Cincinnati, OH – On the evening of Tuesday, October 13, our organization hosted an extraordinary night at The Literary Club, welcoming U.S. Congressman Gregory W. Meeks, Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, for The Role of United States Congress in Global Foreign Policy. It was an evening charged with the energy of the moment. Given the caliber of our special guests and the deep polarization surrounding today’s opinions in these challenging times, the room was, of course, a very politically charged one, and that is precisely what made it so compelling.
The program was moderated by our Board of Directors member and colleague, former Congressman Steve Driehaus, who guided the conversation with the experience and insight of someone who has himself served in the halls of Congress. The discussion went to the heart of the questions we posed in advance: how Congress uses oversight, appropriations, and legislation to shape America’s posture abroad, who checks the executive branch on matters of war and diplomacy, and what role the legislative branch should play at a time of such sharp disagreement over the direction of US foreign policy.
Some of the hottest topics of the evening reflected just how volatile the global picture has become. The conversation turned to the current state of the US government and its shifting influence across the globe, to the war between Russia and Ukraine, and, of course, to the Iran War, with the Strait of Hormuz and the highly volatile situation in the Red Sea drawing particular attention. These are issues that do matter a lot these day, which directly or indirectly touch every one of us, and that is why, throughout the entire night, the exchange was as quite open and frank, as it was urgent.
Congressman Meeks, in his thirteenth term and widely regarded as one of the most experienced voices on foreign affairs in the House, offered the audience a rare and candid look at how these decisions are actually made in Washington, and who is fighting to shape them. It was exactly the kind of direct, unfiltered exchange that our organization exists to create.
We were also especially pleased to welcome more students from the University of Cincinnati than ever before to the audience. Bringing the younger generation into our midst remains one of our most important efforts, and seeing so many young people engaged, attentive, and eager to participate in the Q&A was truly encouraging. Our mission is not only to inform, but to pass on the knowledge, along with the baton of interest in and passion for foreign policy, to those who will lead the conversation tomorrow.
Evenings like this are what our community is built for. Stay tuned for more exceptional programming from FPLC, and we look forward to continuing these important conversations together.
Moderated by our board member and colleague, Ms. Deborah Schultz, at the center of this remarkable evening was 
A major strength of Dr. Watson’s remarks was the way she drew meaningful parallels across today’s most consequential global flashpoints. Her insights linked contemporary US involvement in Ukraine, the conflict involving Iran, and the broader implications of the presidential visit to China, helping the audience see how these arenas are connected through strategy, economics, and diplomacy. Rather than treating these issues as separate geopolitical events, Dr. Watson masterfully revealed the underlying interconnectedness between diplomacy, military engagement, and cultural perception. She also highlighted the economic implications of these developments and underscored how US influence is felt across all three fronts.
Dr. Watson spent nearly thirty years at the National War College, the nation’s premier institution for senior military and civilian leaders, where she served as Professor of Strategy, Chair of the Department of Security Studies, Dean of Faculty and Academic Programs, and ultimately Interim Provost of the National Defense University. She was also awarded the distinguished title of Professor Emerita in recognition of her extraordinary service to professional military education.
Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch will join the Foreign Policy Leadership Council by a special Zoom Conference Presentation from 7PM-8PM the evening of Wednesday, October 1st, 2025.