More than 400 TFAS students and friends gathered to further their knowledge of a free society on June 10, 2015, at the Lisner Auditorium on George Washington University’s campus.
Thanks to Freeman’s generous support, the annual lecture series features an effective and engaging speaker each year who speaks to TFAS students on the principles of a free society, free markets, personal responsibility and virtue.
Neal B. Freeman is a businessman and political writer. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Yale University and served as the Washington editor for National Review magazine from 1978 until 1981. Freeman was nominated by President Reagan and served on the board of directors of the Communications Satellite Corporation (COMSAT). He is chairman of Blackwell Corporation and was executive producer of the public television series “American Interests” and “TechnoPolitics.” He also served as director of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting from 1972 to 1975.
“We are grateful to Neal Freeman for his generous gift to establish this all-institute lecture,” said TFAS President Roger Ream (ICPES 76). “It is an indication of his commitment to developing leaders who understand that freedom and virtue are inextricably linked. These lectures will help us get that message to young people each summer.”
The inaugural speaker in the series, Lawrence W. (“Larry”) Reed, became president of FEE in 2008 after serving as chairman of its board of trustees in the 1990s and both writing and speaking for FEE since the late 1970s. Prior to becoming FEE’s president, he served for 20 years as president of the Mackinac Center for Public Policy in Midland, Michigan, and taught economics at Northwood University in Michigan.
Reed’s discussion, which focused on providing real world examples of leaders in liberty, showed students how to be of good character, citing life stories from Thomas Clarkson, Fanny Crosby and Nicholas Winton. He summed up the chief character traits needed in a free society as honesty, intellectual humility, self-reliance and optimism.
Reed emphasized to the attendees that they have the power to be the change makers in our society.
“Each of you can be elements that allow our society to remain free,” he said.
After the lecture, students engaged in a Q&A discussion on Reed’s lecture hearing more on how to be a leader of character for a free society.
TFAS also used the occasion of the all-institute lecture to invite TFAS supporter Frayda Levy to explain to students the concept of Freedom Day. An idea conceived by Levy, Freedom Day is intended to be an annual celebration of human freedom. The concept is being sponsored by the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia and will be held on April 13, 2016 with celebrations throughout the U.S. that bring people together to show appreciation of freedom.