The Better Angels Society and Georgetown University Partner for Event with Ken Burns to Encourage Open Dialogue

The discussion, “Franklin and Diplomacy”, moderated by Judy Woodruff, featuring Ken Burns, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, U.S. Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns, now available HERE.

Washington, DC – March 23, 2022 – Today, The Better Angels Society and Georgetown University partnered to host an event with Ken Burns designed to encourage open, civil dialogue through the lens of history. The event, moderated by Judy Woodruff and airing on March 26 at 8PM ET on WETA, will feature Ken Burns alongside former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and U.S. Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns to discuss Benjamin Franklin’s central role in early American diplomacy and how his impact can still be seen in the present.

Registration is open for the free virtual event here. The conversation began airing on select PBS stations on March 22 and will be available online through PBS starting today, March 23.

“Bringing together people with different viewpoints for intellectual, stimulating conversation that’s grounded in history can help us understand the world we’re living in today,” said Ken Burns. “I’m grateful to The Better Angels Society and Georgetown University for providing an avenue to bring together public servants to engage in civil conversations about the contemporary challenges we face through the lens of history.” The panel discussion is part of a series of “Conversations on Franklin” that are taking place prior to the premiere of Burns’s new two-part, four-hour documentary, BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, premiering April 4-5, 2022 on PBS. To register for the conversations –– and view archived ones –– visit here.

“We’re grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with The Better Angels Society and Ken Burns as together we explore the challenges facing our nation,” said John J. DeGioia, President of Georgetown University. “We look forward to learning from Ambassador Burns’ and Secretary Rice’s invaluable reflections and expertise in this special PBS event.” 

“Our goal at The Better Angels Society is to educate, engage and provoke thoughtful discussion among people of every political persuasion and ideology,” said Courtney Chapin, Executive Director of The Better Angels Society. “This conversation does just that.”

Secretary Condoleezza Rice served as Secretary of State from 2005 to 2009 and National Security Advisor from 2001 to 2005 under former President George W. Bush. She currently serves as the Director of the Hoover Institution at Stanford University.

Ambassador Nicholas Burns serves as the U.S. Ambassador to China. He is on public service leave from John F. Kennedy School of Government, where he is a professor of diplomacy and international relations. In addition to his current role, Ambassador Burns has also served under President H.W. Bush and President Bill Clinton.

Anchor and Managing Editor of PBS NEWSHOUR Judy Woodruff will be moderating the conversation. Since 1976 she has been a leader in cable, network, and public broadcast news, covering every presidential election and convention for the past 48 years, and moderating several U.S. presidential debates.