Two former Pennsylvania governors will participate in an upcoming University lecture, “Reflections on Leadership, Governance and Politics.” Among other topics, they are expected to discuss the importance of bipartisan discourse during divisive times.

Tom Ridge, Pennsylvania’s 43rd governor, and Ed Rendell, Pennsylvania’s 45th governor, will be featured guests during the next installment of the American Experience Distinguished Lecture Series. The event is co-sponsored by the Office of the Chancellor, The Dick Thornburgh Forum for Law & Public Policy and the University Honors College.

The lecture is free and open to the public. It will take place on Tuesday, Oct. 1, at 7:30 p.m. in the Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh Music Hall auditorium. Registration is required and additional information is available online. 

"This event is an exciting example of the timely and important programming that our Thornburgh Forum for Law and Public Policy regularly offers,” said Gov. Dick Thornburgh. “The Forum is dedicated to providing cutting-edge opportunities to foster public education and civic engagement on federal, state and regional issues. It is committed to addressing critical policy concerns while promoting both effective and principled government."

Thornburgh was Pennsylvania’s 41st governor and was the first-ever Republican to hold the office for two successive terms.

Rendell, a Democrat, and Ridge, a Republican, will sit down with moderator Dave Davies, a former senior reporter for public radio station WHYY and contributor to National Public Radio’s  “Fresh Air with Terry Gross.” The nationally known political authorities will discuss their own experiences, the current political climate and what today's leaders should do to advance the interests of the American people in a rapidly changing, highly competitive and sometimes unfriendly world.

"I grew up around a dinner table where Mom was a Republican and Dad was a Democrat. So I’ve been exposed to bipartisan forums from an early age,” said Ridge. “These types of gatherings are essential in a republic, now more than ever, so that we can better understand what we have in common as opposed to what divides us. I'm very much looking forward to the discussion with my friends at the Thornburgh Forum.”  

Rendell said the discussion is “extremely important, particularly when our country faces so many severe challenges.

“To me, leadership means being willing to take strong and definitive action to try to resolve some of those challenges, regardless of political risk. Unfortunately, it seems to be in small supply in Washington, D.C., these days,” he added.