White House correspondent and was a
Pulitzer Prize finalist for national reporting in 1992. She
received the Pulitzer Prize for distinguished commentary in
1999 for her columns on the impeachment of Bill Clinton
Photo: Austin Hargrave after his affair with Monica Lewinsky.
Tom Hanks will appear on stage for one night only, Tuesday, January 29, 2019, in conversation with Maureen Dowd. His appearance is part of Angel Night, a special presentation for
our Angel supporters. We will be live streaming and recording this event so that all our Readers will be able to experience the incredible Tom Hanks!
Hanks will discuss his book Uncommon Type: Some Stories, a collection of seventeen surprising, intelligent and heartwarming stories showing that two-time Oscar winner Tom Hanks is
as talented a writer as he is an actor.
We will be live streaming and
All festival attendees will
recording this incredible event
receive a FREE copy of Tom
Please visit our website, rmwritersfest.org at 7pm on Tuesday, Hanks’ book, Uncommon Type
January 29, 2019, for a link to this event.
4
DOUGLAS BRINKLEY JON MEACHAM KARL ROVE BRET STEPHENS
PLUS, For the first time ever on the same stage
You watch them on TV every week, offering their opinions as scholars, historians, and political insiders. On Tuesday, January 29, 2019, we are pleased to bring you Douglas
Brinkley, Jon Meacham, Karl Rove and Bret Stephens together on stage for the first time, where they will discuss some of the most important and talked about topics of the
day. No matter which side of the aisle you are on, you can appreciate the informed insight and unique perspective each one brings to the critical issues facing our country. This
special event will be moderated by author and educator Geoffrey Cowan.
Angel Night dinner provided by
Angel Night events will be held at the Helene Galen Auditorium. The
Rancho Mirage Writers Festival thanks Helene Galen for the beautiful
refurbishment of the auditorium, the theater that author A. Scott
Berg calls “the best theater.”
5
Wednesday 8:30–9:15 am
Rancho Mirage Library & Observatory 1944: FDR and the Year that
Changed History
David Bryant and Jay Winik
World War II Wednesday 8:30–9:15 am
Sir Antony Beevor Jack London Room
Wednesday 8:30–9:15 am
John Steinbeck Room David Bryant will talk with best-selling author and
historian Jay Winik about the history of World War
Military historian and best-selling author Sir Antony Beevor will present an overview II told through the lens of an ailing FDR and the
of World War II. He will discuss the global aspect of the conflict and its many moral dilemma he faced trying to liberate Europe
complexities. Beevor’s unique contribution to the written history of the war is his focus and save the Jews from Hitler. Join Winik as he offers
on the human perspective—the fate of the individuals caught up in the war and their a fresh look at one of the twentieth century’s most
personal stories. pivotal years.
Photo: Geoff Pugh
“ There was no moment when
he unequivocally made World War
II about the vast human tragedy in
Nazi-controlled Europe, about the
calculated efforts to wipe an entire
people from the earth.”
Allied military personnel in Paris, celebrating end of World War II — Jay Winik on FDR
6
Anatomy of Terror Sh*tshow! The Country’s Collapsing
Ali Soufan and the Ratings Are Great!
Wednesday 8:30–9:15 am Charlie LeDuff
Joan Didion Room Wednesday 8:30–9:15 am
Anne Rice Room
Ali Soufan is a former FBI special agent
responsible for supervising and investigating Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Charlie LeDuff
significant terrorist cases. Soufan believes chronicled abandoned America for his television
that after bin Laden was killed al-Qaeda show The Americans, which was the basis for his latest
was no longer just an organization but a book Sh*tshow. LeDuff traveled across America and
potent message spreading across the world. discovered that people were universally angry with the
According to Soufan, understanding the government. With his unique and provocative style,
enemy on a human level is the best way to LeDuff will share some of the true stories of America’s
defeat them. Soufan will share his knowledge forgotten people.
of the inner workings of al-Qaeda, the
Islamic State and their spawn, and reveal
Photo: Associated Press how the spread of terror can be stopped.
The Hedgehog
Lynne Olson
Wednesday 8:30–9:15 am
Walt Disney Room
Lynne Olson has just published a fascinating new book about Marie-
Madeleine Fourcade, the highest-ranking female French Resistance fighter
“
of World War II. During the course of the war, Fourcade commanded
some 3,000 agents, which included ex-military officers, government clerks,
shopkeepers, fishermen, housewives, doctors, artists, plumbers, priests, Watching the unspooling of
members of the aristocracy, as well as France’s most celebrated child actor.
Join Olson to learn why Fourcade’s code name was the Hedgehog. With
America from the street corners
Patt Morrison. and the corner bars, listening to the
people’s desire for something new,
I was not surprised by the rise of
President Donald J. Trump.”
— Charlie LeDuff
7
Wednesday 9:30–10:15 am
Rancho Mirage Library & Observatory New England Noir
Douglas Brunt and Dennis Lehane
Wednesday 9:30–10:15 am
America in World War II Jack London Room
H.W. Brands
Meet one of America’s busiest writers. Dennis Lehane
Wednesday 9:30–10:15 am is the author of twelve novels, including New York
John Steinbeck Room Times best-sellers Gone Baby Gone, Mystic River, Shutter
America’s isolation from the war ended on December 7, 1941, when Japan staged a Island, The Given Day and Moonlight Mile, as well as
surprise attack on Pearl Harbor. President FDR urged a reluctant America to join the Coronado, a collection of short stories and a play. What
war and they did so in force. Historian, scholar and author H.W. Brands will discuss the you may not know is that Lehane is also a much-in-
events leading up to Pearl Harbor and how our involvement in the war changed American demand screenwriter of his own books as well as the
politics, the economy, the role of women and minorities and our relations with the world. popular TV series The Wire, Boardwalk Empire and
Mr. Mercedes. In addition, he is also a publisher with
his own imprint. Fellow New York Times best-selling
author Douglas Brunt talks with Lehane about his
multi-faceted career in writing and his latest best-seller
and soon to be major motion picture Since We Fell.
