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Monday, May 22, 2006
8:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.

Betsy and Walter Stern Conference Center
Hudson Institute
1015 15th Street, N.W., 6th Floor

With immigration being hotly debated, we want to take a step back to look at the origin and destiny of the American people. America’s melting pot has historically been replenished by a steady flow of immigrants, who have played a dynamic role in the evolving fabric of American society and democracy. The first in a series of Hudson-Pew briefings will discuss America’s new immigrants, in light of the founding fathers’ intent and in comparison to the last great wave of immigrants at the turn of the 20th century. In order to understand today’s contentious debate, we need to consider our own past.

8:15 a.m. Registration and Continental Breakfast
8:30 a.m. Panel Discussion

Panelists:
Mathew Spalding is the Director of the B. Kenneth Simon Center for American Studies at The Heritage Foundation. An expert on political history and constitutionalism, he is the co-author of A Sacred Union of Citizens: Washington’s Farewell Address and the American Character and editor of The Founders’ Almanac: A Practical Guide to the Notable Events, Greatest Leaders & Most Eloquent Words of the American Founding.

Peter Skerry is a Professor of Political Science at Boston College and Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution, where his research focuses on social policy, racial and ethnic politics, and immigration. His book, Mexican Americans: The Ambivalent Minority (Harvard University Press), was awarded the 1993 Los Angeles Times Book Prize. His most recent book is Counting on the Census? Race, Group Identity, and the Evasion of Politics.

Tamar Jacoby is a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, writes extensively on immigration and citizenship. Her book, Reinventing the Melting Pot: The New Immigrants and What It Means To Be American, argues that we as a nation need to find new ways to talk about and encourage immigrant absorption in American society.

John Fonte is a Senior Fellow and Director of the Center for American Common Culture at Hudson Institute. His articles have appeared in a variety of publications, including The National Interest, The Chronicle of Higher Education, Commentary, Orbis, National Review, and Policy Review. He is co-editor of Education for America’s Role in World Affairs.

Moderator:
Amy Kauffman, Hudson Institute

To RSVP (acceptances only) or to request information, please contact Phil Ross at Hudson Institute 202.974.2400 or e-mail rsvp@hudson.org.

The Hudson-Pew Series explores critical themes on the vitality and perpetuation of democracy, at home and abroad. The series is funded by a grant to the Hudson Institute by the Pew Charitable Trusts.