THE KETTERING FOUNDATION’S ANNUAL NEWSLETTER CONNECTIONS www.kettering.org 2015 OUR HISTORY

Journeys in KF Research CONNECTIONS CONTENTS

4 How Kettering Discovered Democracy 34 Listening for, and Finding, a Public Voice David Mathews Bob Daley

6 Key Events in KF History 38 Informing or Engaging: Collette McDonough What Is the Role of Higher Education in Strengthening Public Life? 8 The Issue Guide and the Issue Forum: Derek W. M. Barker Political Inventions Brad Rourke 43 Scholars and Scholarship with Ties to Communities 12 A Treasure Chest about to Open Ellen Knutson and Ileana Marin Nicholas A. Felts 47 KF and : 14 From Public Policy Institutes to Centers On Again! Off Again! On Again! for Public Life: Transforming People David Holwerk and Communities Alice Diebel 51 From Civil Society to Civil Investing, and Beyond 19 At Franklin Pierce, Learning to Make John Dedrick a Difference Joni Doherty 55 Creative Acts as Democratic Work Paloma Dallas and Melinda Gilmore 21 Town versus Gown? Not Here Sara A. Mehltretter Drury 59 The Dartmouth Conference Harold Saunders and Philip Stewart 23 Kettering’s Evolving Understanding— and My Own 65 Kettering and China: Ray Minor Thirty Years and Counting Maxine Thomas 26 Two Decades of Learning with Communities 68 Kettering’s Archives Hold a Quarter-Mile of Phillip D. Lurie History Maura Casey 30 Public Education as Community Work Connie Crockett, Phillip D. Lurie, Kettering Campus Vignettes and Randall Nielsen Brian Cobb, Mindy LaBreck, and Terry Nichols

WWW.KETTERING.ORG 3 The Dartmouth Conference: A Simple but

Grand Idea with Daniel Yankelovich (left) and Georgy Arbatov, Hanover, , 1984

World Peace he Dartmouth Conference is Tthe longest continuous bilateral dialogue between citizens of the Soviet Hanging in the Union, now Russia, and the . It has been an attempt to create a sus- tained dialogue on the changing nature Balance of the relationship between the two countries for the purposes of preventing nuclear war and then strengthening the Harold Saunders and relationship between two powers that Philip Stewart have much to contribute to world peace and development.

2000

WWW.KETTERING.ORG 59 The Dartmouth Conference The work began in May of 1959, when Norman Cousins went to with a simple but grand idea: to engage citizens from the two major nuclear powers in a conversation on how to prevent a nuclear war. Cousins was the strongest proponent of the idea for a conference that would bring together high-level citizens from the two primary antagonists of the . And he had a personal relationship with the president of the United States, Dwight D. Eisenhower. Cousins was a unique figure in the intellectual and public life of mid-20th century America. He was editor for 35 years of the Saturday Review of Literature, a founder of the anti-nuclear SANE move- ment, and a committed believer that world peace could only be achieved through world government. He was also a member of the Kettering Foundation President John Dickey (center) with Russian delegation, Hanover, board from 1967 to 1987. New Hampshire, 1960 Cousins went to Moscow in 1959 to meet with the Soviet Peace Committee to invitation would be accepted. Neverthe- meetings with Khrushchev, as well as a explain his idea for a citizens’ conference. less, the request was routed through the second meeting with the Peace Commit- While Cousins’ humor evoked laughs, his Soviet Central Committee’s International tee indicate the high level of Soviet interest harsh criticism of many aspects of Soviet Department, to whom the Peace Commit- this conference generated in Moscow. policy, particularly regarding nuclear tee reported. As preparations advanced for the first testing and human rights, was met with In October 1959, the Peace Commit- conference meeting, which was to be coolness. Although promised a response, tee received approval to move ahead with held at Dartmouth College in Hanover, Cousins could not have left the meeting this meeting. Alla Bobrysheva, Russian New Hampshire, in the spring of 1960, with much reason for hope. As this was interpreter and Dartmouth Conference the fundamental principles of this dia- to be the first meeting organized by the coordinator, is convinced that this decision logue were negotiated. Many of these Soviet Peace Committee with Americans was only possible through the personal arose from Norman Cousins’ deep insights who were not pro-Soviet, the committee intervention of Soviet leader Nikita into what it takes to enable effective leadership was deeply skeptical that his Khrushchev. Cousins’ subsequent personal human discourse, especially across deep

The Katherine W. Fanning International Fellowship for Journalism and Democracy is created in her memory.