Photo: Gaby Gerster
“ In Greek tragedy, they fall
from great heights. In noir, they
fall from the curb.”
U.S. Navy Douglas SBD Dauntless naval scout plane and dive bomber flying patrol — Dennis Lehane
8
From Putin to the Virgin Mary and Colombia: The Third Man
Transitioning From Darkness to Light Lord Mandelson
Maureen Orth Wednesday 9:30–10:15 am
Wednesday 9:30–10:15 am Anne Rice Room
Joan Didion Room
Nicknamed the “Prince of Darkness,” Lord Mandelson
Maureen Orth’s award-winning career began as one of the first women writers gained a reputation as one of New Labour’s most ruthless
at Newsweek. Currently a special correspondent for Vanity Fair, she has profiled and media savvy figures after helping drive the party to
everyone from Vladimir Putin and Angela Merkel to Bruce Springsteen and power in 1997. Alongside Tony Blair, Mandelson was
Taylor Swift, as well as researching and writing groundbreaking pieces on at the heart of the team who sought to modernize the
Woody Allen and Michael Jackson, among others. Her wide-ranging work Labour Party. Lord Mandelson will discuss his best-
includes the investigation of serial killer Andrew Cunanan as well as a bestselling selling memoir The Third Man with David Bryant.
cover story for National Geographic on the Virgin Mary. Join Orth as she talks
about her life and career.
No Excuses: Confessions of a Serial Campaigner
Robert Shrum
Wednesday 9:30–10:15 am
Walt Disney Room
Robert Shrum, a former Democratic strategist, offers a behind-the-scenes
portrait of presidential campaigns from the past thirty years. He discusses
the political runs of figures such as George McGovern and John Kerry, while
offering insight into the personal experience of running for national office.
This is certainly a timely topic on the heels of the recent midterm elections.
“
Al Gore should have been President on 9/11.
If John Kerry had won, we’d be out of Iraq by
now. These things matter a lot more than I do.
I just wish I’d bent history a few more inches.
— Robert Schrum
Tony Blair and the Labour Party won a landslide victory
in the 1997 election
9
Wednesday 10:30–11:15 am
Rancho Mirage Library & Observatory April 1865
Jay Winik
Wednesday 10:30–11:15 am
Bringing Back the Dead: History, Memory, and Writing about World War II* Jack London Room
Rick Atkinson One month in 1865 witnessed a slew of events that
Wednesday 10:30–11:15 am changed America—from the fall of Richmond to
Walt Disney Room Lincoln’s assassination. April 1865 emerged as not
just the tale of the war’s denouement, but also the
The Guns at Last Light is the final volume in Rick Atkinson’s best-selling trilogy about the American role in the
story of the making of our nation. Jay Winik offers
liberation of Europe seventy-five years ago. Join Atkinson as he discusses the characters, the cost and the stupendous
a new look at the Civil War’s final days that will
national effort required to defeat fascism in 1944-45.
forever change the way we see the war’s end and the
nation’s new beginning.
“ History is rife with lessons
that how wars end is every bit as
crucial as why they start and how
they are waged.”
— Jay Winik, April 1865
American troops approaching Omaha Beach on D-Day
10 *Indicates change from printed programThe Art of the Crossfade The Last Republicans Sylvia, Queen of the Headhunters
Josh Kun David Bryant and Mark K. Updegrove Philip Eade
Wednesday 10:30–11:15 am Wednesday 10:30–11:15 am Wednesday 10:30–11:15 am
Joan Didion Room Walt Disney Room Anne Rice Room
In 2016, George W. Bush lamented privately that
he might be “the last Republican president.” Donald
Trump’s election marked the end of the Bushes’ hold
on the White House and a rejection of the Republican
principles of civility and international engagement
and leadership that the Bushes have long championed.
Presidential historian and president and CEO of the
LBJ Foundation Mark K. Updegrove will discuss the
Bush dynasty with David Bryant.
Josh Kun TEDx talk (photo: YouTube)
Josh Kun defies simple categorization and confounds
easy description. He is a musician, writer, curator,
cultural historian, MacArthur Fellow and USC professor
exploring the ways in which the arts and popular
culture are conduits for cross-cultural exchange. Kun’s
groundbreaking TEDx talk “The Art of the Crossfade”
uses the DJ’s crossfader as a metaphor for a new kind George Bush and his four sons, Neil, Jeb, George W.
of social thinking, action and justice. Kun and Mara and Marvin in 1970 (photo: Bob E. Daemmrich—Sygma/
Corbis)
Gladstone, associate curator at the Palm Springs Art
Museum, will explore these and other ideas.
“
What does it mean to crossfade?
To crossfade is to combine without
Biographer Philip Eade will introduce us to the
wild and debauched world of Sylvia Brooke, aka the
Ranee of Sarawak. Brooke, one of the more exotic and
erasing, to embrace the multiple outrageous figures of the twentieth century, was the
and not the singular, to understand wife of Sir Vyner Brooke, the last White Rajah, whose
family ruled the jungle kingdom of Sarawak on Borneo
all existence is co-existence... It’s for three generations and through two world wars.
when two become one without
ever ceasing to be two.
