2018 | 1 to 44: The Best and the Worst of American Presidents
2018-02-25 00:00 - 2018-03-14 00:00 (America/Chicago)
Presidential historian and former Dole Institute director Richard Norton Smith returns for a deep dive into presidential rankings and what they can teach us. Smith will guide the audience through an examination of the executive office from the exalted to the ignoble, with his participation in the annual C-SPAN Presidential Historians Survey serving as a backdrop. How do time and history shape our viewpoints of a president’s success or failure? A ranking is only the beginning of the story.

Ranking the Presidents
2/25/2018

Time, history and context can transform our perception of a president’s leadership — both for better and for worse. After all, presidential ratings are hardly etched in stone. Smith introduces the series by examining the multiple factors that cause ratings to fluctuate like the Kansas weather in April.

Learning from Success
2/27/2018

Take a look at the faces carved on Mount Rushmore, often considered giants of the American presidency. What can we learn from these, and other, successful chief executives? Smith draws upon various examples, dissecting each for their enduring lessons and relevant qualities.

Learning from Failure
3/12/2018

There is much to be learned about the presidency from both success and failure. Smith selects from a handful of less-than-stellar presidents, from James Buchanan and Franklin Pierce to Warren G. Harding and beyond, exploring what we might learn from their time in office.

Ranking the Modern Presidents, Kennedy to Obama
3/14/2018

Using the lessons learned from the first three installments of the series, Smith will guide the audience through the highs and lows of the last 10 presidencies. Spanning over 55 years of tumultuous history, these leaders presided over critical events that continue to affect our nation today.

The German Homefront Experience, 1939-1945
2018-03-01 00:00
Emphasizing multiple perspectives from disparate groups, Mark Hull will focus on the lives of everyday Germans during World War II. What they ate, what they saw in their local public spaces, what they read and their understanding and response to the war’s events changed dramatically as the war took an ever-greater personal toll. This talk will describe the increasingly desperate steps taken by the National Socialist state to maintain civil order and morale in the face of looming catastrophe.

Leadership and Globalization in Sports: Bob Kendrick
2018-03-06 00:00
The president of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, Bob Kendrick arrives to discuss the museum, a Kansas City institution. The NLBM is dedicated to preserving the rich history of African-American baseball in the U.S. Kendrick will share insight into the museum, the storied history of Negro League baseball and his close friendship with Kansas City and Major League Baseball legend Buck O’Neil.

Responses To WWI: Stadiums, Quarintines, Altruism and Resistance
2018-03-08 00:00
Explore the many ways in which the Great War changed the world, from prisoner of war camps in Switzerland, to resistance movements in Belgium, memorial stadiums in the U.S. and a quarantine law in Kansas. A panel of KU faculty, staff and students will share research they conducted for doctoral dissertations and senior honors theses, as well as discuss a First-Year Seminar taught each year of the centenary.
This program is hosted in partnership with the KU WWI Commemoration Committee.

The Loneliness of the Black Republican
2018-03-29 00:00
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 program is hosted in partnership with the KU Department of African & African-American Studies and includes a book sale and signing.

The Class of '74: Congress after Watergate
2018-04-04 00:00
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 Lawrence joins KU Professor Burdett Loomis for a conversation on the complex politics that emerged in the wake of Watergate. This program includes a book sale and signing.

America's Response to the Holocaust
2018-04-05 00:00
The U.S. has a proud tradition of serving as a haven for Europe’s cast offs — yet immediately before and throughout World War II, America shut its doors to refugees fleeing the oppression of the Nazis. No group suffered more from this than Europe’s Jews. David Cotter analyzes the ideological battle between isolationists and internationalists in the U.S. by assessing how President Franklin D. Roosevelt managed competing factions within his administration. The talk will provide an intriguing look at the ambivalence of America’s response to the Holocaust.

