This project is coming to life some thirty years after Louis A. Perez, jr. facetiously suggested that he was considering the prospect of founding a new American political party—the Radical Center. Oxymoron that it is, the term accurately describes the state of the current American political scene. Dr. Perez made his statement soon after the Reagan era, during which time the president would lunch on a regular basis with New England liberal—House Speaker Thomas P. “Tip” O’Neil. They enjoyed one another’s company, and they shared a mutual respect. Any semblance of this proverbial “reaching across the aisle” ended with the passing of the highly respected Supreme Court justices, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Antonin Scalia. Though justices of the high court are not formally identified by party affiliation, the often diametrically opposed opinions, liberal and conservative, held by each respectively, belied the professional respect and personal friendship shared by both. As stated above, however, these days are long past. Since my birth in 1969, the United States has not been as divided as it is today. As such, the mission of Capitol Grounds is to serve as a forum to encourage dialogue, inspired by thoughtful, researched essays, representing both left and right, as well as commentaries and book reviews from equally diverse perspectives. Periodic calls for papers will be directed at members of the academic community, although the opportunity to submit commentaries and book reviews will be open to the wider community, particularly graduate students in the fields of social sciences and the liberal arts. Perhaps Dr. Perez’ term, The Radical Center would have been an appropriate title for this journal, although our founding members would prefer to avoid fueling the alarmist language of the day. Instead, Capitol Grounds seeks to deliver a balance of views which, individually, represent all political views across the spectrum of left to right.