2001

60 CONNECTIONS 2015 The Dartmouth Conference divisions of hostility and suspicion. The diversity and the breadth of the American United States Anatoly Dobrynin urged first principle was that everyone would experience and character, such as African that the meeting should go on. The Soviets participate as a private citizen, not as a American opera singer Marian Anderson; presented a united front and agreed to representative of a group or organization. playwright Russel Crouse; mathematician continue with the meeting if the Ameri- The idea behind this was that private citi- and president of Dartmouth College John cans wished to do so. Norman Cousins zens would feel less constrained by official Dickey; choreographer Agnes de Mille; perhaps best summed up the American policy and more able to recognize and former ambassador to the perspective in his book, The Improbable respond to fundamental human values. George Kennan, as well as various busi- Triumvirate: John F. Kennedy, Pope John, Both sides agreed that everyone would ness leaders and former government and Nikita Khrushchev: participate strictly in their personal, or officials and members of Congress. The debate at Andover that week was private, capacity, irrespective of their high- For many participants, Dartmouth III, strenuous, sometimes strident, but two level official positions. which was held at the Phillips Academy things became clear as it spilled over into in Andover, Massachusetts, October 21-27, The other principles were designed the second day. One was that the Cuban 1962, was a crucible moment, as it to develop an environment that would crisis didn’t interfere with the cordiality demonstrated the value and role of the maximize the potential for developing of the Russians or their desire to have a Dartmouth Conference. During the intro- relationships on a human level, thus productive conference. The second was ductory dinner, President Kennedy was making it possible to raise and confront that both Russians and Americans, as making his famous speech confirming the most difficult and contentious issues private citizens, showed a clear desire to that the Soviet Union was building mis- frankly and openly. Meetings were kept find a way out of the crisis. off the record to create a safe environ- sile sites capable of launching ment, free from publicity. Stretching the medium- and intermediate-range meetings over five or more days, with nuclear missiles at the United The Dartmouth Conference additional meetings before and after the States and announcing an imme- main sessions, provided ample free time diate blockade of all military is the longest continuous for informal conversations and getting to shipments to Cuba. Should the know each other. meeting continue? Should the bilateral dialogue between delegates immediately return Showing America at Its Best home? What was the role of even citizens of the Soviet Union, Cousins showed some of his keenest well-connected private citizens in insight in his selection of US participants. such a crisis? Each side pondered now Russia, and the The question was how to create an image these questions, consulting with of the United States sufficiently power- their respective governments United States. ful and persuasive to break through for advice. As became clear only deeply embedded Soviet stereotypes of many years later, the Soviet dele- the “imperialist” West. Cousins’ answer gation itself was deeply divided, with only In a 1989 interview, longtime Soviet was to involve persons whose careers a minority ready to continue the meeting. participant Yuri Zhukov observed that and deepest beliefs embodied both the However, Soviet ambassador to the this “was undoubtedly the most dramatic and meaningful” of the Dartmouth con-

International Institute July 2002 for Sustained Dialogue First joint Deliberative (IISD) is officially Democracy Workshop and incorporated. Public Policy Workshop is held in Dayton, Ohio.