The Bush family in Kennebunkport, Maine, summer 1988
— Josh Kun (photo: Herb Swanson/AP)
11Wednesday 11:30am–12:15 pm
Rancho Mirage Library & Observatory Rise and Kill First
Ronen Bergman
Wednesday 11:30 am–12:15 pm
Les Parisiennes Jack London Room
Anne Sebba The Talmud says “If someone comes to kill you, rise up and kill him first.” This instinct
Wednesday 11:30 am–12:15 pm to take every measure, even the most aggressive, to defend the Jewish people is hardwired
John Steinbeck Room into Israel’s DNA. From the very beginning of Israel’s statehood in 1948, protecting the
nation from harm has been the responsibility of its intelligence community and armed
Paris in the 1940s was a place of fear, power, aggression, courage, deprivation and
services. Targeted assassinations is the one weapon in their vast arsenal that they have
secrets. While the men were either fighting at the front or captured, the women of Paris
relied upon to thwart the most serious threats. Come hear Israel’s best investigative
were left behind where they would come face to face with their German conquerors on
journalist, Ronen Bergman, as he shares the stories of successful and failed targeted
a daily basis. When the Nazis began rounding up Jews to ship to concentration camps,
assassinations, on enemies large and small.
the full horror of the war was brought home and the choice between collaboration and
resistance became unavoidable. Anne Sebba takes an in-depth look at the daily lives of
Parisian women during those dark times, many of whom faced life and death decisions
every day.
Photo: Serena Bolton
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Director of Mossad Yossi Cohen
(photo: Alster/Flash90)
12Steven Spielberg The Country Just Over the Fence Mrs. Astor
Molly Haskell Paul Theroux Meryl Gordon
Wednesday 11:30 am–12:15 pm Wednesday 11:30 am–12:15 pm Wednesday 11:30 am–12:15 pm
Joan Didion Room Walt Disney Room Anne Rice Room
“Everything about me is in my films,” Steven Spielberg Biographer Meryl Gordon recounts the story of Mrs.
has said. Taking this as a key to understanding the Brooke Astor, conjuring up a world nearly forgotten:
hugely successful movie maker, Molly Haskell and one of lavish wealth and secrets of the sort that have
Peter Bart will talk about Spielberg’s powerhouse hits engaged Americans from the era of Edith Wharton
as well as his lesser-known masterworks. They will to the decadent days of Truman Capote and Vanity
discuss how Spielberg’s uniquely evocative filmmaking Fair. Astor died at age 105 and spent her last years
and storytelling reveal the many ways in which his life, ensnared in scandal. Join Gordon as she recounts how
work and times are entwined. this fairytale turned into a nightmare.
Photo: Steve McCurry
Renowned travel writer Paul Theroux has journeyed
the length of the U.S.-Mexico border from Tijuana
to Matamoros to get a firsthand look at life along the
border. Theroux will share some of his experiences and
insights of life along that embattled 2000-mile line.
Anthony Marshall with his mother, Brooke Astor, center,
and his wife, Charlene Marshall (Photo: WIREIMAGE/
GETTY IMAGES)
OPENING
Photo: DreamWorks LU N C H E O N
12:15 pm: Join us outside for
a delicious boxed lunch of
your choice
The U.S.-Mexico border at Tijuana
(photo: Dominic Bracco II)
13Wednesday 1–1:45 pm
Rancho Mirage Library & Observatory Screaming from the Sky: Wernher von Braun, the Nazis
and V-2 Rockets
Douglas Brinkley
The Threat of Global Terrorism Wednesday 1–1:45 pm
Ronen Bergman, Ali Soufan and Dr. Erroll Southers Jack London Room
Wednesday 1–1:45 pm
John Steinbeck Room
It has been nearly 18 years since 9/11 and we continue to ask: are we winning the war
against terror? Many of the most seasoned leaders of al-Qaeda and ISIS have been
killed but their potent message continues to spread on social media and the Internet.
Join our experts Ronen Bergman, Ali Soufan and Dr. Erroll Southers as they
discuss terrorism’s continually shifting missions, messages, and means of mobilization.
Moderated by Michael Masters.
A V-2 (Vergeltungswaffe 2) rocket being launched
As the Allied troops raced to suppress the German V-2 missile campaign even before
it began, London was on constant high alert. Rushed by D-Day, Wernher von Braun
conducted rocket test MW 18014 on June 22, 1944, in which his V-2 crossed the
Kármán line—the boundary between Earth’s atmosphere and outer space, 62 miles
above sea level at an altitude of 109 miles—becoming the first man-made object to
reach outer space. Von Braun gloated—in a contention that would be vindicated
by history—that the space age was born that afternoon. The V-2 was being used to
destroy London when World War II came to an end. Luckily, von Braun was captured
by the U.S. Army and brought to work in El Paso and Huntsville on Cold War missile
technology. It was von Braun’s Saturn rocket which brought the Apollo astronauts
to the moon in 1969. Douglas Brinkley will tell us about this little known but
important part of the history of World War II.
The twin towers of the World Trade Center billow smoke after hijacked airliners crashed
into them early September 11, 2001 (photo: HENNY RAY ABRAMS/AFP/Getty Images)
14The Female Persuasion Don’t Stop The Presses
Meg Wolitzer Patt Morrison
Wednesday 1–1:45 pm Wednesday 1–1:45 pm
Joan Didion Room Anne Rice Room
Meg Wolitzer is the author of twelve best- Real news printed on real paper! Newspapers and a free
selling novels. Her newest book, The Female press were the cornerstone of the Founding Fathers’
Persuasion, is a timely yet timeless story that working model of democracy, and they need to remain
explores how men and women relate but is so. Whether read at the kitchen table, in the boardroom
more importantly about power. Find out out or on a laptop on the subway, newspapers—as has been
who inspired the character Greer Kadetsky said of them for more than a half-century—are “the
and her mentor, feminist legend Faith Frank, first draft of history.” Veteran journalist Patt Morrison
and why their story resonates so loudly in this will prove it, and then some.
age of the #metoo movement.
Photo: Nina Subin
The U.S. Army in World War II*
Rick Atkinson
Wednesday 1–1:45 pm
Walt Disney Room
Pulitzer Prize-winning author and historian Rick Atkinson talks with Van Gordon Sauter about the U.S. Army’s
transformation from well-intentioned amateurs to the most formidable fighting force of World War II. Atkinson is one
of America’s most respected historians whose prodigious research offers a level of detail and emphasis on the human
drama that deepens our understanding of the war and the lessons learned. This is a talk that is not to be missed!
