"Whoever controls the past, controls the future. And whoever controls the present, controls the past." Throughout American history, there have been ongoing efforts to shape the national narrative. These efforts often reflect deeper questions about identity, memory, and truth. As some have observed, "Efforts to control history are a sign of political fear- not national strength."
The history of slavery remains one of the most complex and often debated aspects of our past. It played a critical role in the founding of the United States, and its legacy still influences the present. As William Faulkner wrote, "The past is never dead; it's not even past." The Founders' decision to allow slavery had long-term consequences that continue to affect the nation's pursuit of domestic tranquility.
This presentation explores how our understanding of history shapes the present, and how, as the saying goes, "The sins of the fathers have been visited upon their children." (Exodus 34:7)
Instructor:Emmett CoyneMembers: $8; General Public: $13
Course #:CUR159 | Room:Room 4
Day of Week | Date | Time:Th | 1/22/2026 & 1/29/2026 | 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM This class meets 2 times Seats Available:9
Step into the world of 20th-century journalism through the eyes—and voice—of legendary broadcaster Walter Cronkite. Known as “the most trusted man in America,” Cronkite brought the world’s defining moments into living rooms across the nation, from the landing on the moon to the Vietnam War and the Kennedy assassination.
In this rare retrospective presentation, experience how Cronkite’s reporting shaped public understanding of some of the most pivotal events in American and world history. Blending historic broadcasts, personal reflections, and behind-the-scenes stories from decades in the newsroom, this session offers a masterclass in journalistic integrity, storytelling, and the power of clear, factual communication.
Whether you're a student of history, media, or leadership, this is a chance to hear from the man who didn’t just cover history—he helped define how it was remembered. And that's the way it is.
About Walter Cronkite- Click Here
Walter Cronkite was more than a news anchor—he was a national institution. For nearly two decades, from 1962 to 1981, he served as the anchorman of the CBS Evening News, becoming the most trusted voice in American households. His calm, steady delivery and unwavering commitment to factual reporting earned him the enduring title of “the most trusted man in America.”
Cronkite’s career in journalism spanned some of the most turbulent and transformative decades in modern history. He reported on World War II from the front lines as a war correspondent, covered the Nuremberg Trials, and was present for nearly every major development of the mid-20th century. His coverage of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in 1963, the Vietnam War, the civil rights movement, the Apollo 11 moon landing, and the Watergate scandal brought clarity and composure to the chaos of the moment.
He was not merely a witness to history—he was a conduit through which the nation experienced it. His famous declaration during a 1968 broadcast that the Vietnam War would likely end in stalemate is widely believed to have influenced President Lyndon B. Johnson’s decision not to seek re-election. That moment cemented Cronkite’s role not just as a reporter of facts, but as a voice that could sway public perception—and policy.
Beyond the newsroom, Cronkite was a staunch advocate for journalistic ethics, freedom of the press, and civic responsibility. He lent his voice to documentaries and educational programs and remained active in public discourse long after his retirement from nightly news. His legacy is not only measured by the historic moments he covered, but by the standard of truth and integrity he set for generations of journalists to come.
Walter Cronkite remains a towering figure in American media—an exemplar of professionalism, trust, and the essential role of a free press in a democratic society.
Great Decisions, is the largest and oldest grass-roots discussion program on world affairs. Created by the Foreign Policy Association, in 1954, it annually offers a series of topics for discussion. Currently, over 400,000 Americans participate in Great Discussion groups across the country.
A briefing book and videos provide information for the discussions.
Class meets once at week starting on February, for eight classes. Class cost includes the Foreign Policy briefing book. The 2026 Topics that will be discussed in class are:
America and the World: Trump 2.0 Foreign Policy
Trump’s return has marked a break from 80 years of U.S. foreign policy leadership, embracing an “America First” approach. This chapter explores the risks of isolation and diminished influence in relation to Trump 2.0 foreign policy. By G. John Ikenberry
Trump Tariffs and the Future of the World Economy
Trump’s aggressive trade and tariff policies have shaken global economic norms. What’s the rationale behind this radical shift in economic policy, and what are the implications for multilateral trade and geopolitics? By Michael Mastanduno
U.S.-China Relations
Relations with China remain tense, with tariffs, military modernization, and pressure on Taiwan. Does Trump have a coherent China policy, and will his tariffs on Rare Earth minerals be effective? What are America’s strategic options? By Oriana Mastro
Ruptured Alliances and the Risk of Nuclear Proliferation
U.S. alliance skepticism may drive countries like Japan and South Korea to reconsider nuclear options. What are the implications of the Trump administration’s rethinking of the U.S. alliance system for regional and global security? Will this new uncertainty alter the way allies and rivals in various regions make decisions about security and nuclear weapons? By Gideon Rose
Ukraine and the Future of European Security
With reduced U.S. support for NATO and Ukraine, Europe faces strategic uncertainty. The Trump administration has signaled an intention to reduce its security role in Europe. What are America’s stakes in NATO and Europe’s strategic dilemmas, and how might Europe respond? By Thomas Wright
Multilateral Institutions in a Changing World Order
Can multilateralism survive amid shifting global power and rising nationalism? This chapter examines the future of global cooperation across trade, health, and finance. By Scott Bessent (SUBJECT TO CHANGE)
U.S. Engagement of Africa
Africa’s geopolitical role is growing. What lessons can the U.S. learn from China’s presence there, and how might it strengthen ties, especially with leading nations like Nigeria? What tools of statecraft might the U.S. bring to its engagement with Africa? By Jendayi E. Frazer
The Future of Human Rights and International Law
As democracy and human rights retreat globally—and the U.S. pulls back—how can civil society and legal norms remain effective in a divided world? What is the role and force of international law in this era of impunity?