2002

WWW.KETTERING.ORG 61 The Dartmouth Conference ferences. “I think that in our meeting in In 1965, the fourth Dartmouth Confer- especially when they have thought them Andover,” he continued, “the way we dealt ence convened; however, after the US through deliberatively. with the problems, were harbingers of the bombing of Hanoi, the Soviet side refused While never a negotiated criterion, the solution reached at the highest level later to meet for the next four years. Soviets and Russians, within the context on.” As Alla Bobrysheva pointed out in her Kettering’s Role Increases of their society, included people with book, Thanks for the Memories, Dartmouth analogous qualities and policy roles. These In 1970, the Kettering principles have guided the Dartmouth Foundation was invited Conference in each of its 20 plenary and Following its founder’s to assume lead responsi- more than 130 small task force meetings bility for the Dartmouth of specialists during the succeeding 55 interests in invention, Kettering Conference for the years since Dartmouth I. The task force recognized the Dartmouth American side. As an meetings address issues from arms con- operating, research trol to regional conflicts; from civil war Conference as a significant, organization, Kettering in Tajikistan to the stalemated post-war found two aspects of situation around Nagorno-Karabakh in the original social innovation: Dartmouth of particular Caucasus; from Afghanistan to Syria and interest. First, following ISIS; from Ukraine to Central Asia. Each of a citizen effort to address the its founder’s interests these issues is examined in terms of the in invention, Kettering challenges it raises for the US-Russia rela- most fundamental issue of the recognized the Dart- tionship itself. mouth Conference as a Dartmouth is designed not only time—prevention of nuclear significant, original social to reflect American public thinking to innovation: a citizen our Russian/Soviet partners, but also to war through building personal effort to address the share with the American public insights relationships and potentially most fundamental issue about the experiences, ideas, and think- of the time—prevention ing behind Russian policy and behavior greater mutual understanding of nuclear war through gleaned from the dialogue. The Americans building personal rela- tend to see a two-way relationship—on across the boundaries of the tionships and potentially the one hand, nearly all US participants greater mutual under- accept as part of their responsibility to Cold War. standing across the raise concerns prevalent among the US boundaries of the Cold public. These ranged in Soviet times from III demonstrated “the unanimity of the War. Second, the Kettering Foundation Soviet treatment of prominent authors, American and Soviet participants in the found the principles on which Dartmouth such as Alexander Solzhenitsyn, to press- face of a crisis, which threatened not only was built fully consistent with its research ing for the emigration of Soviet Jews, as both their countries but also the whole interests in understanding and reporting well as other human-rights issues; and world.” how our public thinks about these issues, today, from concerns about Russia’s role

2003 2004

62 CONNECTIONS 2015 The Dartmouth Conference the foundation’s auspices. At that time, 2. They learned it was possible to create Stewart was an associate professor of a cumulative agenda. As Primakov said, political science and a Soviet specialist “We will start the next meeting where at The Ohio State University. After being this one ended.” interviewed by Robert Chollar, then 3. They created a common body of knowl- president of Kettering, Stewart was hired edge—not just what the other side’s as de facto executive secretary of the position was but what its real interests Dartmouth Conference. His responsibilities were. included helping recruit US participants, preparing agendas, writing background 4. They learned that they were creating briefings on each agenda topic, keeping a powerful political process—not just the record, authoring the joint confer- a series of academic seminars—to ence reports, and preparing evaluations transform relationships in a way that of each meeting, as well as debriefing provided the foundation for a unique with government officials from all relevant collaboration between two powers with departments and agencies. Gradually, global reach that previously had been Harold Saunders (left) and Gennady Chufrin Stewart also became a full participant and dubbed “mortal enemies.” in Ukraine to the murder of Russian activ- member of the moderating teams. Since What Dartmouth Produces ist Boris Nemtsov. At the same time, by that time he has participated in 12 plenary including in the delegation prominent sessions and approximately 80 task force The Dartmouth Conference produces US writers and journalists, then and now, meetings. three essential kinds of “products.” First, it such as from , the In 1982, Hal Saunders was appointed produces creative proposals to convey to Washington Post, the International Herald US co-moderator of the Task Force on our governments and larger societies that Tribune, CNN, and the Christian Science Regional Conflicts with Evgeny Primakov. address specific issues in our relationship. Monitor, it was hoped that Americans (Primakov later became foreign minister Many of these proposals have found con- would receive a more nuanced, less and then prime minister of Russia in the structive resonance in the policy arenas stereotyped, and more complex picture 1990s.) Saunders’ experiences as a senior on each side. The March 2015 dialogue at of Soviet reality and policy. US diplomat in the Arab-Israeli peace pro- Dartmouth XIX, for example, persuaded Many distinguished citizens have cess in the 1970s, ultimately as President the participants that the absence of participated in the Dartmouth work over Carter’s assistant Secretary of State, were high-level working groups in those areas the years, but the contributions of invaluable to the Dartmouth work. where the United States and Russia share three of them—two Americans and one As Saunders and Primakov brought interests, such as Syria, ISIS, and the arms Russian—have been especially crucial. together a core group of participants control arena, is having a negative effect Phil Stewart’s association with the meeting after meeting, they learned four on the United States’ ability to address Dartmouth Conference began in May lessons: subjects clearly in our national interest, 1972, as Kettering was preparing for 1. They learned to talk analytically rather as well as the interests of our relationship Dartmouth VII, the first to be held under than polemically. with Russia.