Men of the U.S. 347th Infantry Regiment taking a meal break while en route to La Roche,
Belgium, January 1945 (photo: U.S. National Archives and Records Administration)
*Indicates change from printed program 15Wednesday 2–2:45 pm
Rancho Mirage Library & Observatory Two Men and a Microphone
Craig Johnson and Van Gordon Sauter
Wednesday 2–2:45 pm
Franklin & Winston: Roosevelt, Churchill, and the Art of Jack London Room
Leadership Please join Craig Johnson, the creator of the popular character Sheriff Walt Longmire,
Jon Meacham in conversation with Van Gordon Sauter. They will examine Johnson’s special blend of
Wednesday 2–2:45 pm literary, western and mystery fiction that has made his books so popular.
John Steinbeck Room
Franklin Roosevelt and Winston Churchill were the greatest leaders of “the Greatest
Generation.” Jon Meacham explores the fascinating relationship between the two
men who piloted the free world to victory in World War II. It was a crucial friendship,
and a unique one—a president and a prime minister spending enormous amounts
of time together confronting tyranny and terror. Roosevelt and Churchill built a
victorious alliance amid cataclysmic events and occasionally conflicting interests.
Photo: Charlie Rose Photo: guillaumepaumier.com, CC-BY
“
Once, I asked her for a water while she was pissed at
me, and she brought me a glass full of ice and
said ‘wait.’
— Sheriff Walt Longmire
Winston Churchill and Franklin Roosevelt circa 1940 (photo: KEYSTONE-FRANCE/
Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)
16Our Mothers’ War The Worlds We Seldom See The President Will See You Now
Emily Yellin Pico Iyer Peggy Grande
Wednesday 2–2:45 pm Wednesday 2–2:45 pm Wednesday 2–2:45 pm
Joan Didion Room Walt Disney Room Anne Rice Room
Emily Yellin will speak about her book Our Mothers’ Devoted Reagan insider Peggy Grande will share
War: American Women at Home and at the Front During behind-the-scene stories, intimate moments and
World War II. Beginning with her own mother’s insights into one of America’s most beloved presidents.
experience in the Red Cross, Yellin will examine the Grande started in the office of Ronald Reagan as
involvement of women during the war, in activities a college student and earned a coveted role as the
ranging from manufacturing to undercover operations, president’s executive assistant. Grande reminds us why
and how World War II forever transformed the way when Ronald Reagan was president, we not only loved
women participate in American society. ourselves but also loved America and the American
values he represented: faith, optimism and patriotism.
Pico Iyer and the Dalai Lama
Having covered the forgotten corners of the world
for 36 years now, Pico Iyer—author of twelve books,
biographer of the Dalai Lama, three-time TED speaker
and constant traveler—shares human stories and
unexpected moments from places we usually only read
about, and asks whether in the age of information we
may actually know less about our global neighbors than
ever before? Photo: American Public Television
“ A person susceptible to
‘wanderlust’ is not so much
addicted to movement as
“
Ronald and Nancy Reagan were
genuine people, not mythical
characters. They lived the values
committed to transformation.”
they spoke of ... they saw people
— Pico Iyer
for who they were, but they also
saw the best in them, and they
always saw the best in our country
and its unlimited potential.
— Peggy Grande
17Wednesday 3–3:45 pm
Rancho Mirage Library & Observatory First Knight
Sir Derek Jacobi
Wednesday 3–3:45 pm
The 75th Anniversary of D-Day Jack London Room
Rick Atkinson, Sir Antony Beevor and Douglas Brinkley Please join award-winning stage, screen and television
Wednesday 3–3:45 pm actor Sir Derek Jacobi and fellow thespian Laurence
John Steinbeck Room Luckinbill as they look back at Sir Derek’s six decades
in acting. Jacobi is a founding member of the Royal
June 6, 2019, marks the 75th anniversary of Operation Neptune, widely known as D-Day. We commemorate that
Theater in London and breakout star of Robert Graves’
historic event with a discussion that promises to reopen the argument of how, when and where to invade Europe. Our
I, Claudius. Jacobi has worked with all of the great
panel consists of Pulitzer Prize-winning war historian Rick Atkinson, World War II historian Sir Antony Beevor and
English actors, including Sir Laurence Olivier, Peter
historian Douglas Brinkley. All three have written extensively about the war and closely examined the events which
O’Toole, Sir John Guilgud and Sir Ian McKellen.
led to the disputed choice of Normandy as the invasion site. This discussion will help reveal some of the conflicts and
solutions that finally ended the war. Moderated by Susan Eisenhower.
Derek Jacobi in the title role in I Claudius
(photo: Walter Oleksy)
American reinforcements arrive on the beaches of Normandy (photo: Associated Press)
18Since We Fell Geoff Dyer Talks with Dr. Khoi Le Ray & Joan
Dennis Lehane Geoff Dyer Lisa Napoli
Wednesday 3–3:45 pm Wednesday 3–3:45 pm Wednesday 3–3:45 pm
Joan Didion Room Walt Disney Room Anne Rice Room
Genre-bending author Geoff Dyer and cardiologist
and book lover Dr. Khoi Le will examine Dyer’s
unusual writing style, which mixes fiction, travel and
art criticism. Dyer’s topics include John Berger, jazz,
World War I, photography, D.H. Lawrence and yoga.
A recent transplant from London to L.A., Dyer has not
lost his British propensity for self-deprecating humor
or, thankfully, his unique blend of wonder and irony.
Dennis Lehane’s latest novel, Since We Fell, is his first
written from a female perspective. Rachel Childs is a
former journalist who, after an on-air breakdown, now
lives as a virtual shut-in. While this is ultimately a story Ray and Joan Kroc at a San Diego Padres game in 1980;
about a marriage, it has been described as a Hitchcockian Kroc owned the team at the time (photo: Getty Images)
thriller and is currently being made into a motion picture.