Ambassador Vlora Çitaku
2018-04-15 00:00
“I was not in a position to choose whether I want[ed] to be an artist or actor or astronaut or mathematician or linguist or lawyer. That’s not an option when you’re not free because you fight for life and death. And that’s how I and that’s how everybody in my generation became politically active. We were fighting for freedom.” – Vlora Çitaku, 2017 at the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace & Security
The Dole Institute will host Vlora Çitaku, ambassador of the Republic of Kosovo to the United States, for the 2018 Dole Lecture. The first sitting ambassador to visit the Dole Institute, Çitaku will discuss her career in international diplomacy and her work on behalf of the young Republic of Kosovo. The nation recently marked the 10th anniversary of its declaration of independence from Serbia on Feb. 17, 2008.
Once a refugee with her sisters, Çitaku was separated from her parents and deported by the Serbian military during the Kosovo War in 1999. She would later return following the U.S.-led air campaign in Kosovo and enter politics. She has served in the Kosovo General Assembly and as the nation’s deputy foreign minister, acting foreign minister and consul general of the Republic of Kosovo’s mission in New York City.
This event is co-sponsored by the KU Center for Global and International Studies, the KU Center for Russian, East European and Eurasian Studies, and the KU Office of Graduate Military Programs.

The Great War in East Asia
2018-05-03 00:00
Most of the world focused its attention on events in Europe during the First World War, but many changes were brought to the Far East as well. Both China and Korea suffered from Japan’s favorable treatment in the Treaty of Versailles, adding to the ongoing political upheavals in both countries. The U.S., meanwhile, maintained a military role in both China and the Philippines while joining other allied states in operations in Russia. Joseph G.D. Babb explores the events in the Far East during this period that served as harbingers of the dramatic political changes and major conflicts in the coming decades.

Vicissitudes of Violence: Fear, Physiology, and Behavior under Fire
2018-06-07 00:00
In battle, every soldier’s reaction is unique. The related range of brain chemistry reactions, acquired coping skills and shaping behavioral norms are so diverse that the concept of a “universal soldier” response to combat loses all meaning. Dr. Ed Coss leads an examination of this interactive process, clarifying what soldiers experience in battle and why they react as they do—a matter of supreme significance when using history as a lens to examine human behavior.

HISTORICAL INTERPRETER | Judith Kalaora on Deborah Sampson
2018-07-11 00:00
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 Dole Institute to bring Sampson’s fascinating story to life, including Sampson’s arduous upbringing, years in active combat and success as a professional soldier.

The Forgotten Home Front
2018-08-02 00:00
Often called the “Forgotten War,” the Korean War was, in fact, the ignored war. It was ignored not because Americans did not care, but because they cared too much about the threat posed by Communism and the Soviet Union. Dr. Janet Valentine examines the Korean War home front in context of America’s fear of Soviet Communism and the possibility of nuclear annihilation.

The Italian Home Front in World War II
2018-09-06 00:00
A wide variety of complex and diverse aspects defined the Italian experience as both enemy and ally during World War II. Lou DiMarco will lead an examination of these themes, drawing on topics such as daily life in Italy during the war, the role of the Mafia and the Italian resistance movement. The Italian experience was unique in many ways and greatly impacted the formation of the post-war Italian Republic.

The Kansas Midterms
2018-09-11 00:00
The race to Election Day is heating up, providing one of the state’s most fascinating midterm cycles in recent memory. Guests can get an inside look at many of the seats in play at the 2018 Journalism and Politics Lecture. A panel of Kansas journalists discuss how they cover the midterm elections, highlight key races across the state and predict what might happen on Election Day. Panelists will include Mary Clarkin of the Hutchinson News, Jim McLean of the Kansas News Service, Caroline Sweeney of KCTV5 and Hunter Woodall of the Kansas City Star.

