Previous Speakers
2008-09 Speakers

THE HONORABLE NEWT GINGRICH
Tuesday, September 9, 2008 – 8:15 p.m.

Educator, author, historian, reformer, environmentalist, politician and more, Newt Gingrich is well known as the architect of the “Contract with America” that led the Republican Party to victory in 1994 by capturing the majority in the U.S. House for the first time in 40 years. As Speaker, he disrupted the status quo by moving power out of Washington and back to the American people.

Under his leadership, Congress passed welfare reform, the first balanced budget in a generation, and the first tax cut in sixteen years. A prolific author, Gingrich has published several fiction and non-fiction best sellers. His latest book Real Change was released earlier this year. Mr. Gingrich served with former Senator Bob Kerrey as co-chairman of the National Commission for Quality Long-term Care with the goal of making recommendations to policymakers and the public on how to transform healthcare services for the frail elderly and disabled in order to maximize independence and achieve a high quality of life and quality of care for our aging population.

Mr. Gingrich is also passionate about “green conservatism,” which is an innovative, marketbased, common sense approach to protecting the environment by rewarding conservation through incentives while fostering “green” economic growth.

 

ANGELA BRALY
Tuesday, October 28, 2008 – 8:15 p.m.

Angela Braly is president and chief executive officer of WellPoint Inc., the nation’s largest health benefits company in terms of commercial membership—more than 35 million Americans nationwide are covered through its subsidiary health plans. The company employs more than 40,000 associates and generates operating revenue in excess of $60 billion.

Ms. Braly assumed her responsibilities in June 2007, after serving as executive vice president, general counsel and chief public affairs officer for WellPoint. Previously, Ms. Braly was president and CEO of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Missouri, managing all aspects of the business and setting strategies to exceed customer needs.

In 2007 Ms. Braly was named one of Modern Healthcare magazine’s “Top 25 Women in Healthcare,” was ranked #16 on Forbes magazine’s “World’s Most Powerful Women” list, and was ranked #4 by Fortune magazine on its list of the “50 Most Powerful Women.” Also in 2007, the Wall Street Journal named her #1 on its list of “Women to Watch.” She is the only woman to lead a Fortune 50 company.

GENERAL RICHARD MYERS, RET.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009 – 8:15 p.m.

In his term as the fifteenth chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Myers was the principal military advisor to the president, the defense secretary, and the National Security Council through four years of tumultuous change on the international and domestic stage.

His role as leader of the United States military included our engagements in Iraq and Afghanistan and the military’s heroic role following Hurricane Katrina. In 2007, Myers became one of three selected for the first CIA External Advisory Board, which is responsible for providing advice on management and related issues to the intelligence community. Myers served the US Air Force throughout the world in many capacities.

He was a fighter pilot during the Vietnam War and held operational command and leadership positions in a variety of Air Force and joint assignments including commander-in-chief, North American Aerospace Defense Command and US Space Command. General Myers has the background and experience to offer informed analysis on military, security, and preparedness matters at home and abroad.

JOE SCARBOROUGH
Tuesday, April 21, 2009 – 8:15 p.m.

Former Congressman Joe Scarborough (R-Fla.) is host of Morning Joe. His other broadcast experiences include guest-hosting spots on all of the major cable news networks and many guest appearances on both network and cable news programs. Scarborough was a member of Congress from 1994-2001 and served on the Judiciary Committee and the Armed Services Committee.

After leaving office, he was named by President Bush as a member of the President’s Council on the 21st Century Workforce, where he still serves with Labor Secretary Chao, national labor officials and business leaders. Scarborough is also a partner with Levin, Papantonio, where he concentrates his practice in environmental law.

 

MIKA BRZEZINSKI
Tuesday, April 21, 2009 – 8:15 p.m.

Mika Brzezinski is a co-host of Morning Joe and an MSNBC anchor. Brzezinski also reports on NBC Nightly News and is an alternating news anchor for Weekend Today. Prior to joining MSNBC in January 2007, Brzezinski was an anchor of the CBS Evening News Weekend Edition and a CBS News correspondent who frequently contributed to CBS Sunday Morning and 60 Minutes.

She was CBS’s principal reporter at Ground Zero for the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. A native of New York City, Brzezinski is the daughter of Foreign Policy Expert and Former National Security Advisor Zbigniew Brzezinski.
 

The Norfolk Forum reserves the right to substitute in the event any announced speaker does not appear.