Lisa Napoli has written a book on Ray and Joan Kroc
Come hear Lehane, who has been called the king of the
of the McDonald’s empire that is part business story
diabolical thriller and New England noir, at his best.
and part love story, but mostly it’s a fascinating portrait
of Joan. Napoli will describe her five years researching
Joan’s humble beginnings to her life after Ray when
she became one of the greatest philanthropists of her
era, giving away nearly $3 billion to causes great and
small. With Patt Morrison.
Photo: Matt Stuart
“
Whatever else might be said about
my talents as a reader, my ability to
quit is undisputed.
— Geoff Dyer
19Thursday 8:30–9:15 am
Rancho Mirage Library & Observatory Andrew Jackson Then and Now
H.W. Brands and Jon Meacham
Thursday 8:30–9:15 am
Israel’s Mossad Jack London Room
Ronen Bergman and Bret Stephens Andrew Jackson had remained one of the United States’ most popular presidents until
Thursday 8:30–9:15 am his history was reviewed from the point of view of modern values. President Trump cast
John Steinbeck Room a favorable light on Jackson last year with his flattering references to the 7th president.
Two of the country’s most accomplished presidential historians and commentators,
The Talmud says “If someone comes to kill you, rise up and kill him first.” This
H.W. Brands and Jon Meacham, analyze Jackson’s remarkable and controversial life
instinct to take every measure, even the most aggressive, to defend the Jewish people
and Jackson’s relevance to the emerging Trump presidency and today’s politics.
is hardwired into Israel’s DNA. From the very beginning of Israel’s statehood in
1948, protecting the nation from harm has been the responsibility of its intelligence
community and armed services. Targeted assassinations is the one weapon in their
vast arsenal that they have relied upon to thwart the most serious threats. Come hear
Israel’s best investigative journalist, Ronen Bergman, as he shares stories of successful
and failed targeted assassinations, on Israel’s enemies large and small. Bergman is
joined by Bret Stephens, an op-ed columnist at The New York Times and former
editor-in-chief of The Jerusalem Post.
Image: United States Library of Congress
20Lean and Fit Cry Eden
Dr. Joseph Scherger Hal Gershowitz
Thursday 8:30–9:15 am Thursday 8:30–9:15 am
Joan Didion Room Anne Rice Room
Dr. Joseph Scherger’s career in family medicine has spanned 40 years. He has always included Noah Greenspan, a successful, young Jewish-American
preventive medicine and wellness in his medical practice. In 2013, Scherger was introduced to businessman; his wife, Palestinian-American journalist
functional medicine, a focus on treating the causes of disease rather than just treating disease with Alexandra Salaman; and their young son, Amos, are
drugs and procedures. Dr. Scherger is here to share what he has learned and how best to live a healthier caught in a maelstrom of intrigue against the backdrop
life by making the right choices. Preeminent Eisenhower Health cardiologist and health enthusiast of Middle East war, recession in America, and a
{ }
Dr. Khoi Le joins Dr. Scherger, as they share their insights on how to live longer and healthier. terrifying terrorist plot against them. Cry Eden, a feast
of historical detail and nail-biting suspense, follows
“Our bodies did not evolve to eat Heirs of Eden and The Eden Legacy to conclude author
carbohydrates like we do today, being over Hal Gershowitz’s Eden Trilogy.
60% of our daily food intake in calories.
When we ate the foods of nature, root
vegetables, whole fruit, nuts, wild meat,
eggs and fish, the dominant nutrient
was fat followed by protein and then
carbohydrates, only about 15% of calories.”
— Dr. Joseph Scherger
Citizens of London
Lynne Olson
Thursday 8:30–9:15 am
Walt Disney Room
Lynne Olson reveals the behind-the-scenes story of
how the United States forged its wartime alliance
with Britain, told from the perspective of three key
American players in London: Edward R. Murrow,
Averell Harriman and John Gilbert Winant. Olson
will share the personal journeys of these men who
helped convince a cautious Franklin Roosevelt and
reluctant American public to back the British at a
critical time. With David Bryant.
Milkman in London October 9, 1940 (photo: Fred Morley)
21Thursday 9:30–10:15 am
Rancho Mirage Library & Observatory Arnhem: The Battle for the Bridges
Sir Antony Beevor
Thursday 9:30–10:15 am
The Soul of America Jack London Room
Jon Meacham Prize-winning historian and internationally best-selling
Thursday 9:30–10:15 am author Sir Antony Beevor recreates the devastating
John Steinbeck Room airborne battle of Arnhem, from the dropping of the
first troops on September 17th to the evacuation of
Join Festival favorite Jon Meacham as he discusses his important new book, The Soul of America: A Battle for Our Better
the remnants of the British 1st Airborne Division eight
Angels. In our current climate of partisan fury, Meacham shows us how the “better angels of our nature” have repeatedly
days later. The outline of the story of Arnhem may be
won the day. Please join him for a much needed moment of optimism and faith in our country and fellow citizens.
familiar, but Beevor’s unearthing of neglected sources
will bring to life every aspect of the battle.
Photo: EFE
“ The war between the ideal and the real, between what’s right and
what’s convenient, between the larger good and personal interest is the
contest that unfolds in the soul of every American.”
— Jon Meacham, The Soul of America
Anti-aircraft gunners watching an aerial battle in Belgium
22The Big Ones Springfield Confidential: Jokes, Jay Winik Talks with David Bryant
Dr. Lucy Jones Secrets, and Outright Lies from a Jay Winik
Thursday 9:30–10:15 am Lifetime Writing for The Simpsons Thursday 9:30–10:15 am
Joan Didion Room Mike Reiss Anne Rice Room
Thursday 9:30–10:15 am
Walt Disney Room
Join four-time Emmy winner Mike Reiss for this
humorous look at the writing and making of the
legendary Fox series The Simpsons, one of the most
revered artistic achievements in television history.
Reiss, who has worked on The Simpsons continuously
since episode one in 1989, will share stories, scandals
and gossip about working with America’s most iconic
cartoon family ever.
