Smith-Mundt Symposium: A Discourse on America's Discourse

The 2009 Smith-Mundt Symposium brought together public diplomacy and strategic communication practitioners from the State Department, the Defense Department, the Agency for International Development, and other governmental and non-governmental groups, including academia, media, and Congress for a first of its kind discussion. The goal of having a frank and open discussion on the foundation and structure America's global engagement was achieved.

The event was sponsored by Armstrong Strategic Insights Group with support from the Center on Communication Leadership. 

Transcripts and audio of the event are available at the links below. Biographies of the discussants can be found here.

• Morning Keynote by now-former Under Secretary of State Jim Glassman preceded by opening comments by Matt Armstrong
  • Transcript is here (65kb PDF). Glassman's comments begin at the bottom of page 5.
  • Audio can be downloaded here (54 minutes mp3, 13mb). Glassman's comments at the 13:45 mark
• Panel 1: History of Smith-Mundt
  • Transcript is here (106kb PDF)
• Panel 2: America's Bifurcated Engagement
  • Transcript is here (120kb PDF)
• Lunch Keynote: former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Mike Doran
  • Transcript is here (72kb PDF).
  • Audio can be downloaded here (63min, 15mb)
• Panel 3: Rebuilding the Arsenal of Persuasion
  • Transcript is here (104kb PDF)
• Panel 4: The View from the Hill and Closing Comments
  • Transcript is here (140kb PDF)
  • Audio to be posted
• January 6 Media Roundtable with Matt Armstrong, RADM Greg Smith, David Firestein, and George Clack
  • Transcript is here (83k PDF)

Download the post-event report here (387kb PDF).

Download the Media Advisory here (64k PDF).