2005 Symposium

The 2005 Bradley Center for Philanthropy and Civic Renewal Annual Symposium, at The Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Washington, D.C., was on “Vision and Philanthropy.”  A group of 20 nationally prominent intellectuals, commentators, activists, and philanthropists explored what the conservative vision for America is and how philanthropy can best promote it.  About 150 people, most of them also prominent thinkers and writers themselves, attended.

“We often hear that the key to conservatism’s success in the policy world is that it has the ability to get beyond a litany of isolated policy proposals and instead to offer the American people a unified, coherent vision of the public interest,” according to Hudson Institute Senior Fellow and Bradley Center Director William A. Schambra. “Furthermore, we often hear that the largest conservative foundations have contributed to this success through consistent, long-term support of projects furthering that coherent vision.”

In many various contexts, the symposium tested whether these propositions have been, are, and will continue to be true.  Among other things, the short papers prepared by many participants for it and the discussion that occurred at it covered the proper role of government in America’s democratic-capitalist system, the right role of the U.S. in the world, the state of American popular culture, and the status of religion in public life.

It was moderated by Hudson Senior Fellow Amy A. Kass.  The keynote address was delivered by Peter Wehner, Director of The White House’s Office of Strategic Initiatives.

All of the papers and a transcript of the day’s entire proceedings are available in a booklet that can be obtained for free from the Center online or in “hard-copy” format by writing:

Bradley Center for Philanthropy and Civic Renewal
Hudson Institute
1015 15th Street, N.W.
Sixth Floor
Washington, D.C. 20005