2018 FALL | Political Campaigns, Top to Bottom: Data, Door Knocking and the 2018 Midterms
2018-09-12 08:00 - 2018-10-24 17:00
Dole Fellow Kelly Dietrich
Technology has transformed every aspect of the modern political campaign, from polling to messaging to fundraising and beyond. Kelly Dietrich, founder of the National Democratic Training Committee (NDTC) and KU alumnus, leads a discussion group series on the midterm elections and their intersection with tech and data. Dietrich and his guests will glean real-world examples from the midterms as they happen, offering audience members an unparalleled look at the inner workings of today’s campaigns.

Crafting a Winning Message in the Age of Trump: Is All Politics Still Local?
9/12/2018

Every campaign struggles with how to communicate with voters. The maxim used to be, “All politics is local.” Does this hold true in today’s charged political atmosphere? How can local campaigns cut through the national focus on the Trump administration?

Targeting Voters: Big Data at the Local Level
9/19/2018

How do campaigns, with more personal data on voters available than ever, decide who to target to win? How can this data be used in traditional campaign activities like canvassing? Kelly Dietrich is joined by John Hagner, partner with Clarity Campaign Labs, and Jason Perkey, vice president at JVA Campaigns and political consultant for TargetSmart. Hagner oversees consulting and strategic service offerings, working with clients like the Democratic Governor’s Association, EMILY’s List and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. Perkey works for the nation’s leading data, technology and consulting firm and has been involved in local, state and national political campaigns for over a decade, including Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential run.

The Small Money Revolution: How Tech is Changing How Campaigns Are Funded
9/26/2018

National campaigns are experiencing major shifts in the ability to solicit and collect low-dollar contributions from individuals across the country. How does this affect local campaigns and how can they compete with larger organizations and candidates? For this conversation, Kelly Dietrich will welcome Lily Gold, director of strategic operations for Mothership Strategies. Gold currently leads a team that focuses on email fundraising for Democrats around the country. She previously worked for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, raising $70 million in online donations in 2014 alone.

Social, Text, Email, Digital, Mail and TV: Communicating with Voters of Every Age
10/3/2018

For decades, the mainstay of any political communication plan was TV and mail. Now, digital and social media advertising are challenging the supremacy of the old ways and offering cheaper alternatives for candidates to communicate with even more specific voters. How are these tools being adopted on local campaigns? How do they change a campaign’s priorities and relationship with its supporters? Kelly Dietrich is joined in conversation by Valerie Martin, co-founder of Silversmith Strategies, and Danielle Winterhalter, managing director of SpeakEasy Political. Specializing in fundraising, campaign management and media, Martin has also managed two U.S. Senate races and worked in fundraising on Sen. Claire McCaskill’s 2006 upset victory in Missouri. Winterhalter owns experience as a campaign manager, policy director and political consultant for Democratic candidates, progressive causes and labor organizations.

Polling and Data: How do we Track and Predict the Outcome of Elections?
10/10/2018

Polling is always one of the focal points for the public’s attention leading up to elections. In 2016, very few pollsters forecasted the Trump win accurately. Some blame this on the Clinton campaign’s reliance on analytics and modeling, rather than polling and door-to-door experience. Can polling and data work together in the future?

The Future of State and Local Parties in the Candidate-Driven Campaign Era
10/17/2018

Most individuals have no idea what state and local parties actually do. Given our candidate-centric culture, how do parties continue to provide service and value to the party and their candidates? What will their role be in the future of politics? Kelly Dietrich is joined in conversation by Vicki Hiatt, Jim Joice and Ken Martin. Hiatt is a KU graduate and retired teacher who now serves as vice chair of the Kansas Democratic Party. In her current role, Hiatt works to recruit and train candidates throughout the state of Kansas. Joice is currently the executive director of the Kansas Republican Party. He began his career working for Rep. Kevin Yoder and later served with Kansas Senate Majority Leader Jim Denning. Martin is a vice chair for the Democratic National Committee (DNC), president of the Association of State Democratic Chairs (ASDC) and chair of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) Party. A KU graduate, he has worked on many different campaigns over the years including three Presidential campaigns, Kerry ’04, Gore ’00, and Clinton ’92, as well as countless federal, state, and local efforts.

