“America United”: Finding Common Ground

Peter Coleman, Columbia professor of psychology and education and author of the forthcoming The Way Out: How To Overcome Toxic Polarization; Archon Fung, professor of citizenship and self-government at the Harvard Kennedy School; the Rev. Irene Monroe, theologian, syndicated columnist, and co-host of GBH’s All Rev’d Up podcast; Amanda Ripley, author of the forthcoming High Conflict: Why We Get Trapped and How We Get Out; and Deb Roy, MIT professor of media arts and sciences and director of the MIT Center for Constructive Communication, explore productive discussions across conflicts and divides with Mo Elleithee, Executive Director of Georgetown University’s Institute of Politics and Public Service.

This Kennedy Library Forum aired virtually on May 4, 2021.

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ABOUT THE FORUMS:

The Kennedy Library Forums are a series of public affairs programs offered by the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum to foster public discussion on a diverse range of historical, political and cultural topics reflecting the legacy of President and Mrs. Kennedy's White House years.

Forums are free and open to the public. For more information, go to jfklibrary.org/forums. Written transcripts are available and linked to most past forums. They can be found by searching on the name of the program via the website search bar, or filtering past forums by year via

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ABOUT THE JFK LIBRARY:

The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston is dedicated to the memory of our nation's 35th president and to all those who, through the art of politics and public service, seek a new and better world.

The library and museum’s building was designed by famed architect I.M. Pei, although at the time, Pei was early in his career and much less well-known than the more established and prolific architects Jacqueline Kennedy passed over when choosing him. The library was dedicated in 1979.

The museum’s extensive exhibits portray the life, leadership, and legacy of President Kennedy; convey his enthusiasm for politics and public service; and illustrate the nature of the office of the president.

The JFK Library and its 10 acres are situated at the end of the peninsula that also houses the University of Massachusetts in Boston. The site overlooks the sea that President Kennedy so loved, and visitors are treated to unobstructed 360-degree views of Boston, the city that launched Kennedy’s career. Abutting the library’s site is Boston Harbor, its surface punctuated with leisure and commuter boats, cruise ships, fishing vessels, transport barges, sea birds, and the historic Boston Harbor Islands.

Students and scholars can arrange library visits to research primary sources documenting mid-20th century politics, and the life and legacy of President Kennedy, his administration, and his family

Those unable to visit the library in person can take advantage of the massive archivist-led digitization project that’s made a significant portion of the library’s holdings available to anyone with curiosity and internet access.

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Online archive research

Inperson research

For teachers