Monday Night Philosophy revisits America’s foreign policy. The United States a neutral nation for 150 years after its inception, observing George Washington’s “Great Rule.” Following the Truman Doctrine, some argue that the U.S. has acted as the world's policeman for the past 70 years. Are we ready for a third phase of American history? Is the global community ready? The panelists will debate questions and possibilities regarding the U.S. as an empire or an umpire for the rest of the world, raised in the forthcoming PBS documentary, American Umpire, based upon the book by Elizabeth Cobbs.

For more information on this event or to buy tickets, click here.

American Umpire is a 56-minute documentary targeted for PBS that examines why the United States became the world’s policeman and asks how long we must play this role. Narrated by renowned journalist Jim Lehrer, the film explores the historical foundation of American foreign intervention from George Washington to Barack Obama. The film combines unusual archival footage with candid interviews of three former secretaries of state (Shultz, Albright, and Rice), two American generals (Mattis and Eikenberry), winners of the Nobel and Pulitzer prizes (Spence and Kennedy), and eight scholars from around the world. American Umpire is filmed in a compelling, cinematic style. It helps voters understand the critical debates about American foreign policy in time for the 2016 presidential election, when they must decide who leads the country going forward.

For more information on this documentary and insight into the major interviews showcased, click here.

Upcoming Events

Monday, November 16, 2026
Reading Adam Smith In North Korea An Insider's View Of The State
The Northeast Asia History Working Group of the Hoover History Lab invites you to attend Reading Adam Smith in North Korea: An Insider's View of the… Shultz Auditorium, George P. Shultz Building
Tuesday, November 17, 2026
Rural America
Symposium On Domestic Rural Life And Institutions
Rural America encompasses diverse communities and experiences, shaped by a wide range of political, economic, social, and environmental forces. 
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Ideas Uncorked | The Billionaire Tax Act: From California to Capitol Hill
Ideas Uncorked | The Billionaire Tax Act: From California To Capitol Hill
The Hoover Institution in DC hosts Ideas Uncorked: The Billionaire Tax Act: From California to Capitol Hill on Tuesday, November 17 from 5:00-6:30 pm… Hoover Institution in DC
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