What the Heck will Happen? Predictions Ahead of November 2018
10/24/2018

The last session ahead of the 2018 mid-terms, this is a chance to predict election results, focus on bigger trends, individual tactics and strategies, and interpret what it could all mean for 2019 and 2020. Kelly Dietrich welcomes Michael Blake and Marlon Marshall for this conversation. Blake is currently a state assembly member in New York and vice chair of the Democratic National Committee. He was previously White House Associate Director of Public Engagement and Deputy Associate Director of the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, and National Deputy Operation Vote Director for President Barack Obama in 2012. Marshall is a founding partner of 270 Strategies, KU alumnus and Dole Institute Board of Advisors member. Marshall has previously served as special assistant to the President and principal deputy director in the Obama White House Office of Public Engagement. He was director of states and political engagement for the Hillary for America campaign and deputy national field director for President Obama’s re-election campaign in 2012.

2018 CONSTITUTION DAY | Celebrating the 150th Anniversary of the 14th Amendment
2018-09-18 00:00
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 local governments. Over time and as interpreted by the U.S. Supreme Court, the 14th Amendment has dramatically expanded the civil rights of all Americans and been the basis for landmark Supreme Court decisions in the areas of racial discrimination, gender discrimination, same-sex discrimination, criminal justice and privacy rights. Explore the amendment’s history, importance and enduring legacy in a discussion with Stephen McAllister, U.S. Attorney for the District of Kansas, Senior Judge John Lungstrum of the U.S. District Court (District of Kansas) and Chief Judge Julie Robinson of the U.S. District Court (District of Kansas).

2018 | Military and Veteran Caregivers
2018-09-30 00:00
When Sen. Bob Dole was hospitalized at Walter Reed Hospital in 2011, Sen. Elizabeth Dole became a firsthand witness to the hardships experienced by the caregivers to our nation’s veterans. The experience prompted her to found the Elizabeth Dole Foundation in support of military caregivers. The 2018 Elizabeth Dole Women in Leadership Lecture will focus on the frontlines of this care crisis. The panel discussion will include Meg Kabat, national director of the Caregiver Support Program for the Department of Veteran Affairs, and Dole Foundation caregiver fellows Robyn Loveland of Nebraska and Carolyn Tolliver-Lee of Kansas.

Retreats, Riots and Reds: The Russian Annus Horribilis
2018-10-04 00:00
When Tsar Nicholas II took personal command of the Imperial Russian Army in 1915, he hoped to salvage the military situation on the eastern front. The issues on the front line paled, however, in comparison to the troubles at home. Sean Kalic and Gates Brown illustrate the vital connection between the home front and the front line of battle by examining the impacts of the Russian revolutions on the Russian army.

Better Angels: Can We Depolarize America?
2018-10-04 00:00
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 political polarization.

Military Professionalism in the Modern Age
2018-10-09 00:00
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 the kick-off book release event for “Redefining the Modern Military,” and will include a book sale and signing with the editors.

“Big Sonia” Screening and Filmmaker Q&A
2018-10-12 00:00
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 the institute for a screening of the documentary “Big Sonia,” which offers a portrait of the power of love and hope over bigotry. A Q&A will follow the screening with filmmaker Leah Warshawski, Sonia’s granddaughter.

In Conversation with Sonia Warshawski
2018-10-19 00:00
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.

Work, Fight, Give: American Relief Posters of World War II
2018-10-25 00:00
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. The poster imagery employed by the National War Fund and its relief agencies will allow guests to experience the stupendous effort to aid those in need.

Unmasking the Spy: Intelligence Gathering
2018-10-30 00:00
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 intelligence counsel to Senate Majority Leaders Bob Dole and Trent Lott.

