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Photo of Jim Lehrer Photo of Larry Flynt Photo of Michele Bachmann
Jim Lehrer

Former News Anchor, PBS “NewsHour”; Author, Tension City: Inside the Presidential Debates, from Kennedy-Nixon to Obama-McCain

In conversation with David Kennedy, Donald J. McLachlan Professor of History Emeritus, Stanford University

As the “man in the middle seat,” legendary broadcaster Lehrer has presided more than 11 presidential and vice-presidential debates. Drawing on his own experiences and interviews with candidates and other moderators, Lehrer gives an insider account of all of the backstage drama and reflects on some of the “major moments” and “killer questions” that defined each historical debate. 		Larry Flynt, Publisher; Activist; Co-author, One Nation Under Sex
David Eisenbach, Ph.D., Professor of American History, Columbia University; Co-author, One Nation Under Sex

Legendary Hustler publisher Flynt is seen as a pro-sexuality trailblazer to some folks, but for others he’s the source for sex scandal and smut. Yet for three decades, Flynt has been a symbol of sexual freedom, crusading for First Amendment rights and against political hypocrisy. His landmark Supreme Court case, Hustler Magazine v. Falwell, is taught in law schools. Now, Flynt and Columbia historian Eisenbach have teamed up to tackle America’s sexual mores past and present, as well as the evolving role of the press as truth-seeking opinion-shapers. Join us as the fearless Flynt takes a look at freedom of expression, sexual politics and privacy. 		Michele Bachmann: The Revival of American Competitiveness

Congresswoman; Republican Candidate for U.S. President

According to the World Economic Forum, the United States has slipped to fifth in global competitiveness. Republican presidential candidate and Minnesota Congresswoman Bachmann will present her views on pro-business economic policies that will allow private sector businesses to compete in the global market while addressing the need for job-skill retraining, innovation, comprehensive tax reform and reduction of regulations that threaten jobs. She will share her thoughts on how to revive America's competitive edge and restore the United States to the top of global competitiveness. Don't miss this chance to ask your questions directly to the presidential candidate herself.
Photo of Michio Kaku photo of James Hormel Photo of Amy Chua
Host, “Science Fantastic”; Professor of Physics, City College of New York; Author, Physics of the Future: How Science Will Shape Human Destiny and Our Daily Lives by the Year 2100

No one has used the revelations of science fiction to explain the realities of science more than Kaku, who takes us on a fast-forward look at tomorrow. Based on interviews with more than 300 of the world's top scientists who are already inventing the future in their labs, Kaku reveals the lives we'll be leading tomorrow. Prepare yourself for the Internet being embedded in your contact lenses, the ability to rearrange shapes of objects, nanotechnology monitoring your health and home, elevators to space, and even spaceships powered by lasers. Come meet the scientist and television star who makes science understandable and the future visible. 		Fit to Serve: The Battle to Become the First Openly Gay U.S. Ambassador

James C. Hormel, Former U.S. Ambassador to Luxembourg; Author

Hormel grew up feeling different not only because his family owned the Hormel “empire” and lived in a 26-bedroom house in a small Midwest town, but because he was gay at a time when homosexuality was not discussed or accepted. Outwardly he tried to live up to the life his family wanted, however, he couldn’t hide his true self forever. Hormel moved to New York City, became an antiwar activist, battled homophobia, lost friends to AIDS, and set out to become America’s first openly gay ambassador, a goal he achieved when he was appointed ambassador to Luxembourg in the Clinton administration. Come hear a true story of determination for human equality. 		Thu, Jan 12 2012 - 6:00pm

Amy Chua: Tale of a Tiger Mother

Author, Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother; John M. Duff Professor of Law, Yale Law School

Anna W.M. Mok, Partner, Deloitte & Touche LLP; Vice Chair, Commonwealth Club Board of Governors - Moderator

Parenting in public is a gutsy move, and no one knows that better than Chua. The Yale Law School professor’s 2011 memoir, Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother, took an honest and often provocative look at the rewards – and the costs – of raising her children the strict “Chinese” way. Join us as best-selling author Chua talks about the parenting cultural divide, her struggles and aspirations as a parent, and
Photo of Edward Larson Photo of Christina Romer and Michael Boskin Photo of Robert Mueller
Edward J. Larson:  Scott, Amundsen and Science:  The 100th Anniversary of Robert Falcon Scott Reaching the South Pole

Visiting Professor of Law, Stanford University; University Professor of History, Pepperdine University

Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Larson is a master of the history of science and exploration. He now delves into the heroic age of Antarctic exploration, which culminated 100 years ago when Roald Amundsen and Robert F. Scott reached the South Pole within five weeks of each other. Displaying remarkable planning and execution, Amundsen's polar party returned safely and quickly. Scott and his men died on their long struggle back. Initially lionized as a tragic hero, Scott is now widely portrayed as a bungler whose vanity and poor planning doomed his party. Larson seeks to restore some balance to his image by looking at the role of science in his polar expeditions and comparing it with the single-minded focus of Amundsen's pursuit of the pole. Scott may have been trying to do too much on his expeditions, posits Larson, at least as compared to Amundsen, but both explorers nevertheless left a lasting legacy in Antarctic research and discovery. 		Fri, Jan 20 2012 - 11:45am

Michael Boskin and Christina Romer: Bank of America/ Walter E. Hoadley Annual Economic Forecast

Dr. Michael Boskin, Professor of Economics and Senior Fellow, Hoover Institution, Stanford University; Chair, President’s Council of Economic Advisers under President George H.W. Bush.
Dr. Christina Romer,  Professor of Economics, University of California, Berkeley; Immediate Past Chair, President Obama’s Council of Economic Advisers
Mary Cranston, Senior Partner, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman; Past Chair, Commonwealth Club Board of Governors (Moderator)

As our struggling economy and nation limp into a critical election year, don’t miss this chance to hear a lively discussion with two former top presidential economic advisors on where the U.S. and global economies are headed in 2012 and what should be done to put them on track. From January 2009 until September 2010, Romer served as chair of President Obama’s Council of Economic Advisers. She is a specialist in economic history and macroeconomics and is best known for her work on the causes of and the recovery from the Great Depression, and on the impact of monetary and fiscal policy. Boskin is the Tully M. Friedman Professor of Economics and a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford; he is also a research associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research. 		Robert S. Mueller III, Director, FBI

As technology and globalization change our world, the threats to our nation’s security are changing as well. The FBI must stay ahead of these changes, in order to protect our safety and prosperity. FBI Director Mueller will discuss how threats are evolving in the FBI’s top three national security priority areas – counterterrorism, counterintelligence and cyber security – and how the Bureau and the country must adapt to defeat these threats.
Photo of Margaret Hamburg photo of Walter Isaacson photo of Robert Reich
Mon, Feb 6 2012 - 11:30am

Margaret Hamburg, FDA Chief: How Smart Regulation Supports Public Health and Private Enterprise

Margaret Hamburg, M.D., Commissioner, Food and Drug Administration
Susan Desmond-Hellmann, M.D., M.P.H., UCSF Chancellor; Arthur and Toni Rembe Rock Distinguished Professor – Moderator

FDA chief Hamburg has been tasked with the difficult job of protecting the public health by ensuring the safety of everything we we consume and by helping to promote the innovation it takes to prepare our nation to face the health challenges of today and tomorrow. With a background in medicine, science and public health, she is well positioned to meet the myriad challenges facing the FDA. As New York City's Department of Health and Mental Hygience commissioner, Hamburg improved services for women and children, instituted needle-exchange programs to reduce the spread of HIV, created the first public health bio-terrorism defense program in the nation, and greatly curbed the spread of tuberculosis. As head of the FDA, Hamburg stresses the need to strengthen regulatory science to evaluate the safety and efficacy of products more quickly, and to help translate innovation into products and treatments that people rely on, and need and trust. Learn her thoughts on why "smart regulation" is a keystone to both protecting the public health and helping private enterprise by promoting innovation. 		Wed, Dec 14 2011 - 6:00pm

Walter Isaacson, CEO of the Aspen Institute, Former Chairman and CEO, CNN; Former Editor, Time; Author, Steve Jobs
Adam Lashinsky, Senior Editor at Large, Fortune Magazine; Author, Inside Apple (Moderator)

Apple co-founder Steve Jobs was a visionary and an inspiration to both tech geeks and luddites worldwide, with his products fusing technology and design in unprecedented ways. But much of the fiercely private businessman’s life was obfuscated by rumor and legend, and a full picture of the man and his astounding legacy has not emerged. Drawing on more than 40 interviews with Jobs himself, critically acclaimed and bestselling Benjamin Franklin and Albert Einstein biographer Isaacson presents a remarkable new account of Jobs himself. After two years of research, speaking with family members, friends, competitors and colleagues, Isaacson has compiled the story and life of one the most influential people of the modern era. 		Wed, Feb 1 2012 - 6:00pm

Robert Reich: Where is America Headed?

