Harvard Club of Washington, DC

Ambassador Osius discusses his book over a Vietnamese/pan-Asian style dinner and drinks. The Columbia Club will join us for this event.

Date: Wednesday, September 28, 6:30-8:30pm ET

Location: Hogan Lovells, 555 13th St NW, Washington, DC 20004 (please report to the lobby desk, and you will be escorted to our space on the 13th floor)

Today Vietnam is one of America’s strong international partners, with a thriving economy and a population that welcomes American visitors. How that relationship was formed is a twenty-year story of daring diplomacy and a careful thawing of tensions between the two countries after a lengthy war that cost nearly 60,000 American and more than two million Vietnamese lives.

In his new book Nothing is Impossible: America’s Reconciliation with Vietnam (Rutgers University Press, 2021) Ted Osius '84, former U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam during the Obama administration, offers a vivid account of the diplomacy that made this reconciliation possible. He considers the leaders who put aside past traumas to work on creating a brighter future, including senators John McCain and John Kerry, two Vietnam veterans and ideological opponents who set aside their differences for a greater cause, and Pete Peterson—the former POW who became the first U.S. ambassador to a new Vietnam. Osius also draws upon his own experiences working first-hand with various Vietnamese leaders and traveling the country on bicycle to spotlight the ordinary Vietnamese people who have helped bring about their nation’s extraordinary renaissance.

In this special dinner with the Harvard Club, Ted will discuss his book and take questions from members regarding his experiences and ideas. 

About Ted Osius '84: A diplomat for thirty years, Ted served from 2014 to 2017 as U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam. Leading a team of 900, Ambassador Osius devised and implemented strategies to deepen economic, security and cultural ties between the two countries.

Since his departure from government, Osius joined Google Asia-Pacific as Vice President for Government Affairs and Public Policy. Earlier, he was a senior advisor at the Albright-Stonebridge Group, and the first Vice President of Fulbright University Vietnam. Osius was associate professor at the National War College and Senior Fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.  Ambassador Osius earned a Bachelor’s degree from Harvard, a Master’s degree from Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies, and an Honorary Doctorate from Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and Education. He was the first U.S. ambassador to receive the Order of Friendship from the President of Vietnam.

Please click here to purchase a copy of the book. Use promo code RFLR19 to get 30% off !
 

Vaccination/Safety Requirements:

All registrants are required to be vaccinated. Please be prepared to provide proof of vaccination on site. If you have recently tested positive or have symptoms, please do not attend this event. If you are ill, please notify us prior to the start of the event, and we will be happy to refund your ticket fees. The Club encourages attendees to wear masks indoors when not eating or drinking, especially when social distance cannot be maintained

Fee:

Harvard Club members and their guests: $55

Columbia Club Members and their guests: $55

Barnard Club Members and their guests: $55