Albright, Baker, Powell to Discuss Values and Diplomacy

Washington National Cathedral and Aspen Institute to Present Dialogue with Former Secretaries of State

WASHINGTON, March 15, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Washington National Cathedral and the Aspen Institute have announced a collaboration to present "Values & Diplomacy: A Conversation with Former Secretaries of State." The program is to feature Madeleine K. Albright, James A. Baker, III, and Colin L. Powell and will take place on Thursday, April 7, at 6:30 p.m., at the Cathedral.

Walter Isaacson, president and CEO of the Aspen Institute, will moderate the dialogue. The program will explore the role and challenge of addressing diverse cultural values and religious beliefs when diplomats work to protect American interests abroad.

Tickets ($10 adults; $5 students) are available online at www.nationalcathedral.org or by calling (202) 537-2228. There will also be a live webcast of the event accessible from the Cathedral's homepage.

Madeleine K. Albright is chair of Albright Stonebridge Group, a global strategy firm, and chair of Albright Capital Management LLC, an investment advisory firm focused on emerging markets. Dr. Albright was the 64th secretary of state of the United States. In 1997, she was named the first female secretary of state and became, at that time, the highest ranking woman in the history of the US government. From 1993 to 1997, Dr. Albright served as the US Permanent Representative to the UN and was a member of the President's Cabinet. From 1989 to 1992, she served as President of the Center for National Policy. Dr. Albright is a Professor in the Practice of Diplomacy at the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service. She chairs both the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs and the Pew Global Attitudes Project and serves as president of the Truman Scholarship Foundation.

James A. Baker, III has served in senior government positions under three United States presidents. He served as the nation's 61st secretary of state from January 1989 through August 1992 under President George H.W. Bush. Baker also served as the 67th secretary of the treasury from 1985 to 1988 under President Ronald Reagan. Baker's record of public service includes being White House chief of staff to President Bush and President Reagan. Baker received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1991 and has been the recipient of many other awards for distinguished public service, including the Department of the Treasury's Alexander Hamilton Award, the Department of State's Distinguished Service Award and numerous honorary academic degrees. Baker is presently a senior partner in the law firm of Baker Botts. He is the honorary chairman of the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy at Rice University.

Colin L. Powell served as the 65th US secretary of state from 2001 to 2005. As a professional soldier for 35 years, Gen. Powell held many command and staff positions and rose to the rank of four-star general. From 1989 to 1993, he served as the 12th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the highest military position in the US Department of Defense. During this time, he oversaw many crises, including Operation Desert Storm. He served previously as National Security Advisor to President Reagan. Gen. Powell's civilian awards include two Presidential Medals of Freedom, the President's Citizens Medal, the Congressional Gold Medal, the Secretary of State Distinguished Service Medal, and the Secretary of Energy Distinguished Service Medal.

Learn more about the event 

Washington National Cathedral is a church for national purposes called to embody God's love and to welcome people of all faiths and perspectives. A unique blend of the spiritual and the civic, this Episcopal cathedral is a voice for generous-spirited Christianity and a catalyst for reconciliation and interfaith dialogue to promote respect and understanding. We invite all people to share in our commitment to create a more hopeful and just world. Learn more at www.nationalcathedral.org.

The Aspen Institute mission is twofold: to foster values-based leadership, encouraging individuals to reflect on the ideals and ideas that define a good society, and to provide a neutral and balanced venue for discussing and acting on critical issues. The Aspen Institute does this primarily in four ways: seminars, young-leader fellowships around the globe, policy programs, and public conferences and events. The Institute is based in Washington, DC; Aspen, Colorado; and on the Wye River on Maryland's Eastern Shore. It also has an international network of partners. For more information, visit, www.aspeninstitute.org.

SOURCE The Aspen Institute