Jay Winik is the author of the #1 New York Times best-
seller April 1865 and the New York Times best-sellers
1944 and The Great Upheaval. Join Winik, renowned
for his creative approach to history, and David Bryant
in conversation.
San Francisco April 1906 after earthquake and fire
(photo: Detroit Publishing Company)
Earthquakes, floods, tsunamis, hurricanes and volcanoes
all stem from the same forces that give our planet life. It
is only when these forces exceed our ability to withstand
them that they become disasters. Together they have
shaped our cities and their architecture; elevated leaders
and toppled governments and influenced the way we
think, feel, fight, unite and pray. Leading seismologist and
architect of The Great Shakeout! Dr. Lucy Jones offers
a bracing look at some of the world’s greatest natural
disasters, the reverberations of which we continue to feel
today. With Kathleen Brown.
Photo: FOX Photo: Carl Caruso
23Thursday 10:30–11:15 am
Rancho Mirage Library & Observatory Anatomy of Terror
Ali Soufan
Thursday 10:30–11:15 am
The World Today Jack London Room
Anne Applebaum, Maureen Dowd and Karl Rove Ali Soufan is a former FBI special agent responsible for
Thursday 10:30–11:15 am supervising and investigating significant terrorist cases.
John Steinbeck Room Soufan believes that after bin Laden was killed al-Qaeda
was no longer just an organization but a potent message
Please join our distinguished panelists Anne Applebaum, Maureen Dowd and Karl Rove as they discuss the current
spreading across the world. According to Soufan,
state of affairs in the world today. Moderated by Bret Stephens.
understanding the enemy on a human level is the best
way to defeat them. Soufan will share his knowledge of
the inner workings of al-Qaeda, the Islamic State and
their spawn, and reveal how the spread of terror can be
stopped. With Michael Masters.
Photo: Laura Cutri
“ Unfortunately, on
May 2, 2011, we killed bin Laden,
but we didn’t kill his message. His
message lives.”
— Ali Soufan
2450 Years of Travel Van Gordon Sauter and Robert
Pico Iyer, Steve McCurry and Paul Theroux Shrum in Conversation
Thursday 10:30–11:15 am Van Gordon Sauter and Robert Shrum
Joan Didion Room Thursday 10:30–11:15 am
Anne Rice Room
For decades now, the tireless essayist Pico Iyer, the legendary photographer Steve McCurry and the prolific novelist
Paul Theroux have been circling the globe, recording wonders and secrets everywhere from Easter Island to Afghanistan.
Join three of the world’s most seasoned and indomitable travelers in a first-time-ever meeting to discuss how the world
is changing, what we fail to understand about it and why travel is more essential than ever.
A life-long Republican and conservative meets a die-
hard Democrat and former political strategist in the
aftermath of the midterm elections. Join them for what
promises to be a lively debate about the direction of
our country.
A Short Talk about the Longest Day
Rick Atkinson and Sir Antony Beevor
Thursday 10:30–11:15 am
Walt Disney Room
Rick Atkinson and Sir Antony Beevor discuss the Allied invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944, and the effort by
historians during the past 75 years to understand what happened on that momentous day.
Landing craft delivering troops to Omaha Beach
25Thursday 11:30am–12:15 pm
Rancho Mirage Library & Observatory From Russia with Love
Anne Applebaum and Garry Kasparov
Thursday 11:30 am–12:15 pm
America’s Challenges Jack London Room
Karl Rove With Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russia’s interference in the 2016 presidential
Thursday 11:30 am–12:15 pm election and the subsequent turmoil, this discussion about Russia could not be more
John Steinbeck Room timely or important. Anne Applebaum has written extensively on the former Soviet
Union and Russia. Garry Kasparov is a Russian pro-democracy leader, a global
Karl Rove offers insightful analysis and predictions about the current heated debates
human rights activist, a chess grandmaster and a former world chess champion. Susan
in Washington, the nation’s political course and the bigger challenges America faces.
Eisenhower, an expert on foreign relations, space and energy policy, has also long
been a keen observer and commentator about U.S.-Soviet and Russian relations.
Karl Rove at the 2018 Festival (photo: Lani Garfield)
“
As people do better, they start voting like
Republicans—unless they have too much education
and vote Democratic, which proves there can
be too much of a good thing.
— Karl Rove Kremlin (photo: Julie Mineeva)
26The Feather Thief Writers on Writing Bunny Mellon
Kirk Wallace Johnson Douglas Brunt and Dennis Lehane Meryl Gordon
Thursday 11:30 am–12:15 pm Thursday 11:30 am–12:15 pm Thursday 11:30 am–12:15 pm
Joan Didion Room Walt Disney Room Anne Rice Room
Please join two New York Times best-selling authors
Douglas Brunt and Dennis Lehane as they share the
art and craft of their writing process. Book lover Dr.
Khoi Le moderates this conversation about the the
inspiration and creative process that define a writer’s life.
Kirk Wallace Johnson, author of The Feather Thief,
Photo: Horst/Vogue-Conde Nast Archive
will recount the bizarre but true story of a grand heist
that involved the British Museum of Natural History, Meryl Gordon’s newest biography is on the life of
a flautist, 299 rare bird skins and the search for their Bunny Mellon, the style icon and American aristocrat
recovery. Johnson will take us on his sprawling six-year who designed the White House Rose Garden for her
investigation around the globe in search of the feather Photo: Lani Garfield close friend Jacqueline Kennedy. Mellon served as a
thief, the missing skins and some measure of justice. living witness to Twentieth Century American history,
Learn why this true crime story is ultimately one about operating in the highest-level arenas of politics,
the nature of obsession. diplomacy, art and fashion.
{ “Nothing should be noticed...
Nothing should stand out.”
