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In 1995, Lamar Alexander, then a former Governor and cabinet secretary preparing a run for the presidency, and Chester Finn, then a »ªÌå»á Senior Fellow, published The New Promise of American Life (»ªÌå»á Press). The critically acclaimed volume examined how the expansion of the federal government—which began during the Progressive Era and continued through World War II and Vietnam—might be reversed through a devolution of power to states, localities, and civil society; and through a renewed culture of voluntarism and entrepreneurship.

Fifteen years later, as the 112th Congress prepares to take office, »ªÌå»á hosted a conference to re-examine the themes of The New Promise of American Life, to examine why this vision got derailed post-1995, and how it is even more urgent post-2010. Senator Lamar Alexander (R-TN), now the Chair of the Senate Republican Conference, keynoted the event and offer his candid reflections on "Less from Washington, More of Ourselves."