Mr. Polk’s War
2018-12-13 00:00 (America/Chicago)
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?

2019 | Follow the Leader: Four Women’s Journeys in Public Service
2019-02-11 00:00 - 2019-03-25 00:00
Public service leadership has many faces, and no two paths are the same. Four female leaders from various stages of their public service careers will join the Dole Institute to discuss how they prepared to take on their leadership roles and how they mentor others to follow in their footsteps. Both inspirational and practical, this series will remind audience members that there are always opportunities to lead from where they stand.

Early Career: Christina Ostmeyer
2/11/2019

A recent KU graduate and former Dole Institute Student Advisory Board student coordinator, Christina Ostmeyer will share her journey from student to nonprofit professional. Ostmeyer is communications director for Kansas Appleseed, a local nonpartisan advocacy organization dedicated to vulnerable and excluded Kansans.

Mid-Career: Danielle Rudes
2/12/2019

Danielle Rudes is an associate professor and the associate director of advancing correctional excellence at George Mason University. Rudes will discuss using research for the public good and how she translates her academic scholarship for both policy and practitioner audiences.

Beyond the Career: Mary Lou Jaramillo
2/26/2019

Mary Lou Jaramillo’s public service career spans 50 years—much of it focused on executive responsibilities for nonprofit human service organizations in the Kansas City area. She is the former executive director of El Centro in Kansas City, Kan., and the Mattie Rhoades Center in Kansas City, Mo. She currently serves on the board of directors for the Kansas Leadership Center and the Francis Family Foundation. Jaramillo is co-founder of the Johnson County Latina Leadership Network and works with a variety of public service organizations in the Johnson County area.

Established Career: Julie Robinson
3/25/2019

Chief Judge Julie Robinson is the first African-American named to the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas. A graduate of KU and KU Law, Robinson will discuss public service from the judiciary and how she mentors women to follow her lead.

2019 SPRING | International Trade in the 21st Century
2019-02-13 08:00 - 2019-04-03 17:00
Dole Fellow Ethan Corson
Read more about Dole Fellows >>
Once considered an area of bipartisan consensus, support has eroded for the idea that free trade benefits the U.S. and that engagement with the global economy is essential to the nation’s economic growth.
An alumnus of the U.S. Department of Commerce and the current executive director of the Kansas Democratic Party, Dole Fellow Ethan Corson leads an exploration of the issues surrounding international trade, including the different approaches taken by recent presidential administrations. Corson and his guests will dissect arguments for and against free trade and provide the historical context for understanding today’s debate.

The Big Ideas in International Trade, from Truman to Obama
2/13/2019

Ethan Corson and guest Scott Handler kick off our spring discussion group series with a look at the ideological underpinning for U.S. trade policy since the 1940s. Handler previously served as a White House Fellow and special advisor to the U.S. Secretary of Commerce. His work focused on international trade issues including digital trade, promoting entrepreneurship abroad and strategic initiatives. He is currently the chief information security officer and head of partnerships at WireWheel.

The Collapsing Consensus: Trade in the Era of Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders
2/20/2019

Free trade was once considered an area of broad bipartisan consensus. Is trade really to blame for some of the negative effects attributed to it, or is it a scapegoat for other, larger challenges in the U.S. economy? Joining Ethan Corson in conversation is Arun Venkataraman. Venkataraman has more than 15 years of experience advising government officials on trade and economic policy. Most recently, he served as director of policy for the International Trade Administration in the U.S. Department of Commerce. He is currently trade and policy advisor at Steptoe.

A View from the Capitol: How Congress Looks at International Trade
2/27/2019

Ethan Corson and Jordan Haas break down the politics of trade from the perspective of those who have worked on the issue with members of Congress. Haas played a lead role in advancing Barack Obama’s trade legislative agenda, including serving as director of legislative and intergovernmental affairs for the International Trade Administration in the U.S. Department of Commerce. In his current position, he works as the director of trade policy for the Internet Association.

Trump’s Trade Policies, Two Years In
3/6/2019

This session presents a deep dive into the policy decisions, philosophies and results of the Trump Administration’s approach to international trade. Ethan Corson and guest Atman Trivedi will break down a host of topics, including the withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership, tariffs, trade wars and bilateral trade agreements. Trivedi served as senior director for policy in global markets at the U.S. Department of Commerce, and as chief of staff in the U.S. State Department’s International Security and Nonproliferation bureau. He is currently managing director of Hills and Company International Consultants.

Were Dorothy’s Ruby Slippers Made in China? How Trade Affects Kansas
3/20/2019

In the fifth week of discussion groups, Ethan Corson adopts a local perspective. Alongside guest Mike Matson, Corson will shift the focus to the ways that trade and policy decisions affect the Sunflower State. Matson is the director of industry affairs and development for the Kansas Farm Bureau, a non-profit farm organization that works to strengthen agriculture and the lives of Kansans through advocacy, education and research.

