On election day, we had the great opportunity to talk to Richard. T. Arndt. Mr. Arndt started his career as a professor for 18th-century literature at Columbia University before taking up cultural diplomacy with the US Information Agency and the Department of State. Since retiring from this job in 1985, he has been working in senior positions for various universities and foundations, including the Fulbright Association, the National Peace Foundation, and Americans for UNESCO. In 2007, he published a book on cultural diplomacy called “The King’s First Resort”.

In our conversation with Mr. Arndt, he provided his insights on the United States’ standing in the world, on Obama’s accomplishments, on political and social divisions in his country, and on the idea of the American Dream.