A Forest event in Washington - why not?

Further to my post about liberty-minded journalists leaving the UK to move to Washington DC, it has been suggested that Forest might organise an event there.

What a great idea. I would love that.

My first visit to Washington was in April 1983. As I have mentioned before, I was one of 20 young journalists, all based in Europe, who were invited by the Young America’s Foundation, a Republican youth organisation, to spend two weeks in the capital.

Fourteen days, all expenses paid, including flights and accommodation.

I was 24 at the time and couldn’t believe my luck. The only downside was having to share a room with an inveterate snorer who kept me awake, but now I am a snorer myself I am more tolerant.

The purpose of the visit was to ‘educate’ us on the virtues of Reaganomics. I had no problem with that (although others did) because there were also visits to the White House, the Smithsonian, the Washington Monument, and a day trip to Colonial Williamsburg.

I also made a lifelong friend in Todd Buchholz, who was one of our hosts and later became a leading economist and White House advisor.

Four years later I returned to Washington or, more specifically, Georgetown where I was sent to do some research.

At the time a friend of mine was working in Washington for the Adam Smith Institute and I stayed at his house.

It was in July, I think, and it was hot. The house had air conditioning but only in one room and I remember the joy of that first blast of cold air when we came in from the heat outside and switched it on.

I also remember thinking I wouldn’t mind getting a job in DC and working there for maybe five years.

I didn’t pursue it (something I slightly regret) so it never happened, but I’ve been back a couple of times since then, the last time for a GTNF conference in 2022.

Organising a Forest event in Washington would be fun and it could be useful as a networking exercise.

The problem is the cost (we don’t have the money for it), and even if we did we would need to justify the expense.

Washington is awash with political events (and lobbyists). Nevertheless, with several friendly and familiar faces now working there, this could be the moment to do something.

See also: Washington memories

Above: Overlooking the White House, September 2022; below: Georgetown during a short visit to Washington in 2014

See: Will the last liberty-minded journalist to leave Britain please turn out the lights?