Professor, Goldman School of Public Policy, U.C. Berkeley; Former U.S. Secretary of Labor; Author, Aftershock: The Next Economy and America’s Future

Having served in three national administrations and hailed as one of the 10 most effective cabinet secretaries of the last century by Time magazine, Reich is one of the nation’s leading experts on work and the economy. Come join us as Reich lays out his unabashed thoughts on the current administration, the nation’s economy and its cloudy future as another presidential election looms.
Photo of Adam Lashinsky at the Commonwealth Club of California photo of David Agus photo of week to week at commonwealth club of california
Wed, Feb 15 2012 - 6:00pm

Inside Apple: How America’s Most Admired and Secretive Company Really Works

Adam Lashinsky, Senior Editor at Large, Fortune
Jessica Vascellaro, Senior Technology Reporter, The Wall Street Journal - Moderator

If Apple is Silicon Valley’s answer to Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory, then Lashinsky provides readers with a golden ticket to step inside. In a 2008 Fortune cover story entitled, “The Genius Behind Steve: Could Operations Whiz Tim Cook Run the Company Someday?” he predicted that Tim Cook, then an unknown, would eventually succeed Steve Jobs as CEO. Come hear the secret systems, tactics and leadership strategies that allow Apple to churn out hit after hit and inspire a cult-like following for its products as well as predictions for the future in the post-Steve Jobs era. 		Tue, Feb 21 2012 - 7:00pm

Dr. David Agus

Director, USC’s Westside Cancer Center; Professor of Medicine, USC Keck School of Medicine; Co Founder, Navigenics; Author, The End of Illness

Despite advances in modern medicine, Agus asks why we aren’t better at curing illness. Agus insists that we must embrace a totally new view of looking at our health to prevent and combat hearth disease, cancer and autoimmune disorder. He offers a practical health guide to better understand the human body and takes on some myths and misconceptions about the benefits of vitamins and supplements, foods, and the role of DNA. He also will discuss exciting breakthrough technologies that promise to transform medicine in our generation. 		Fri, Feb 24 2012 - 12:00pm

Week to Week: February 24, 2012

Larry Gerston, Ph.D., Emeritus Professor, San Jose State University; Political Analyst, NBC 11
Debra Saunders, Columnist, San Francisco Chronicle
John Zipperer, Vice President of Media & Editorial, The Commonwealth Club of California -- Moderator

Join us for informative and fun commentary on the week's news, featuring our expert panelists, an in-depth look at the Academy Awards (which take place two days later), audience discussion of the week's events, a news quiz, and a look at the week ahead. It's a new experience from The Commonwealth Club, a recurring program offering timely insight and commentary on the news of the world, the nation, and the Bay Area.
Photo image of sphere Photo of TC Boyle Photo of Tom Brokaw
Thu, Feb 23 2012 - 6:00pm

George Shultz, Sam Nunn, William Perry: The Nuclear Chessboard, 2012

George Shultz, Former U.S Secretary of State under President Reagan
William Perry, Former U.S. Secretary of Defense under President Clinton
Sam Nunn, Former U.S. Senator, Georgia (1972-96), Co-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Nuclear Threat Initiative
Philip Taubman, Consulting Professor, Stanford University Center for International Security and Cooperation; Former New York Times Washington Bureau Chief; Author, The Partnership: Five Cold Warriors and Their Quest to Ban the Bomb – Moderator

Three distinguished statesmen discuss their vision for international security in these precarious times. Secretaries Shultz and Perry and Senator Nunn will assess the current state of nuclear threats, including Iran's drive to build a bomb, the North Korean nuclear weapons program, and future prospects for limiting the spread of nuclear materials and eventually eliminating nuclear weapons. 		Mon, Mar 5 2012 - 6:00pm

T.C. Boyle

Author, When the Killing’s Done: A Novel; Distinguished Professor of English, University of Southern California
Dr. Gloria Duffy, President and CEO, The Commonwealth Club- Moderator

Prolific and renowned author T. Coraghessan Boyle has written 22 novels, many of which probe the relationship between contemporary human civilization and the natural world. His latest work, When the Killing’s Done, adopts as its setting California’s geographically isolated Channel Islands and gives a harrowing fictional account of the battle that ensues when two ideologically opposed environmentalists disagree over the fate of the islands’ species. Much like Boyle’s previous novels, including the best-selling The Tortilla Curtain and The Women, this new book combines suspenseful narrative and strong characterization with provocative questions about our role in, and responsibility to, the world in which we live. Come hear Boyle share his thoughts on the making and implications of this powerful book. 		Mon, Nov 21 2011 - 1:00pm

Tom Brokaw, NBC Nightly News Special Correspondent; Author, The Greatest Generation, Boom! and The Time of Our Lives: A Conversation about America

