7 PM Dinner and Conversation in the Great Hall
8 PM David Rubenstein and Evan Thomas thought exchange
Mr. Rubenstein is an original signer of The Giving Pledge; the host of The David Rubenstein Show, Bloomberg Wealth with David Rubenstein, and Iconic America: Our Symbols and Stories with David Rubenstein; and the author of The American Story, How to Lead, The American Experiment, and How to Invest.
Evan Thomas is the author of eleven books, including The Wise Men (with Walter Isaacson), The Man to See, The Very Best Men, Robert Kennedy, John Paul Jones, Sea of Thunder, The War Lovers, Ike’s Bluff, Being Nixon, and First: Sandra Day O’Connor. John Paul Jones, Sea of Thunder, Being Nixon, and First were all New York Times bestsellers. Thomas was a writer, correspondent, and editor for thirty-three years at Time and Newsweek, including ten years (1986–96) as Newsweek’s Washington bureau chief. He has appeared on many TV and radio talk shows, including Meet the Press, CBS Morning News, Morning Joe, and The Colbert Report. Thomas taught writing and journalism at Harvard and Princeton, where, from 2007 to 2014, he was Ferris Professor of Journalism.
His latest book, Road to Surrender, about the last two weeks of the Pacific War, was published by Random House in May 2023.
Kids are invited to enjoy Story Times, STEM activities, Crafts, and more while parents enjoy each other’s company over cocktails and light bites. The events will take place at the Atheneum Garden, Weezie Library for children, Learning Lab, and Great Hall.
Two concerts will be offered and a summer garden party with drinks and a festive food spread. Secure sponsorship early to guarantee seating at either the early or late show.
Lori McKenna
On her latest release, The Balladeer, Lori McKenna offers her most uplifting and uptempo album in a catalog that spans more than 20 years. Her previous album, The Tree, was nominated for “Album of the Year” at the 2019 Americana Music Awards and received widespread critical acclaim, including landing on several “Best of 2018” lists by Entertainment Weekly, Paste, Slate, The A.V. Club, the Washington Post and Rolling Stone. In 2016, McKenna’s album The Bird & The Rifle was nominated for three Grammy awards as well as three Americana Awards.
In addition to her career as a solo artist, McKenna continues to enjoy tremendous success as one of the music industry’s most in-demand songwriters. In 2017, she became the first woman ever to win the Country Music Association’s Song of the Year award two years in a row. She also won back-to-back Grammys for Best Country Song for “Girl Crush,” performed by Little Big Town, and “Humble and Kind,” performed by Tim McGraw. She won her third Best Country Song Grammy for co-writing “Crowded Table” with Brandi Carlile and Natalie Hemby, performed by the Highwomen. Moreover, she became the first female to ever win Songwriter of the Year at the Academy of Country Music Awards in 2017.
In addition to writing songs for a multitude of award-winning artists including Hunter Hayes, Faith Hill, Miranda Lambert, Little Big Town, Reba McEntire, Tim McGraw and Carrie Underwood, McKenna also co-wrote “Always Remember Us This Way,” which was featured in the Academy Award-winning 2018 film “A Star Is Born.” She was nominated for a Grammy for Best Country Song for co-writing “I Bet You Think About Me (Taylor’s Version) (From The Vault),” performed by Taylor Swift.
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