Harvard Kennedy School professor Leah Rigueur lays out a new understanding of the interaction between African-Americans and the Republican Party, exploring the seemingly incongruous intersection of civil rights and American conservatism. Her book, “The Loneliness of the Black Republican,” delves into four decades of history from the New Deal to Reagan’s ascent in 1980. This […]
In November 1974, following the historic Watergate scandal, Americans voiced their displeasure with the GOP by electing a wave of 76 Democratic freshmen to the U.S. House of Representatives. Commonly referred to as “Watergate Babies,” some characterized them as idealistic and naïve, while others point to their work championing unprecedented reforms in Washington. Author John […]
In the waning years of the American Revolutionary War, Deborah Sampson felt a higher calling as she heard news of the rebellion while in Massachusetts. Her response? The former indentured servant and schoolteacher disguised herself in men’s clothing and enlisted in the Continental Army under the name “Robert Shurtlieff.” Historical interpreter Judith Kalaora visits the […]
Proposed after the Civil War and ratified in 1868, the 14th Amendment is perhaps the single most important amendment to the Constitution. The 14th Amendment guaranteed citizenship to the former slaves and their descendants, and it also guaranteed “due process of law” and “equal protection of the laws” with respect to actions by state and […]
In strained political times, Better Angels is taking on deep divisions in the United States. A nonpartisan nonprofit, the core of the group’s mission is to heal political divides in our nation through community-based alliances, workshops and constructive debate. Regional coordinator Rob Robertson arrives for a program examining Better Angels and its approach to reducing […]
Nathan K. Finney and Tyrell O. Mayfield, editors of the new book “Redefining the Modern Military: The Intersection of Profession and Ethics,” join the institute to discuss the importance of re-examining the profession of arms during and between conflicts, as well the impact of modern warfare and social online communications on the military. This is […]
One of the last remaining Holocaust survivors living in Kansas City, Sonia Warshawski is a bridge between cultures and generations. Fondly nicknamed “Big Sonia” for her diminutive stature and larger-than-life personality, Warshawski has served as an inspirational public speaker at schools and prisons while running the tailor shop she’s owned for over 30 years. Join […]
Follow up the screening of “Big Sonia” with an in-person visit from the film’s titular subject, Sonia Warshawski. Joined by her daughter, Regina Kort, Warshawski will discuss her experiences as a survivor of the Holocaust and reflect on the documentary made by her granddaughter, Leah Warshawski.
Hal Wert visits to present a new window on understanding a watershed event in our nation’s history. Using a vast collection of poster art, poster stamps, banners and programs issued during World War II, Wert focuses on those who gave of their artistic talents to design posters that were aimed at the heart of Americans. […]
Is intelligence gathering in the 21st century more like James Bond, Jack Ryan… or something else entirely? A 35-year veteran of the U.S. national security community, Ron Marks will guide guests through the realities and challenges of a career in intelligence. Marks worked as a CIA official and clandestine service officer before later serving as […]
A longtime staffer under President Ronald Reagan, Mark Weinberg shares an intimate look inside the Reagan presidency — told through the movies they watched together every week at Camp David. In a program that will fascinate movie buffs and history aficionados alike, Weinberg highlights several of the captivating stories and iconic films outlined in his […]
In an era of sharp polarization, author Ira Shapiro places the U.S. Senate at “ground zero for America’s political dysfunction.” Shapiro visits for a talk on his latest book, “Broken: Can the Senate Save Itself and the Country?” His writing offers a frank assessment of the Senate’s current political climate and examines possible solutions to […]
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