Los Angeles World Affairs Council

History

The Los Angeles World Affairs Council was founded at a meeting on September 8th 1953 in Room 3 of the California Club in downtown Los Angeles. The idea of the four founders - Paul Hoffman, Preston Hotchkis, John McCone and Mrs Frank L. Pellissier, was to present speakers to help Americans better understand the outside world, and the role the US could play in the world. It was part of a loosely affiliated movement nation-wide to form World Affairs Councils to counter the rise of isolationist tendencies that occurred after both World Wars when many Americans were inclined to turn their backs on what some saw as the problems of others.

Specialties

Public programs of the Los Angeles World Affairs Council feature major figures from the field of international relations delivering a speech following a three-course lunch or dinner at an upscale hotel or private club. Events are typically held on weekday evenings or afternoons. These remarks are followed by question-and-answer sessions which allow guests to directly interact with speakers. In addition, upper-level members of the Council are invited to VIP receptions prior to each event, which provides an opportunity to meet and be photographed with the speaker. Students who participate in the Council's High School Program often engage in closed-door discussions with speakers either prior to or directly following events. In addition, authors who appear before the Council are frequently available for book signings following their programs. Speakers at Los Angeles World Affairs Council events typically include top representatives of foreign governments (primarily presidents, prime min