The Walter Peterson Forum for Civil Discourse

There was no one who epitomized the spirit of civil discourse more than the late Governor Walter Peterson. Walter spent most of his adult life as a resident of Peterborough, where he made significant contributions to the community, including serving as town meeting moderator for 27 years. He served as Governor of New Hampshire from 1969 – 1973. In 1975 he became President of Franklin Pierce University, a position he held for 20 years. After his retirement he continued to be involved in the New Hampshire political environment, and was widely respected for his efforts to bridge across partisan divide. Quite simply, he was a voice of reason.

One thing that almost everyone can agree on today is that the manner in which we choose to disagree with each other is increasingly acrimonious. Intelligent, respectful discussion is becoming hard to find. But people are yearning for such experiences. The Walter Peterson Forum for Civil Discourse has been created the Monadnock Center for History and Culture in partnership with the New England Center for Civic Life at Franklin Pierce University, and in collaboration with the Monadnock Ledger Transcript, to honor Walter Peterson and his commitment to fostering open and honest dialogue among individuals and groups with diverse perspectives.

We have been fortunate to open this forum with a succession of prominent speakers. While we hope to continue to draw speakers who are well known and established, we will also  be seeking out speakers representing other perspectives of the political landscape, including people in media, students, activists, and more. Your ideas are welcome, and may be submitted to director@nullmonadnockcenter.org.