Foreign Policy in the United States has always been a “hot seat” issue. The discussion between both maintaining a strong foreign alliance with neighboring countries in the world has always been an interesting topic on the minds of both the public of the United States, and the public of our allies.

The American Middle East Institute is founded on the principles of “Forging Valuable Relationships Through Business, Education, and Culture.” On October 18, 2016, Dan Rather was the evening speaker at Carnegie Music Hall on the importance of forming strong alliances, understanding other cultures, and connecting with other countries to create a much stronger bond between one country to the next.

Mrs. Simin Yazdgerdi Curtis was the first introductory speaker on the subject of foreign policy, stating the advances being made in the mutually beneficial fields for both The United States and The Middle East. “There are friendships being made,” Curtis Said, referring to the hundreds of deals that have occurred just in the last year between The U.S. and The Middle East.

The next speaker was a mister Samir A. Khalil who is the Executive Director of the Middle East and African Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America. Khalil went on to speak about Dan Rather’s incredible story of covering the monumental events that have occurred in U.S. and world history. “Dan Rather is the same on the screen and off the screen, a truly informative, understanding, and tenacious person.”

Dan Rather had finally emerged and instantly began speaking upon the astronomical importance of The Middle East, saying “Understanding the Middle Eastern culture is so important as it bleeds into American Culture.” Every day Americans are faced with a choice, a choice to become educated or to stay out of the light. Education in a society is so incredibly severe as it lets the society continue to thrive. Dan Rather would know the best about how current information and other cultures play into having successful relationships in the future.

Rather did not focus all of his time on The Middle East however, as Rather found time to speak about the importance of media and how it can be the most powerful tool in someone’s arsenal. Rather also discussed more about Wright Mills “Power Elite” struggle and how that can play into anyone’s daily life. Then Mr. Rather discussed the future of America after the 2016 Presidential Election.

Rather focused much of his time on the topic of how America will once again stand united again just as it had before. He discussed America as an “Ideal” and the power that America has as a symbol.

Dan Rather was then put into a Questions and Answers segment where he was pitted in a conversation with Post-Gazette Executive Editor and Vice President, Mr. David M. Shribman. Together, Shribman and Rather discussed where Rather first got his start, the opinion on many of Rather’s articles so many years later, and where he stands during the current Presidential Election.

The two also discussed why Rather’s began in his field. “The reason to investigate and never simply accept what others tell you, to know you must go.”  Rather’s who is an absolute inspiration in Journalism and Broadcast Media explained, “I didn’t learn fast, I learned good.” Rather’s also spoke upon the importance of knowing current events and how reading 4-6 newspapers a day keeps himself at the height of education.

Dan Rather finally explained the importance of keeping Journalistic Values and Entertainment Values separate from one another. “There is an importance of knowing quality journalists, the lack of stability, and the power behind journalism.”

Dan Rather has always and will always be a monumental example of what journalists need to do for information. They must be quick-witted, aggressive, and overly interested in what topic they are covering. Rather has deep history rooted in reporting, and has inspired so many others to follows in his footsteps.