Divided we Fall: Why Consensus Matters

Divided we Fall: Why Consensus Matters by Alice Rivlin ’52, Sheri Rivlin, and Allan Rivlin. Alice Rivlin was a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and a major figure in the field of economic policy, holding positions such as founder of the Congressional Budget Office, head of the Office of Management and Budget, and vice chair of the Federal Reserve Board. Rivlin died in 2019. Toward the end of her life, she had become alarmed at the state of American politics and policy. In response, she began to write Divided We Fall: Why Consensus Matters, which was completed after her death by her son and daughter-in-law.

The Brookings website notes,  “Although she did not live to see the unprecedented and violent turmoil following the 2020 presidential elections, these events underscore the importance of her long and detailed list of ways government insiders and concerned citizens can become involved in the defense of fair and trusted elections, effective policymaking, and truth-based, respectful civil discourse.” (Brookings Institution Press, 2022)