Dan Ashley,  News Anchor, KGO TV and Member, Commonwealth Club Board of Governors - Moderator

With all of the current political, social and economic challenges facing our country, veteran television broadcaster Brokaw asks: What happened to the America I thought I knew? In an effort to reconnect our families, communities and commitment to civic engagement, Brokaw looks back at his own family history and South Dakota upbringing and discusses the many changes that have transformed society. He offers inspiring stories of Americans who are leading the way for change in their own communities and shares his thoughts on how we can revitalize the promise of the American dream.
Photo of Week to Week Signage Photo of Jonah Lehrer Photo of Rachel Maddow
Fri, Mar 16 2012 - 12:00pm

Week to Week: March 16, 2012

Dr. Larry Gerston, Professor of Political Science, San Jose State University; Political Analyst, NBC 11; Author, Not So Golden After All: The Rise and Fall of California
Debra J. Saunders, Columnist, San Francisco Chronicle; "Token Conservative" Blogger, SFGate.com
Brian Caulfield, Technology Journalist, Forbes
John Zipperer, Vice President of Media & Editorial, The Commonwealth Club of California -- Moderator

Join us for informative and fun commentary on the week's news, featuring our expert panelists, an in-depth look by Brian Caulfield at the new iPad 3 and tablet computing, audience discussion of the week's events, a news quiz, and a look at the week ahead. It's a new experience from The Commonwealth Club, a recurring program offering timely insight and commentary on the news of the world, the nation, and the Bay Area. 		Thu, Apr 5 2012 - 7:00pm

Jonah Lehrer: How Creativity Works

Contributing Editor, Wired; Author, How We Decide and Imagine: How Creativity Works
Tim Ritchie - President, The Tech Museum- Moderator

Acclaimed science writer and popular blogger Jonah Lehrer helped us learn about our decision making process in his best-selling book How We Decide. Now he delves into the human mind to decipher the anatomy of imagination and explore the new science of creativity with Imagine. Lehrer introduces us to musicians like Bob Dylan and Yo Yo Ma, artists working at Pixar, engineers at Procter and Gamble, and even a bartender who thinks more like chemist, to demonstrate our most important mental talent: the ability to imagine what has never existed. Find out what cities and companies are doing to double our creative output and make our culture more creative. 		Thu, Apr 12 2012 - 7:30pm

Rachel Maddow

Rachel Maddow, Host, The Rachel Maddow Show; Author, Drift
In Conversation with Daniel Handler, aka Lemony Snicket, Author; Screenwriter; Accordionist

Rhodes Scholar, AIDS activist, civics geek, "blindly partisan" and even the “grand doyenne of liberal demagoguery” according to Gawker – Rachel Maddow has been called many things over the years, but until now, "author" has not been one of them. This year the sassy and smart-as-a-whip host of MSNBC’s politico program, The Rachel Maddow Show, joins the literary fold and takes on what she believes to be the debate between civilian life and the war machine in her new book, Drift. Join us for an organ intro, popcorn munchies, and an exclusive interview with Rachel Maddow.
Photo of Dave Eggers Photo of Robert Shiller Photo of Timothy Geithner
Thu, Mar 22 2012 - 7:00pm

DAVE EGGERS: INFORUM’S 21ST CENTURY VISIONARY AWARD

Dave Eggers, Founder and Editor, McSweeney’s; Co-Founder, 826 Valencia; Author, A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius;

In conversation with Dan Moulthrop, Co-Author, Teachers Have It Easy; Co-founder, The Civic Commons; Former Public Radio Host

Having charmed the literary world at the age of 30 with his best-seller, A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius, Eggers immediately lent his commercial success to the enlightenment of our youth through literature and education. Infusing his personal passions and writing talents into the community, Eggers has taken on numerous philanthropic efforts including 826 Valencia, ScholarMatch and onceuponaschool.org. INFORUM is pleased to award this Bay Area humanitarian with our 21st Century Visionary Award. Eggers has got a way with words, so you won’t want to miss out on this sharp discussion, which is sure to expand your appreciation for the scholastic prospects of our youth and the value of fair access to higher education. 		Wed, Apr 4 2012 - 6:00pm

Finance and the Good Society

Robert Shiller, Columnist for The New York Times, Arthur M. Okun Professor of Economics at Yale University; Author, Finance and the Good Society
Cory Johnson, Editor-at-Large, Bloomberg Television - Moderator

New York Times best-selling economist Shiller is no apologist for the sins of finance. He is possibly the only person to have predicted both the stock market bubble of 2000 and the real estate bubble that led up to the subprime mortgage meltdown. In his important and timely book, Finance and the Good Society, Shiller argues that, rather than condemning finance, we need to reclaim it for the common good. 		Thu, Apr 26 2012 - 1:00pm

