Laughing At Myself: My Education in Congress, on the Farm, and at the Movies: A Conversation with Secretary Dan Glickman & Congressman Charlie Dent

Social distrust, COVID-19, and a dysfunctional Congress have led some to believe that the soul of our nation has been broken or lost. As the country continues to traverse a path forward beyond what separates us, we must be reminded that our success as a nation is realized when we have a willingness to listen, an ability to communicate ideas, and a yearning for compromise—three ideals that Secretary Dan Glickman specifically highlights in his new book: Laughing At Myself: My Education in Congress, on the Farm, and at the Movies. 

A candid conversation between Issue One Board Member and ReFormers Caucus member Secretary Dan Glickman, former Congressman Charlie Dent, and Issue One CEO Nick Penniman, will highlight the strong legacies of service by Secretary Glickman and Congressman Dent, and illustrate how a lifetime of service led to an enriching and fulfilling personal life as well.

Secretary Dan Glickman—Dan Glickman is a former vice president of the Aspen Institute, a senior fellow at the Bipartisan Policy Center, and a board member of the World Food Program USA. He served for eighteen years in the US House of Representatives representing the 4th Congressional District of Kansas, as the US Secretary of Agriculture from (1995 – 2001), and as chairman of the Motion Picture Association of America, Inc. (2004-2010). He is the author of Laughing at Myself: My Education in Congress, on the Farm, and at the Movies.

Congressman Charlie Dent—Congressman Charlie Dent is Executive Director and Vice President of the Aspen Institute Congressional Program, where he leads bipartisan, bicameral policy education programs for sitting members of Congress. Congressman Dent served 7 terms in the U.S. House of Representatives representing the 15th Congressional District of Pennsylvania. During his time in Congress, Congressman Dent distinguished himself as a strong, independent leader who is well respected on both sides of the aisle.