Ken Burns to call for civility in politics, discuss “Prohibition” film at Oct. 3 luncheon

Filmmaker Ken Burns, director and producer of such documentaries as "The Civil War" and "The National Parks" is expected to call for a national discourse on civility during a discussion of his new Public Broadcasting System series, "Prohibition," at a National Press Club luncheon, Monday, Oct. 3.

Burns plans to address lessons learned from the rise and fall of the 18th Amendment, which prohibited the sale of alcohol, and the relationship between civility and democracy in American history.

Burns will explore how Prohibition was designed to protect the public against the effects of alcohol abuse and how it raises relevant questions about individual rights and responsibilities and the proper role of government today.

Tickets are limited to Club members and their guests.

Lunch will be served at 12:30 p.m. with the speech beginning at 1 p.m. and ending at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $18 for Club members and $29 for their guests. To reserve tickets, please e-mail [email protected] or call 202-662-7501. Tickets must be paid for at time of reservation.

To submit a question in advance, put BURNS in the subject line and email to [email protected] before 10 a.m. on the day of the luncheon.

Upcoming Luncheons:

Sept. 29 - Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX, a commercial space exploration and transportation company

Oct. 3 - Ken Burns, award-winning documentary filmmaker

Oct. 5 - Ron Paul, candidate for the Republican presidential nomination

Oct. 13 – Sec. Ray LaHood, U.S. Transportation Secretary

Oct. 31 – Herman Cain, candidate for the Republican presidential nomination