View and discuss two engaging TED Talks (visit TED.com) in a salon-type setting where free-thinkers spark each other's minds and hearts through spirited presentations and conversation.
Be stimulated, and become better educated and acquainted. Salons such as this were popular occasions for sharing knowledge and building friendships from Renaissance times up until the 1940s. TED has again popularized this concept with TEDx - local, independently organized events - in vibrant learning communities all over the world.
Participants are sure to leave motivated and more meaningfully connected with the world around us.
Instructor: Patti Wallner, Gene Goergen, Thomas HauckMembers: $5; General Public: $10
Course #:CUR112 | Room:Room 4
Day of Week | Date | Time : F | 2/6/2026 - 2/27/2026 | 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM This class meets 4 times Seats Available:1
View and discuss two engaging TED Talks (visit TED.com) in a salon-type setting where free-thinkers spark each other's minds and hearts through spirited presentations and conversation.
Be stimulated, and become better educated and acquainted. Salons such as this were popular occasions for sharing knowledge and building friendships from Renaissance times up until the 1940s. TED has again popularized this concept with TEDx - local, independently organized events - in vibrant learning communities all over the world.
Participants are sure to leave motivated and more meaningfully connected with the world around us.
Instructor: Patti Wallner, Gene Goergen, Thomas HauckMembers: $5; General Public: $10
Course #:CUR112 | Room:Room 4
Day of Week | Date | Time : F | 3/6/2026 - 3/27/2026 | 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM This class meets 4 times Seats Available:4
Concerns about diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts have become increasingly visible in recent years. Today, 39% of white adults believe DEI increases discrimination against white people. However, the roots of discomfort with racial and cultural change in America go back to colonial times. This presentation traces a consistent historical pattern of efforts to preserve a narrowly defined national identity, which stretches from early immigration fears to present-day debates.
Figures like Benjamin Franklin voiced concerns about immigrants, including Germans, whom he viewed as too "swarthy." This reluctance to fully welcome those seen as racially or culturally different is not new, and yet it remains underexplored. This presentation offers original research on how these attitudes have shaped, and continue to influence, American society.
Instructor:Emmett CoyneMembers: $5; General Public: $10
Course #:CUR158 | Room:Room 4
Day of Week | Date | Time: Tu | 3/24/2026 | 2:30 PM - 4:00 PM Seats Available:16
View and discuss two engaging TED Talks (visit TED.com) in a salon-type setting where free-thinkers spark each other's minds and hearts through spirited presentations and conversation.
Be stimulated, and become better educated and acquainted. Salons such as this were popular occasions for sharing knowledge and building friendships from Renaissance times up until the 1940s. TED has again popularized this concept with TEDx - local, independently organized events - in vibrant learning communities all over the world.
Participants are sure to leave motivated and more meaningfully connected with the world around us.
Instructor: Patti Wallner, Gene Goergen, Thomas HauckMembers: $5; General Public: $10
Course #:CUR112 | Room:Room 4
Day of Week | Date | Time : F | 4/3/2026 - 4/24/2026 | 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM This class meets 4 times Seats Available:4
If one word captures the American journey, it is the pursuit of equality, a goal still evolving today. While Jefferson famously wrote that "all men are created equal" and called it "self-evident," history has shown that equality has never come easily.
America has served as a testing ground for turning this ideal into reality, often in ways Jefferson couldn’t have imagined. Despite setbacks, the nation has made real progress. Yet today, that shared hope feels increasingly uncertain.
Instructor:Emmett CoyneMembers: $5; General Public: $10
Course #:CUR163 | Room:Room 4
Day of Week | Date | Time: Tu | 4/28/2026 | 2:30 PM - 4:00 PM Seats Available:19
View and discuss two engaging TED Talks (visit TED.com) in a salon-type setting where free-thinkers spark each other's minds and hearts through spirited presentations and conversation.