— Rachel “Bunny” Mellon on decorating {
“ Narrative becomes the way
you make sense of chaos. That’s
how you focus the world. It’s the
LU N C H
12:15 pm: Join us outside for
only reason you should ever try a delicious boxed lunch of
this writing job.” your choice
— Dennis Lehane
27Thursday 1–1:45 pm
Rancho Mirage Library & Observatory The Migrant Songbook
Josh Kun
Thursday 1–1:45 pm
Bret Stephens Jack London Room
Bret Stephens Enjoy a mix of music, history and storytelling, as Josh Kun explores how forced
Thursday 1–1:45 pm migration, asylum seeking, and detention have changed the sound of the twenty-first
John Steinbeck Room century. From his research and reporting in Los Angeles, Tijuana, Berlin, London and
Lampedusa, Kun offers music as a guide for understanding the complexities of the
contemporary walled world.
{ }
“Music and musicians from Latin America are
inextricable from the development of Los Angeles
as a modern musical city. The musical life of this
dispersed and dynamic metropolis has been and
continues to be shaped by immigrant musicians
and migrating, cross-border musical cultures.”
— Josh Kun
Photo: Richard Lui/The Desert Sun
Please join Bret Stephens, winner of the Pulitzer Prize for distinguished commentary
and a New York Times op-ed columnist, as he shares his thoughts about the world today.
28A Wonderful Life Geoff Dyer* LBJ’s Legacy
Maureen Orth and Patt Morrison Geoff Dyer Mark K. Updegrove
Thursday 1–1:45 pm Thursday 1–1:45 pm Thursday 1–1:45 pm
Joan Didion Room Walt Disney Room Anne Rice Room
Maureen Orth’s award-winning career began as one of LBJ could have gone down in history as one of the
the first women writers at Newsweek. Currently a special greatest U.S. presidents, but the realities of the war
correspondent for Vanity Fair, she has profiled everyone in Vietnam undermined his credibility and ultimately
from Vladimir Putin and Angela Merkel to Bruce his electability. No one is better suited to inform us
Springsteen and Taylor Swift, as well as researching and about LBJ than Mark K. Updegrove, president and
writing groundbreaking pieces on Woody Allen and CEO of the LBJ Foundation and former director of the
Michael Jackson, among others. Her wide-ranging work LBJ Presidential Library. His books on LBJ and both
includes the investigation of serial killer Andrew Cunanan Presidents Bush afford exceptional insights into this
as well as a bestselling cover story for National Geographic enigmatic president. With Laurence Luckinbill.
on the Virgin Mary. Join Orth as she talks about her
wonderful life and career with Patt Morrison.
Photo: Marzena Pogorzaly
In this illustrated talk Geoff Dyer explains how (First
World) War memorials, a (Second World) War film and
a (present-day) warship have inspired three of his books:
The Missing of the Somme, Broadsword Calling Danny
Boy (about Where Eagles Dare) and Another Great Day
at Sea (about his time as an unlikely writer in residence
aboard the aircraft carrier the USS George H.W. Bush).
Photo: Pictorial Press Ltd/Alamy Stock Photo
29
*Indicates change from printed programThursday 2–2:45 pm
Rancho Mirage Library & Observatory Heirs of the Founders
H.W. Brands
Thursday 2–2:45 pm
Fight for Liberty Jack London Room
Anne Applebaum, Garry Kasparov and Jon Meacham In the early days of the nineteenth century, three
Thursday 2–2:45 pm young men strode onto the national stage, elected to
John Steinbeck Room Congress at a moment when the Founding Fathers
were beginning to retire to their farms. Daniel Webster
The world is in the midst of a modern political crisis fueled by fear, distrust and confusion. Disturbing global trends
spoke for the North and its business class. Henry Clay
such as populism and authoritarianism are imperiling the basic tenets of liberal democracy. The Renew Democracy
of Kentucky embodied the hopes of the rising West.
Initiative (RDI) came into existence as an effort to reinvigorate democracy and combat the extremism that deforms
South Carolina’s John Calhoun defended the South and
public debate. The goal is to remind, to educate and to advocate for liberty. RDI members and contributors Anne
slavery. Together this second generation of American
Applebaum, Garry Kasparov and Jon Meacham will examine our country’s need to continue to fight for liberty.
founders took the country to war, battled one another
Moderated by Bret Stephens.
for the presidency, and tasked themselves with finishing
the work the Founders had left undone. H.W. Brands
brings to life the little-known drama of the dangerous
early years of our democracy.
The Declaration of Independence, 1819 (painting by John Trumbull) World War II Poster
30Two Women and a Joan and Ray Kroc
Microphone Lisa Napoli
Nell Scovell and Meg Wolitzer Thursday 2–2:45 pm
Thursday 2–2:45 pm Anne Rice Room
Joan Didion Room
Lisa Napoli has written a book on Ray and Joan Kroc
Writer and producer Nell Scovell and best- of the McDonald’s empire that is part business story
selling novelist Meg Wolitzer discuss Wolitzer’s and part love story, but mostly it’s a fascinating portrait
twelfth and latest novel. The Female Persuasion of Joan. Napoli will describe her five years researching
is a timely yet timeless story that explores how Joan’s humble beginnings to her life after Ray when she
men and women relate but is more importantly became one of the greatest philanthropists of her era,
about power. Find out out who inspired the giving away nearly $3 billion to causes great and small.
character Greer Kadetsky and her mentor,
feminist legend Faith Frank, and why their story
resonates so loudly in this age of the #metoo
Photo: Robert Trachtenberg Photo: Nina Subin movement.
Last Hope Island
Lynn Olsen
Thursday 2–2:45 pm
Walt Disney Room
When the Nazi blitzkrieg rolled over
continental Europe in the early days of
World War II, the city of London became
Ray and Joan Kroc
a refuge for the governments and armed
“
forces of six occupied nations who escaped
there to continue the fight. Britain was
the last European democracy still holding He [Ray] would be remembered
out against Hitler and became known to for hamburgers, as it should be.
occupied countries as “Last Hope Island.” But she, at least, wanted the name
Join Lynne Olson and Susan Eisenhower
for a fascinating look back at those dark days.
Kroc to be remembered
for giving.
