‘Never A Bad Peace: Celebrating 250 Years of American Diplomacy’ with Adam Howard

In 1783, Benjamin Franklin wrote, “May we never see another War! for in my Opinion there never was a good War, or a bad Peace.” In this Diplomatic Discussion, the keynote lecture of Diplomacy Week 2026, Adam Howard, former chief historian at the U.S. Department of State, discusses three pivotal moments in American history shaped by the work of talented diplomats: the Revolutionary War, the Civil War and the aftermath of World War II. Vice Provost for Global Affairs and Chief Global Officer Barbara Stephenson conducts a fireside chat, followed by questions from students in the audience. Afterwa