2005

63 CONNECTIONS 2014 WWW.KETTERING.ORG 63 The Dartmouth Conference 3. how the above confirms the one opera- tional principle on which we are in full agreement—the value and necessity of continuing the dialogue. The agenda at Dartmouth is cumu- lative, with issues raised but not fully explored at one session forming the basis for the next round. These include arms control, terrorism, regional issues, and opportunities for increased exchanges in fields like preventable diseases, journal- ism, religion, and others. Beyond these, at Dartmouth XX a central focus was deepening our exploration of how our Dartmouth Conference participants, Dayton, Ohio, 2014 Russian colleagues understand what they Second, and as important, the Dart- by others to impose their models and describe as “values” particular to Russia, mouth Conference, by engaging many of values on Russia and its region. how these values relate to their behavior the same individuals over time, enables Third, the diversity of backgrounds, toward neighbors, and how they impact each side to understand the experiences, experience, and outlooks represented in their understanding of what it means in the processes, and the reasoning that the Dartmouth delegations encourages practical terms to be “part of the Euro- ultimately shape policy on each side. the spread of insights into the “other” Atlantic economic, political, and security Especially today, this kind of in-depth throughout our societies. Within a few space” to which they claim to be com- understanding is sorely needed. At days of the March 2015 conference, one mitted. By pursuing this agenda with Dartmouth XIX, for instance, influential American participant had been inter- persistence, honesty, and integrity, the elements in the Russian leadership made viewed by CNN—one of a number of Dartmouth Conference will continue to clear that they continue to see Russia as articles and blogs that appeared in other play a vital role in enabling Russia and the a part of the broader Euro-Atlantic com- media. United States, the only two powers with munity. Russia continues to seek security As we reflect on Dartmouth XX, just global reach and global commitments to arrangements within the Euro-Atlantic held in October 2015, we are impressed collaborate more constructively to address world that will permit Russia and its with three aspects of this dialogue: critical global issues, from peace and security, to terrorism and development. region to determine their own political, 1. how much the relationships within and economic, and cultural future and looks between delegations have evolved in a Harold Saunders is the director of international affairs at the Kettering Foundation. He was US at the future in that context. However, positive direction, even as the broader assistant secretary of state from 1978 to 1981. Russia also has its own regional relation- political context continues to worsen; He can be reached at [email protected]. ships, interests, culture, history, traditions, 2. the enthusiasm with which the Russian Philip Stewart is a senior associate of the Kettering and values for which it demands respect. Foundation. He was executive director of the side, as well as the US side, embraced Dartmouth Conference from 1972 to 1990. He can It will defend these and will reject efforts the need to continue our dialogue; and be reached at [email protected].

Mathews Conference Center is opened.

2006 2007

64 CONNECTIONS 2015