Sulgrave’s Autumn 2021 Seminar focusses upon two Presidents: George Washington, and Ronald Reagan, linked by the topic of building and rebuilding trust in the idea of America, and by the question: “How do presidents go about the task of building trust in new institutional arrangements, or rebuilding it in those cases where it had been shattered?” The seminar links George Washington’s ancestral home at Sulgrave Manor in England with his own home at Mount Vernon in Virginia.
The first part of the seminar comprises talks by Dr Nicholas Cole of Pembroke College, Oxford, and Dr Grace Mallon, of the Rothermere American Institute, Oxford, under the moderation of Dr Kevin Butterfield, Executive Director of George Washington’s Presidential Library at Mount Vernon. For Washington, a fundamental problem was how to establish trust in a system defined by suspicion of government and authority, and in a context where the new Republic’s survival was uncertain.
The second part of the seminar comprises talks by Professor Gareth Davies of University College, London, and Dr Nigel Bowles, of the Sulgrave Manor Trust, under the moderation of Dr Nadia Hilliard of University College, London. For Reagan, a major challenge was to break out of the historical context of seeming American military, economic, and reputational weakness and of growing distrust of Americans in their institutions that Reagan exploited to defeat Carter in 1980. The talks will consider Reagan’s values, and their relationship to trust, and his pursuit of greatness both for himself and for the United States.
Attendance is free. Please book your place online by clicking this link: www.sulgravemanor.org.uk/whats-on. The seminar link and programme will be sent out nearer the time.
Sulgrave Manor Trust
TORCH Heritage Programme
