Friends of the LBJ Library | Oct, 26 2017 6:00PM - 7:30PM
On Thursday, Oct. 26, 2017, former Secretary of State and U.N. Ambassador Madeleine Albright joined Friends of the LBJ Library members for their Evening With speaker series. Former CBS News journalist and Face the Nation anchor Bob Schieffer moderated the conversation.
Prior to the event, The Store at LBJ hosted Secretary Albright for a book signing of Madam Secretary and Read My Pins: Stories from a Diplomat's Jewel Box. The store also hosted Schieffer for a signing of his new book, Overload: Finding the Truth in Today's Deluge of News.
Secretary Albright's appearance marked the opening of the special exhibition, Read My Pins: The Madeleine Albright Collection, on view at the LBJ Library from Oct. 28, 2017 through Jan. 21, 2018.
About the Exhibition
Shortly after becoming a diplomat, Albright discovered the power of jewelry to convey a foreign policy message. Before long, she began selecting appropriate pins to wear to particular meetings, visually expressing her high hopes, determination, impatience, or warm feelings. The brooches soon became her diplomatic signature.
The Albright collection consists of pins that Secretary Albright wore before, during and after her years in public service. They include examples of fine art, but most are of the costume variety. Many are by anonymous designers and were selected for the signals they send and the spirit they convey. Sometimes demure and understated, sometimes outlandish and outspoken, these pins were used as gentle implements of statecraft. Their stories and messages reflect the secretary's sense of humor and her humanity, and are shared here as a visual educational tool of cultural diplomacy.
The LBJ Library exhibition is sponsored by Lexus of Austin and Lakeway. The exhibition was made possible by Museum of Arts & Design and Bren Simon, and for the exhibition catalog by St. John Knits. Read My Pins will be accompanied by a book, Read My Pins: Stories from a Diplomat's Jewel Box, published by Harper Collins.
About Albright & Schieffer
Madeleine K. Albright is chair of Albright Stonebridge Group, a global strategy firm, and chair of Albright Capital Management LLC, an investment advisory firm focused on emerging markets. Dr. Albright was the 64th Secretary of State of the United States. In 1997, she was named the first female Secretary of State and became, at that time, the highest ranking woman in the history of the U.S. government. From 1993 to 1997, Dr. Albright served as the U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations and was a member of the President's Cabinet. She is a Professor in the Practice of Diplomacy at the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service. Dr. Albright chairs the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs. She is also the president of the Truman Scholarship Foundation. In 2012, she was chosen by President Obama to receive the nation's highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, in recognition of her contributions to international peace and democracy.
Bob Schieffer reported for CBS News for 46 years, serving as anchor of Face the Nation, CBS News' Sunday morning public affairs broadcast, for the last 24 of those years. His new book, Overload: Finding the Truth in Today's Deluge of News, will be released on Oct. 1.
