LBJ Presidential Library Hosts The Vietnam War Summit
Secretary of State John Kerry, former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger,
Combat Veterans and Other Dignitaries Attend Three-Day Summit in Austin
Library Honors Service of Vietnam War Veterans and Offers Unvarnished Look
at the Vietnam War and its Legacy
AUSTIN, TX – From April 26-28, 2016, the LBJ Presidential Library and The University of Texas at Austin
will host The Vietnam War Summit, offering a substantive and unflinching look at the Vietnam War. U.S.
Secretary of State John F. Kerry will deliver the Summit's keynote address, reflecting on the myriad ways
in which our nation’s relationship with Vietnam has changed—and the country itself has been
transformed economically and socially—since Kerry’s service in Vietnam with the U.S. Navy. His speech
will come a month before the Secretary joins President Obama for his first visit to the country.
Other major participants at the Summit include Henry Kissinger, the former U.S. Secretary of State from
1973 to 1977, Pham Quang Vinh, Vietnam’s current Ambassador to the United States, and documentary
filmmaker Ken Burns, who will discuss his 10-part documentary on the Vietnam War slated to debut in
2017.
Mark K. Updegrove, the Director of the LBJ Presidential Library, said that The Vietnam War Summit is an
effort to recognize the men and women who served courageously in Vietnam while also examining the
complicated lessons of the war.
“When the LBJ Presidential Library was first dedicated, President Johnson proclaimed, ‘It's all here, the
story of our time—with the bark off. There is no record of a mistake, or an unpleasantness or a criticism
that is not included in the files here.’ In keeping with President Johnson's vision for his library, we will take
an unvarnished look at the most controversial facet of his presidency,” Updegrove said. “Our goal is to
shed definitive light on the Vietnam War, its lessons and legacy.”
Some of the panel participants include:
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Bob Kerrey, former U.S. Senator and Medal of Honor Recipient
Bruce Crandall and Joe Marm, Medal of Honor Recipients
Joe Galloway, Vietnam War reporter, Bronze Star Recipient and author
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William McRaven, University of Texas System Chancellor and Former Commander of U.S. Special
Operations Command
Charles Robb, former U.S. Senator, Marine and son-in-law to President Johnson
Jan Scruggs, Founder and President Emeritus, Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund
Tom Hayden, anti-war activist and politician
Alexander Butterfield, former Aide to President Richard Nixon
Journalists Peter Arnett, Dan Rather, David Maraniss and Joe Klein
Nick Ut and David Hume Kennerly, Pulitzer Prize-winning photographers
Lynn Novick, documentary filmmaker
Secretary Kerry will deliver remarks on the evening of Wednesday April 27, followed by a conversation
with filmmaker Ken Burns. Secretary Kissinger will speak Tuesday April 26, followed by a discussion with
Mark Updegrove.
In addition to three days of programming, the library will feature major exhibits of Vietnam War
photojournalism, artifacts and key documents, from Truman through the Ford Administration. The Library
will also host “The Wall That Heals,” a half-scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial that will appear
outside of the LBJ Library on the plaza.
For more information and registration details, please visit www.vietnamwarsummit.org
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LBJ Presidential Library
The LBJ Presidential Library, located on the campus of The University of Texas at Austin, is one of 13
presidential libraries administered by the National Archives and Records Administration. Dedicated in
May 1971, it is the nation’s fifth presidential library. Its mission is to preserve and protect the historical
materials in its collections and make them readily accessible; to increase public awareness of the
American experience through relevant exhibitions and educational programs; and to advance the LBJ
Library's standing as a center for intellectual activity and community leadership while meeting the
challenges of a changing world. www.lbjlibrary.org
MEDIA CONTACTS
Jim Popkin, Seven Oaks Media Group
W: (202) 686-6699 C: (202) 253-7959
[email protected]
www.sevenoaksmedia.com
Anne Wheeler, LBJ Presidential Library
W: (512) 721-0216 C: (512) 731-2351
[email protected]
www.lbjlibrary.org