occasion because this gathering is a very first event co-sponsored with our new neighbor, the edward m. kennedy institute for united states senate. i can't think of a more fitting occasion for the institutions that honor the lives and achievements of both president kennedy and senator edward m. kennedy. it also seems fitting that you begin a conference about tackling a very big problem in our country here in this monument to a president who, along with his brothers, believed deeply in our government as an essential force for good who had such extraordinary optimism and confidence in america and who believed that working together americans could do big things. we could go to the moon. we could launch the peace corps, which they did by the way within six months of the new administration. and we could even achieve a nuclear test ban treaty. it's worth noting that in 1962 70% of americans said that they trusted washington most or all of the time. today after decades of anti-government rhetoric and gridlock, that number is at 20%. and i should add that americans still give john f. kennedy the highes

honored to have with us today the light of senator kennedy's light and the guiding light of the edward m kennedy institute. she is a brilliant attorney and writer and a vision for senator kennedy's incredible c. it is my great pleasure to friend.e my good >> thank you, heather. that you so much for gracious introduction and congratulations on being named the new ceo of the jfk library foundation. all of us are so excited about your leadership your. those of -- here. those of us for the edward m the u.s.ociety for senate, we are thrilled to have a neighbor. and mass archives, columbia point is the latest to be in boston. -- the place to be in boston. engagingeriencing and in what all for wendell holmes called the actions and passions of our time. the edward m kennedy institute is so proud to be one of the sponsors of the national conversation on american unity. the building is being constructed next-door. if i do say so myself, it is going to be amazing. it reflects the vision of my late husband, senator edward kennedy. teddy loved history. he loved education. he loved the united states senate. h

the cofounder of the edward m kennedy institute for the united icky kennedy.ormer utah senator bob bennett. maine senator a lot of so -- olympia snowe. maine contingent here, i am gathering. former texas congas and charlie gonzalez. -- congressman charlie gonzalez. and former texas congressman hnerenry bania. n youre fuller bios i program and online. we invite everyone in the audience are watching on the webcast to join our conversation. if you are physically here, you can fill out one of these cards with a question or comment that will be brought up to me. and i will use some of them to this conversation. if you're digitally here, send us an e-mail or a tweet. our twitter handle is bpc_ bipartisan. #engagedusa. and we will read your comments. in fact, we want to start with two contrasting comments we have already gotten from twitter. "givenrna smith, gridlock in congress, is a time to think about term limits, some other means to kick them out for poor performance?" but a contrasting view from doug who said, "why is division that? i am happy when congress is i

bipartisan policy center, the cochairs and members of the commission on political reform, the edward m kennedy institute, and the john f. kennedy library, and our great audience. here in boston and onlline. thanks so much for being with us. [captioning performed by national captioning institute] [captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2013] we hope you won't stand up yet. we hope to see you on june 24 for the release of the commission's final recommendations in washington. i would ask the panel to stay seated. secretaryformer dan glickman, a cochair of the commission, for closing thoughts. >> thank you. it was terrific. these panelists were outstanding. senator bennett, i wish you had some strong views. it really disturbs me. bpc, i want toe thank again vicki kennedy and the kennedy institute. i want to think heather campion and the kennedy library. trey grayson, and our great moderator, susan page who has been responsible for all the stories. i served in the house for 18 years. there are words inscribed above the speaker's chair by daniel webster. i used to look at this periodicall

the edward m. kennedy institute and john f. kennedy library and our great audience here in boston and online. thank you for being with us. [applause] we hope you won't stand up yet. we up to see you on june 21st for the release of the final recommendations and asked the panel to stay seated. i welcome former secretary, co-chair of the commission to the stage for closing daunts. >> thank you. it was terrific. outstanding. i wish you had some strong views it really disturbs me. i want to think again on behalf of the bp see, the kennedy institute, heather and the kennedy library in much ray grayson and our great moderator who has been responsible for all of the stories. [applause] i served in the house for 18 years, and there are words inscribed above the speaker's chair by daniel webster. i used to look at this periodically. they said the following. let us develop the resources of our land, called forth its powers, build up its institutions, promote all its interests to see whether we also in our day and our generation may not per

to thank the bipartisan policy center, the members of the commission on political reform, the edward m kennedy institute, the john f. kennedy library, and our great audience here. thank you so much for being with us. [applause] hope to see you on june 24 for the release of the commission's final recommendation. i would ask the panelists to stay seated. i asked dan glickman for the stage -- to the stage for closing thoughts. >> these panelists were outstanding. senator, i wish you had strong views on something. it disturbs me. [laughter] i want to thank the kennedy institute, the kennedy library, the harvard institute of politics, and our great moderator, susan page. i served in the house for 18 years. there are words inscribed above the speaker's chair by daniel webster. i used to look at this periodically. let us develop the resources of our land, call forth its powers, build up its institutions, promote all its great interests, to see whether we also, in our day and in our generation, may not perform something worthy to be remembered. that is the point of government. that is the point why we

cofounder of the edward m. kennedy thans steut for the united states senate, vicky kennedy. [applause] senator, bob bennett. [applause] former maine senator, olympia snowe. [applause] so we have a maine contingent here, i'm gathering. charlieexas congressman gonzalez. [applause] former new york congressman, floyd flake. [applause] and former texas congressman, bonilla. [applause] panelist bios in your program and online. we invite everyone in the live the web or watching on cast to join our conversation. if you're physically here, can you fill out one of these cards, question or a comment, it will be brought up to me, and i'll use some of them through this conversation. if you're digitally here, just send us an e-mail or a tweet. bpctwitter handle is underscore bipartisan. u.s.a.,hash tag engage and i'll ask some of your questions and read some of your comments. in fact we want to start with two contrasting comments we have already gotten from twitter. verna smith, given an ending gridlock in congress, is seriously think about term limits, some other means to poorthem out fo