The War of 1812 on the Home Front
2018-11-01 00:00
The War of 1812 brought great danger to those whose homes sat at the overlap between the home front and the fighting front. Many along the 37-mile long Niagara River witness raids and violence in both directions. The most powerful and destructive operation occurred in December 1813—when it was over, every home along the river except one was burned to the ground, and hundreds of American civilians were forced to flee. Rich Barbuto shares this fascinating tale as November’s installment of the Ft. Leavenworth series.

James A. Baker III
2018-11-07 00:00
The Dole Institute of Politics will honor former U.S. Secretary of State James A. Baker III with the 2018 Dole Leadership Prize. Baker served in senior government positions under three U.S. presidents, including as the nation’s 61st secretary of state under President George H.W. Bush. During that time, Baker traveled to 90 foreign countries as the United States confronted the unprecedented challenges and opportunities of the post–Cold War era. He also served as White House chief of staff and secretary of the treasury under President Ronald Reagan, and as White House chief of staff for Bush. Baker’s career in public service began in 1975 under President Gerald Ford. He is currently the honorary chairman of the James. A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy at Rice University.

2018 Kansas Post-Election Conference
2018-11-28 00:00
Explore the 2018 Kansas elections and their implications in this conference with political experts, journalists and strategists from across the state. Panelists will include:
Kerry Gooch, campaign manager, Paul Davis campaign
C.J. Grover, campaign manager, Kevin Yoder campaign
John Hanna, correspondent, Associated Press
Pat Leopold, campaign manager, Steve Watkins campaign
Daniel McNamara, campaign manager, Sharice Davids campaign
Patrick Miller, assistant professor of political science, the University of Kansas
Jared Suhn, principal, The Singularis Group
Caroline Sweeney, reporter, KCTV5
Hunter Woodall, political reporter, The Kansas City Star
Jordanna Zeigler, campaign manager, Laura Kelly campaign
Representatives from the Kris Kobach and Greg Orman campaigns were invited to attend.

2018 National Post-Election Conference
2018-12-05 00:00 - 2018-12-06 00:00
The Dole Institute’s nationally-recognized Post-Election Conference delves into the key strategies of elections to examine how and why they are won and lost. A panel of journalists, pollsters, campaign strategists and political consultants will visit the institute to dissect the midterms and what the results could mean for 2020. Panelists will include:
Jason Bresler, national political director, Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC)
Randy Brown, vice president, Edison Research
Eliza Collins, Congressional reporter, USA Today
Kelly Dietrich, founder, National Democratic Training Committee and Fall 2018 Dole Fellow
Jennifer Duffy, senior editor, Cook Political Report
Jessica Flanagain, senior vice president, Axiom Strategies
Katie Glueck, senior national political correspondent, McClatchy D.C.
Jim Jonas, senior communication strategist, Centennial Strategies and Spring 2018 Dole Fellow
Michele L. Watley, Democratic strategist and consultant
Schedule
2:30 p.m. – Event begins
3:30 p.m. – 15 minute break
4:30 p.m. – Event concludes

Mr. Polk’s War
2018-12-13 00:00
A sharp divide characterized the relationship between the home front and the front line during the Mexican-American War of 1846-1848. Despite advances in communication technology, most Americans viewed war through a romantic lens, which bore little resemblance to the reality of the soldier experience. Greg Hospodor addresses the gulf between those two perceptions and its later implications.

Field Marshal William Slim
2019-01-03 00:00
In the fall of 1942 and spring of 1943, the British-led Allied forces in Burma were defeated by a smaller but better-prepared and better-led Japanese army. At this crucial time, a little-known officer named Lieutenant General William Slim took command of the multinational force that had known only defeat at the hands of the Japanese. Slim had the daunting task of forging the British, Nepalese, Indian (Hindu, Sikh and Muslim troops), West and East African, Chinese and American forces into a fighting element that could meet and best the Japanese army. David Cotter shares this fascinating tale and answers the question: could Slim change defeat into victory?
