Thursday, September 30

Bob Newhart
Comedy Legend, Actor & Author

Bob Newhart has made the English-speaking world laugh for nearly a half-century. His humor resonates so well with Americans that his concerts still sell out across the country. Newhart’s iconic television sitcom, The Bob Newhart Show (1972-1978), made him a household name and set the stage for a generation of TV shows. PBS recently saluted his legendary career with an “American Masters” presentation. And his first book, I Shouldn’t Even Be Doing This, became a New York Times bestseller. Newhart will open our 2010-2011 series by sharing his humorous perspective of American life.

Sunday, October 17

Carl Levin
Senior U.S. Senator, Michigan

Time magazine recently named Michigan’s senior U.S. senator, Carl Levin, one of “America’s Top 10 Senators.” The publication noted that the Detroit native “has gained respect from both parties for his attention to detail and deep knowledge of policy.” Over his 30-plus years as senator, Levin has been instrumental in leading initiatives to help American manufacturers compete domestically and globally; he serves as chairman of the Senate’s powerful Armed Services Committee; and is co-chair of the Senate’s Great Lakes Task Force. His visit will bring insights into the international and national issues that matter most locally.

Monday, November 22

Barbara Padilla
Soprano Opera Star

Soprano opera singer Barbara Padilla has an amazing voice. But she also has an amazing life story. As first runner-up in the biggest talent competition in the world, “America’s Got Talent,” season four, Padilla won the hearts of millions with her stunning performance. She has also won wide acclaim as a soloist of many symphonic events in the United States, Italy and Mexico. Yet it is her story of surviving cancer and warding off the threat of never singing again that deeply inspires her audiences. Padilla will share her story and her voice with us during her pre-holiday visit. To hear her perform, click here.

Thursday, March 24

Ted Koppel
Broadcast Journalist

Today thousands of people rely on National Public Radio’s (NPR) news analyst Ted Koppel to help them understand the topics and events that shape our world. He is a regular contributor to NPR’s midday news and talk show, Talk of the Nation. But it was as the nation’s longest-running daily news anchor on ABC News’ Nightline that Koppel had his greatest influence. His interviews and reporting touched every major news story from 1980 to 2005. Koppel will kick off our spring series by engaging us with his knowledge of past and current events and the people who created them.

Wednesday, April 27

Gen. Stanley McChrystal
Former Commander of U.S. and International Forces in Afghanistan

Stanley McChrystal is a retired four-star general and the former commander of the Joint Special Operations Command, which oversees the military’s most sensitive counter-terrorism units. It was under his leadership that Saddam Hussein was captured in December 2003 and al-Qaeda leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi was located and killed in June 2006. A former Green Beret, Gen. McChrystal is known for his candor, innovative leadership and his warfare tactics that fused intelligence and operations. In his talk, he will cite stories from his career and educate us about the geopolitical realities of the troubled world he knows so well.

Wednesday, May 11

The Rt. Hon. Gordon Brown, MP
Former Prime Minister of Great Britain

Scotland’s Gordon Brown was first elected to Great Britain’s Parliament in 1983. He shared his first office in the House of Commons with Tony Blair. The two friends worked together to secure the Labour Party’s landslide victory in 1997. From that year to 2007, Brown served as Chancellor of the Exchequer. During his tenure as chancellor, Great Britain experienced its longest-ever period of economic growth. In June 2007, Brown succeeded Blair as Prime Minister, a position he held until May 2010. Renowned for his passion for global justice and tackling climate change, Brown will provide an “across the Atlantic” perspective of world issues.