Talking Trade: How the Messaging around Trade Shapes Public Opinion
3/27/2019

Public perception of trade and policy decisions can be heavily shaped by the messaging of a presidential administration. Ethan Corson unpacks the communications strategy of senior officials with U.S. Department of Commerce alumna Meghan Groob. Groob served in a variety of messaging roles in the department of commerce, including as director of speechwriting and deputy director of public affairs. She is currently editorial director at Gates Ventures.

Trade Enforcement: How Trade Disputes are Resolved
4/3/2019

Once a trade agreement is signed, how does the U.S. make sure the terms are followed? Former U.S. Department of Commerce chief counsel for trade enforcement and compliance John McInerney joins Ethan Corson to examine the finer points of trade enforcement, including how U.S. industries seek relief from unfairly traded imports, “dumping,” countervailing duties and more. McInerney served as the chief legal advisor to the department of commerce for antidumping and countervailing duty matters, and was involved in almost every major administrative proceeding, negotiation, litigation and dispute relating to these laws during that period. He has briefed and argued cases before the U.S. Court of International Trade, the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, NAFTA panels, WTO Panels and the WTO Appellate body.

Maurice de Saxe: Marshal-General of France
2019-02-14 00:00
He could reportedly crush a horseshoe with one hand. He was one of perhaps 300 illegitimate children of a Saxon prince. He was a German noble who became a French national hero. Dr. Jonathan Abel shares the tale of Hermann Moritz, later known as Maurice de Saxe, owner of one of the most storied military careers in French history. He led French armies to great victories in the War of Austrian Succession, and his memoirs, titled “Mes reveries,” would become a standard of military history and theory during the 18th century.

General Major Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck
2019-03-07 00:00
From August 1914 until the after the Armistice in 1918, Generalmajor Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck conducted a one-sided campaign against the British Empire in east Africa. Lettow-Vorbeck employed superior tactics and stealth against an impossibly large enemy, preserving the lives of his soldiers and civilians while the harsh environment and disease devastated Allied ranks. The Germans would grudgingly surrender only after news of the Armistice reached them. Mark Hull shares the story of a military leader who would retain the loyalty of his men and the admiration of his former enemies until his death in 1964.

POLITICAL PAGE-TURNERS: SPRING BOOK SERIES | Movie Nights with the Reagans
2019-03-07 00:00
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 memoir, “Movie Nights with the Reagans.” Weinberg is a former speechwriter and adviser to Reagan, serving on the 1980 campaign traveling staff, eight years in the White House and two years thereafter as Reagan’s post-presidential spokesman.

POLITICAL PAGE-TURNERS: SPRING BOOK SERIES | Broken: Can the Senate Save Itself and the Country?
2019-03-19 00:00
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 the quagmire. A former U.S. Senate staffer and leading U.S. trade negotiator, Shapiro ultimately earned the rank of ambassador during his time in government.

POLITICAL PAGE-TURNERS: SPRING BOOK SERIES | An Evening with Major Garrett
2019-04-02 00:00
With over two decades of experience reporting on the White House, Major Garrett has had a front-row seat to modern presidential history. He has covered four presidencies for three news outlets and currently serves as the chief Washington correspondent for CBS News. In this can’t-miss program, Garrett will discuss his career in journalism, the twists and turns of covering our nation’s highest office, and his latest book, “Mr. Trump’s Wild Ride.”

Lieutenant General J.C.H. “Jesus Christ Himself” Lee
2019-04-04 00:00
When the U.S. entered World War II as a belligerent, its army ranked 17th in the world in terms of capability. In May 1942, Army Chief of Staff George C. Marshall plucked a hitherto obscure Corps of Engineers officer from his duties and put him in charge of all Army sustainment operations in what would become the European theater of operations. Who was Gen. John Clifford Hodges Lee, what did he accomplish, and why is he remembered in such a dim light by some historians? Dr. Tom Hanson presents an overview of Gen. Lee’s life and career, and explores why his contributions loom much larger than his detractors would admit.

Carly Fiorina
2019-04-14 00:00
The Dole Institute is delighted to welcome Carly Fiorina for the 2019 Dole Lecture. The first woman ever to lead a Fortune 50 company, Fiorina is the former CEO of HP and a best-selling author, and she was a 2016 candidate for president. Guided by her new book, “Find Your Way: Unleash Your Power and Highest Potential,” Fiorina will share reflections and leadership lessons gleaned from her long career in both for-profit and nonprofit settings. This program includes a book sale and signing.

Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Tedder
2019-05-02 00:00
Join Dr. Harry Laver for an exploration of a man that Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower referred to as “one of the few great military leaders of our time.” Air Marshal Sir Arthur Tedder of the Royal Air Force served as Eisenhower’s deputy supreme commander for the June 1944 Overlord campaign in Normandy, and then on to the conclusion of World War II. He made significant contributions to the Allied victory, and consistently supported Eisenhower during the most contentious episodes of the war.

