Political commentator and CNN senior political analyst David Gergen spoke at the American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons Annual Meeting in New Orleans March 8.
Here are four things to know.
1. Mr. Gergen was the presidential guest speaker at the AAOS special Your Academy 2018 event. He explained that while traditionally democracies have fallen due to military-led coups, populist movements have begun to push nations toward authoritarian rule after the end of the Cold War, citing Turkey and Venezuela as examples.
2. He denounced growing political polarization in the U.S. as becoming "increasingly poisonous."
3. Mr. Gergen claimed that while President Trump "has an intuitive understanding for the spirit of the country," his political inexperience and concerns about the findings of Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation may interfere with his ability to lead. Mr. Gergen said that it is generally accepted, even by President Trump, that Russia meddled in the 2016 election.
4. Mr. Gergen, who served as an adviser in four different presidential administrations, is an optimist in the long-term. He noted that more women and veterans are getting involved in politics and expressed hope for the future. "My view," Mr. Gergen said, "is that those of us who are older ought to fix as much of this as we can, and then we ought to get the heck off the stage and welcome that younger generation, saying, 'It's your turn.' We're going to be in good hands when they come into power."
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