Fulbright: The Man, the Mission, and the Message (2011)

America, in the middle of the 20th Century, was a country searching for a domestic and international identity. The end of World War II, followed by the Cold War, Korean, and Vietnam Wars; the American debate over civil rights; and, a global, economic sea change that laid a foundation for new alliances in Europe and Asia, were among the major events that shaped policies and programs, many of which continue to influence the lives of Americans today. Standing tall in the midst of these changes was Senator J. William Fulbright, a man whose political and intellectual influence helped define the United Nations, establish the Fulbright Program, and shape United States foreign policy. The vision of Senator Fulbright was of global, peaceful coexistence based upon a deep understanding and respect of other cultures as an alternative to conflict. When Fulbright died in 1995 his wife, Mrs Harriet Mayor Fulbright, began to explore ways to keep alive Fulbright's vision, his words, and ideas - many still relevant today. Harriet Fulbright understood one significant characteristic of her late husband's lifework: he was always examining the next horizon, searching for new, and better ideas in international relations. Senator Fulbright would not have wanted a reiteration of his own life to be his only legacy. His messages and his work should be debated, applied, even amended to new situations and events that shape our lives in the 21st Century.