Be stimulated, and become better educated and acquainted. Salons such as this were popular occasions for sharing knowledge and building friendships from Renaissance times up until the 1940s. TED has again popularized this concept with TEDx - local, independently organized events - in vibrant learning communities all over the world.
Participants are sure to leave motivated and more meaningfully connected with the world around us.
Instructor: Patti Wallner, Gene Goergen, Thomas HauckMembers: $5; General Public: $10
Course #:CUR112 | Room:Room 4
Day of Week | Date | Time : F | 5/1/2026 - 5/29/2026 | 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM This class meets 5 times Seats Available:6
View and discuss two engaging TED Talks (visit TED.com) in a salon-type setting where free-thinkers spark each other's minds and hearts through spirited presentations and conversation.
Be stimulated, and become better educated and acquainted. Salons such as this were popular occasions for sharing knowledge and building friendships from Renaissance times up until the 1940s. TED has again popularized this concept with TEDx - local, independently organized events - in vibrant learning communities all over the world.
Participants are sure to leave motivated and more meaningfully connected with the world around us.
Instructor: Patti Wallner, Gene Goergen, Thomas HauckMembers: $5; General Public: $10
Course #:CUR112 | Room:Room 4
Day of Week | Date | Time:F | 6/5/2026 & 6/12/2026 | 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM This class meets 2 times Seats Available:8
This class is full. Click the "Add to Wait List " button below to be placed on a wait list.
Do you like to keep up with current events? Join us to discuss and share ideas that affect us and the world we live in. You don't have to be an expert! We will discuss local, state, national and international news in a civil, open-minded environment. Discussion will be moderated.
Instructor:Sandy Carey Course #: CUR101 | Room:Cypress Hall Day of Week | Date | Time:Th | 1/8/2026 - 6/11/2026 | 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM Note: Students are not charged when placed on a waiting list, and will be notified by MTP staff if a seat becomes available.
This class is full. Click the "Add to Wait List " button below to be placed on a wait list.
As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, this course explores a powerful and timely theme: even the Founding Fathers feared the new Republic might not last. Drawing from David Rasmussen’s compelling study The Fear of a Setting Sun, we will examine how early leaders who were far from being fully confident had deep doubts about whether the American experiment in democracy could endure.
The title references a remark by Benjamin Franklin at the Constitutional Convention, as he wondered whether the sun carved on the back of George Washington’s chair was rising or setting on the Republic. Today, as only 34% of Americans express satisfaction with how democracy is working (Gallup, December 2024), Franklin’s uncertainty feels more relevant than ever.
This course will consider Rasmussen’s insights in the context of current challenges: political polarization, national identity, and democratic decline.... and ask the urgent question: Can democracy imposed from the top down survive unless "We the People" choose to uphold it?
Instructor:Emmett Coyne Course #: HIS657 | Room:Room 4 Day of Week | Date | Time:Tu | 1/13/2026 - 1/13/2026 | 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM Note: Students are not charged when placed on a waiting list, and will be notified by MTP staff if a seat becomes available.
This class is full. Click the "Add to Wait List " button below to be placed on a wait list.
Once a month we will have an in-depth discussion on a current issue. The purpose of this class is not to change minds but to gain knowledge from each other. We will strive to understand other people's thoughts and beliefs. Except for the first month, participants will select the topics to discuss.
Instructor:Pat Russell Course #: CUR165 | Room:Room 2 Day of Week | Date | Time:Tu | 1/13/2026 - 6/9/2026 | 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM Note: Students are not charged when placed on a waiting list, and will be notified by MTP staff if a seat becomes available.
Step into the world of 20th-century journalism through the eyes—and voice—of legendary broadcaster Walter Cronkite. Known as “the most trusted man in America,” Cronkite brought the world’s defining moments into living rooms across the nation, from the landing on the moon to the Vietnam War and the Kennedy assassination.
Great Decisions, is the largest and oldest grass-roots discussion program on world affairs. Created by the Foreign Policy Association, in 1954, it annually offers a series of topics for discussion. Currently, over 400,000 Americans participate in Great Discussion groups across the country.
Concerns about diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts have become increasingly visible in recent years. Today, 39% of white adults believe DEI increases discrimination against white people. However, the roots of discomfort with racial and cultural change in America go back to colonial times. This presentation traces a consistent historical pattern of efforts to preserve a narrowly defined national identity, which stretches from early immigration fears to present-day debates.
If one word captures the American journey, it is the pursuit of equality, a goal still evolving today. While Jefferson famously wrote that "all men are created equal" and called it "self-evident," history has shown that equality has never come easily.
Once a month we will have an in-depth discussion on a current issue. The purpose of this class is not to change minds but to gain knowledge from each other. We will strive to understand other people's thoughts and beliefs. Except for the first month, participants will select the topics to discuss.