Remarks on the U.S. and Global Economies Ahead of the 2012 U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue

Timothy Geithner, U.S. Secretary of the Treasury

Adam Lashinsky, Senior Editor at Large, Fortune; Author, Inside Apple: How America's Most Admired and Secretive Company Really Works - Moderator

In his visit to San Francisco, Secretary Geithner will address the condition of the U.S. economy as he argues that we have made significant progress toward economic recovery over the last three years, despite a series of external shocks to the economy. Secretary Geithner will also address the state of the global economy ahead of the Administration's 2012 U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue (S&ED).
Photo of Larry Gerston Photo of Andy Cohen Photo of James Fallows
Wed, May 2 2012 - 6:30pm

Larry Gerston: California - The Not So Golden State

Larry Gerston, Professor of Political Science, San Jose State University; Author, Not So Golden After All: The Rise and Fall of California
John Diaz, Editorial Page Editor, San Francisco Chronicle - Moderator

The author of numerous defining books on the subject of California, professor and political analyst Larry Gerston is widely recognized as a leading thinker on local public policy. In his latest book, Not So Golden After All: The Rise and Fall of California, Gerston takes us step-by-step through the economic, cultural and political factors contributing to California’s upsurge and historic fall from grace. Is the Golden State a lost utopian dream? Can California’s former glory be restored? Join us as Gerston takes an in-depth look at the issues that have driven California to its current state of disrepair. 		Wed, May 16 2012 - 7:30pm
Andy Cohen, Bravo’s Man of Moxie

Andy Cohen, Executive Producer, Bravo; Author, Most Talkative: Stories from the Front Lines of Pop Culture
Donna Sachet, Drag Queen Extraordinaire; Star of Sunday's "A Drag," Harry Denton's Starlight Room - MC

“To me pride means being exactly who you are.” Cohen’s moxie, trademark smirk and fashion savvy have made him a modern pop-culture king. Cohen loves his divas, and he turned the fantasies of his youth into the reality television grand slams "Top Chef" and "The Real Housewives" series. Now he puts his own wit to the test on his late-night talk show, "Watch What Happens: Live" and in his new book, Most Talkative. Join us at the Castro Theater for a rollicking good time as Cohen delves into the nitty-gritty of his experiences in the worlds of television and celebrity. 		Wed, May 16 2012 - 7:00pm
James Fallows: China Airborne

National Correspondent, The Atlantic; Author, China Airborne

Jonathan Weber, West Coast Bureau Chief, Reuters- Moderator

In 2011, China announced its five-year plan to spend a quarter of a trillion dollars to jumpstart the next phase of its aerospace industry. The country currently has many airports under construction, a growing workforce of engineers and assembly workers, and recently acquired two American companies specializing in small propeller planes. As the country continues to lead the charge to become the new leader in aviation power, Fallows discusses the scale of China’s ambitious plans and what that would mean, not only for the United States, but the rest of the world.
Photo of Bill Bradley Photo of Paul Krugman
Bill Bradley: We Can All Do Better

Registration for this event is no longer available

Bill Bradley, former U.S. Senator (D-New Jersey); Author, We Can All Do Better

Bradley will offer his unique perspective on issues from foreign policy to election reform and the economy, and he will provide his view on the path out of the political stalemate that grips Washington and has frustrated Americans of every political stripe. 		Tue, May 22 2012 - 6:00pm

Paul Krugman: End This Depression Now

Paul Krugman,  Columnist, The New York Times; Professor of Economics and International Affairs, Princeton University; Author, End This Depression Now!

Nobel Laureate economist Krugman believes that the U.S. and world economies are not getting better. He says we are still in the midst of a depression rather than a recession, and that “nations, rich in resources, talent, and knowledge, all the ingredients for prosperity and a decent standard of living for all, remain in a state of intense pain.”  Yet he also believes that a quick, strong recovery is but one step away. 		Wed, May 30 2012 - 12:00pm

Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger: Stories from American Leaders

Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger, Retired Airline Pilot; CBS News Aviation and Safety Expert; Author, Making a Difference: Stories of Vision and Courage from America’s Leaders
In Conversation With Dan Ashley, News Anchor, ABC 7 TV; Member, Commonwealth Club Board of Governors

The hero who landed the plane on the Hudson discusses the qualities that make for great leadership.  He reveals his own advice as well as the details of recent conversations with notables that include legendary baseball manager Tony La Russa, Costco founder Jim Sinegal, and Educator Michelle Rhee, among others.