Walt Riker & Clarkson Hine

The 2022 Dole Lecture will be held on April 14 at 7 p.m. Presented each spring, the lecture commemorates the date when Bob Dole was critically wounded while serving in Italy during World War II. The Dole Lecture honors Senator Dole’s courageous recovery and continuing commitment to serve the nation. This year’s special guest speakers are Walt Riker and Clarkson Hine. Riker and Hine both served as Press Secretary for Senator Bob Dole during his historic time in the U.S. Senate and on the presidential campaign trail. Riker and Hine will discuss the evolution of the media cycle, share their experiences crafting partisan messaging and reflect on bipartisan leadership.

Walt Riker was the vice president of Corporate Media Relations at McDonald’s Corporation for more than 17 years and is now a freelance communications consultant. He served as Press Secretary for Senator Bob Dole from 1981-93 and was a Kansas Statehouse correspondent and reporter for WIBW in Topeka, Kansas. Riker graduated from KU’s William Allen White School of Journalism in 1978.

Clarkson Hine is Senior Vice President – Corporate Communications & Public Affairs at Beam Suntory, a world leader in premium spirits. He leads the company’s global communications, brand PR and public affairs functions. Before entering business, Clarkson served for seven years in senior communications positions on the Senate Leadership, presidential campaign and post-election staffs of Senator Bob Dole, including three years as Press Secretary during Dole’s high-profile tenure as both Minority and Majority Leader of the United States Senate. A native of New York City, Clarkson is a cum laude graduate of Cornell University.

At the program, we will also honor the 2022 student recipients of the Robert J. Dole Service to Country Award and Elizabeth Dole Public Service Award

The Robert J. Dole Service to Country Award was established by John D. Pinegar, Douglas E. Smith and Pinegar, Smith & Associates, Inc. to provide a $1000 award each year to a student of the University of Kansas who is an active member of the Dole Institute Student Advisory Board (SAB).

The Elizabeth Dole Public Service Award was established by John D. Pinegar, Douglas E. Smith, and Kathleen M. Smith to provide a $1000 award each year to a student of the University of Kansas who is an active member of the Dole Institute Student Advisory Board (SAB).

For more information on the awards, please visit: https://doleinstitute.org/get-involved/awards-and-financial-assistance/