September 2011 Founders’ Evening

On September 15, FORR Founders gathered to hear special guest and nationally syndicated talk show host Dennis Prager speak about "the Four Things Reagan Taught Dennis Prager About Great Leadership." Prager shared his observation that Reagan's success was rooted in a steadfast belief in American Exceptionalism and America's importance as a force for good in the world. Prager reminded FORR of the epic and historic struggle President Reagan waged against the deeply repressive and totalitarian Soviet Union, liberating hundreds of millions of people from the oppressive yoke of communism. More notable, President Reagan engaged the Soviets in opposition to well intending but tremulous politicians in both the Democratic and Republican parties, again showing the possibilities that accompany inspired and principled leadership.

Dennis Prager

Dennis Prager, featured guest at our 2011 Founders Evening, is an American syndicated radio talk show host, columnist and best selling author. He is noted for political and social views emanating from Judeo-Christian values. He speaks, and lectures in several foreign languages, including Russian and Hebrew, and followed very closely events during the cold war, including those occurring during the presidency of Ronald Reagan.

Prager was raised in Brooklyn, New York and majored in Middle Eastern Studies and History at Brooklyn College, graduating in 1970. He went on to study at the Russian Institute (now Harriman Institute) at Columbia University. He taught Jewish and Russian History at Brooklyn College, and was a Fellow at the Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs, where he did his graduate work at the Russian Institute (now the Harriman Institute) and Middle East Institute from 1970-1972. He is presently a Media Fellow at the Hoover Institution of Stanford University. He is also the founder of Prager University, a virtual university aimed at educating people through five-minute videos on political and social issues. He holds that there is an "American Trinity" of essential principles, which he lists as E Pluribus Unum, In God We Trust, and Liberty.