America somehow thinks that leadership relates to governance, and it certainly does. But society is much bigger than governance, and some of the truly great leadership of our society is outside the governance arena.

The majority of U.S. high school students don't know within 50 years when the Civil War occurred.

Civility is not about dousing strongly held views. It's about making sure that people are willing to respect other perspectives.

Politics has high and low moments. Sometimes it brings out the better angels of our nature; sometimes baser instincts.

There's probably a little greater case for pessimism than optimism. But I do not rule out optimism.

The arts and humanities are vastly more important in troubled times.

I think America is going to have to think through whether it wants to uplift the political dialogue or advance an approach that divides and, frankly, can lead to violence.