From August 3-5th, 2023, AWC alumni gathered with the current cohort of 2023-24 Fellows to attend the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & Institute’s (RRPFI) inaugural Age of Reagan Conference. The conference was hosted at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California.
Day 1 of the conference featured panels on President Reagan’s rhetoric, influence, and continued relevance in foreign affairs (featuring a paper presentation by AWC alum William Chou). The evening keynote program included a conversation between Professor Steven Hayward and Professor Beth Fischer on future approaches to scholarship on President Reagan’s life, legacy, and presidency.
Day 2 offered a large variety of sessions including, “Strategic Questions and Designs in the Reagan Era” (featuring a paper presentation by AWC alum Kyle Balzer), “New Frontiers and Critical Domains of National Security,” “Outcomes of the Iran-Contra Affair” (featuring a paper presentation by AWC alum Joseph Ledford), and a closing Congressional Forum with Congressmen Hal Daub, David Dreier, and Senator Phil Gramm. RRPFI President and CEO David Trulio hosted AWC alumni and the current cohort in President Reagan’s private quarters for a special reunion dinner alongside AWC leadership and distinguished invited guests.
Day 3 brought the conference to a close with sessions that touched on economic development and the evolution of national security during the Reagan administration (featuring a paper presentation by AWC Postdoctoral Fellow Matthew Frakes). AWC affiliated scholars Drs. Simon Miles and Susan Colbourn participated in an engaging roundtable on the Strategic Defense Initiative. The conference concluded with the presentation of the Age of Reagan Book Prize to AWC Principal Dr. William Inboden for his book, The Peacemaker: Ronald Reagan, the Cold War, and the World on the Brink.
The America in the World Consortium offers its deepest gratitude to the RRPFI’s leadership, staff, and affiliates.
Age of Reagan conference sessions are available to watch here.