— Lisa Napoli, Ray & Joan
31Thursday 3–3:45 pm
Rancho Mirage Library & Observatory Les Parisiennes
Anne Sebba
Thursday 3–3:45 pm
Governor Jerry Brown and Maureen Dowd Jack London Room
Governor Jerry Brown and Maureen Dowd Paris in the 1940s was a place of fear, power, aggression, courage, deprivation and
Thursday 3–3:45 pm secrets. While the men were either fighting at the front or captured, the women of Paris
John Steinbeck Room were left behind where they would come face to face with their German conquerors on
a daily basis. When the Nazis began rounding up Jews to ship to concentration camps,
the full horror of the war was brought home and the choice between collaboration and
resistance became unavoidable. Anne Sebba takes an in-depth look at the daily lives of
Parisian women during those dark times, many of whom faced life and death decisions
every day. With Susan Eisenhower.
Photo: Mark Sullivan/Wireimage/Getty
Governor Jerry Brown, California’s only four-term governor, will make his first public
appearance following the end of his term at the 2019 Rancho Mirage Writers Festival. He
will be joined by Maureen Dowd, winner of the Pulitzer Prize for distinguished commentary
and a New York Times op-ed columnist. Brown and Dowd have known each other for decade
and the chemistry between the politician and journalist promises an engaging conversation.
{ “My principles are simple. Protect the earth.
Serve the people, and Explore the universe.”
— Governor Jerry Brown }
Occupied Paris during World War II
32Funny Friends Dish on Hollywood Visual Story Telling The Patt and Van Show
Mike Reiss and Nell Scovell Mara Gladstone and Steve McCurry Patt Morrison and Van Gordon Sauter
Thursday 3–3:45 pm Thursday 3–3:45 pm Thursday 3–3:45 pm
Joan Didion Room Walt Disney Room Anne Rice Room
Steve McCurry has been an iconic voice in contemporary
photography for over thirty years, with scores of magazine
and book covers, a dozen books and countless exhibitions
around the world to his name. His work spans conflicts,
vanishing cultures, ancient traditions and contemporary
culture alike—yet always retains the human element
that made his image Afghan Girl “the most recognized
photograph” in the history of National Geographic.
Join McCurry and associate curator at Palm Springs Art
Museum Mara Gladstone as they discuss the power of
visual storytelling.
Photo: Robert Trachtenberg
Two longtime friends and journalists, Patt Morrison of
the Los Angeles Times and Van Gordon Sauter, former
Mike Reiss and Nell Scovell met in 1987 on It’s Garry president of CBS News, sit down to chat about the media,
Shandling’s Show and have remained friends since. They news, the evaporation of American civility, meritorious
worked together on The Simpsons and have written for dogs and other pressing issues of the day. They will also
the biggest names in comedy including Johnny Carson discuss, hopefully with civility, the things about which
(him), David Letterman (her), Miss Piggy (her) and they disagree. Morrison is the author of Don’t Stop the
ALF (him). Come for a joke-filled discussion on pop Presses and Sauter is the author of Tales of Sunset Strip.
culture, comedy and maybe a little magic.
Photo: Lani Garfield
Photo: Steve McCurry
33Friday 8:30–9:15 am
Rancho Mirage Library & Observatory
Homegrown Violent Extremism
Dr. Erroll Southers
Friday 8:30–9:15 am
John Steinbeck Room
Homegrown Violent Extremism challenges how Americans think about
terrorism, recruitment and the homegrown threat. Security and public
policy expert Dr. Erroll Southers examines post-9/11 homegrown
violent extremism—what it is, the conditions enabling its existence and
approaches that can reduce the risk. Dr. Southers will share essential
information for communities, security practitioners and policymakers
Dr. Southers as a member on how violent extremists exploit vulnerabilities in their communities
of the FBI SWAT team
and will offer approaches to put security theory into practice.
The President Will See
You Now
Peggy Grande
Friday 8:30–9:15 am
Jack London Room
Devoted Reagan insider Peggy Grande will share
behind-the-scene stories, intimate moments
“
and insights into one of America’s most beloved
presidents. Grande started in the office of He lived a life of respect
Ronald Reagan as a college student and earned a and kindness and graciousness
coveted role as the president’s executive assistant.
and gentlemanly manners and
Grande reminds us why when Ronald Reagan
was president, we not only loved ourselves but thoughtfulness all the time,
also loved America and the American values he regardless of whether or not he
represented: faith, optimism and patriotism. thought someone was watching.”
With Susan Eisenhower. Photo: U.S. National Archives and Records Administration
— Peggy Grande on Ronald Reagan
34Detroit: An American Autopsy The Feather Thief
Charlie LeDuff Kirk Wallace Johnson
Friday 8:30–9:15 am Friday 8:30–9:15 am
Joan Didion Room Walt Disney Room
Back in his broken hometown, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Charlie LeDuff
searched the ruins of Detroit for clues to his family’s troubled past. Once the richest city
in America, Detroit became one of the nation’s poorest. Once the vanguard of America’s
machine age, Detroit was for a long time America’s capital for unemployment, illiteracy,
dropouts and foreclosures. LeDuff set out to uncover what destroyed his city, and what
he discovered was an unbelievable story of a hard town in a rough time filled with some
of the strangest and strongest people our country has to offer.
“
Since its founding,
Detroit has been a place
of perpetual flames.
Three times the city
has suffered race riots Photo: Birmingham Museums
and three times the
Kirk Wallace Johnson will recount the bizarre but true story of a grand heist that
city has burned to the involved the British Natural History Museum, a flautist, 299 rare bird skins and the
ground. The city’s flag search for their recovery. Johnson will take us on his sprawling six-year investigation
acknowledges as much. around the globe in search of the feather thief, the missing skins and some measure of
justice. With Douglas Brunt.
Speramus Meliora;
Resurget Cineribus: We
hope for better things;
it shall rise from the
ashes.
— Charlie LeDuff, Detroit
Photo: Natural History Museum
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