Lieutenant General Stapleton Cotton
2019-06-06 00:00
Stapleton Cotton, later Field Marshal Stapleton Cotton, first Viscount Combermere, was cavalry commander under the Duke of Wellington for nearly six years in the Peninsula War. Yet, at Waterloo, he was not invited to command Wellington’s cavalry. Mark T. Gerges examines Cotton’s early career in the Peninsula and his role in the command of Wellington’s cavalry.

HISTORICAL INTERPRETER | Miriam Reed on Susan B. Anthony
2019-07-10 00:00

Crown Prince Frederick of Prussia
2019-08-01 00:00
The unification of Germany was forged by the Hohenzollern dynasty, one of the more remarkable ruling houses Europe ever saw. Given this history, there were high expectations for Frederick William, the eldest son of Wilhelm I, when Prussia began its campaign to unify Germany. Ethan S. Rafuse discusses one of the most fascinating figures in the history of Imperial Germany. Frederick William was not only an able soldier, but, with his wife Victoria, hoped to be a force for liberalism and European peace.

In Conversation with Kevin Willmott
2019-09-11 00:00
With work on titles like “BlacKkKlansman,” “C.S.A.: The Confederate States of America,” “Jayhawkers” and beyond, Kevin Willmott is both a renowned filmmaker and a local legend. Willmott will join the Dole Institute for a conversation on his diverse career as a director, screenwriter, producer, civil rights activist and KU professor. A native of Junction City, Willmott shared the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay with Spike Lee in 2019 for the duo’s collaboration on “BlacKkKlansman.”

Frank Jack Fletcher: Unsung Hero
2019-09-12 00:00
Frank Jack Fletcher commanded carrier task forces in the critical first year of World War II in the Pacific. He served as senior commander in three famous naval battles (the Coral Sea, Midway and the Eastern Solomons), winning all three and damaging the Japanese Navy, which prevented it from accomplishing its operational objectives. John Kuehn leads an exploration of Fletcher’s accomplishments and examines why the commander has been largely forgotten by history.

Prospects for Peace in Afghanistan
2019-09-17 00:00
A former minister of the interior for Afghanistan and Afghan ambassador to Germany, Ali Ahmad Jalali has written extensively on the military history of the country. He visits the institute to look at the current state of affairs in the nation and prospects for peace in the future. His latest work, “A Military History of Afghanistan: From the Great Game to the Global War on Terror,” offers extensive insight into the modern military history of Afghanistan, which has been waged by state and non-state actors, against domestic and foreign entities, and under rapidly changing conditions. This program includes a book sale and signing with the author.

2019 CONSTITUTION DAY | Kansas in the U.S. Supreme Court
2019-09-19 00:00
The U.S. Supreme Court has granted review to three separate cases involving the state of Kansas in 2019, which it will hear in October and November. Join Stephen McAllister, U.S. attorney for the District of Kansas, and special guests as they explore the constitutional issues raised in each of three cases:
Kansas v. Garcia: whether federal immigration laws preempt Kansas identity theft criminal laws.
Kahler v. Kansas: whether a state is compelled by the due process clause of the 14th Amendment to recognize an “insanity defense.” Kansas — like some states, but not others —has abolished an affirmative insanity defense, and the defendant in question has argued he was legally insane at the time of the killings.
Kansas v. Glover: in a case originating in Lawrence, whether it is reasonable for a law enforcement officer to assume the driver of the vehicle is its registered owner, as a general matter.
Guests panelists will include:
Toby Crouse, Kansas Solicitor General
Sarah E. Harrington, Goldstein & Russell, P.C. and counsel for the defense, Kansas v. Glover
Tobias S. Loss-Eaton, Sidley Austin LLP and principal drafter of petition for certiorari, Kahler v. Kansas
Derek Schmidt, Kansas Attorney General

Votes for Women: Suffrage and the 19th Amendment Centennial
2019-09-24 00:00
One hundred years have not yet passed since the ratification of the 19th Amendment, which granted many — but not all — U.S. women the right to vote. Passed by the House and Senate in 1919 and reaching the threshold to become law of the land in 1920, it enfranchised 26 million women voters. In this 100th-anniversary kickoff event, a panel featuring professors Jinx Broussard (Louisiana State University), Teri Finneman (KU) and Candi Carter Olson (Utah State University) will examine the women’s suffrage movement and the legacy and limitations of this transformative amendment. This program is co-sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Kansas and its Centennial Celebration Committee.

2019 FALL | Create Change: Women, Democracy and Global Politics
2019-09-25 08:00 - 2019-11-20 17:00
Dole Fellow Nancy Bocskor
Read more about Dole Fellows >>
Do you dream of creating change in your community, state or country? Are you ready to become a more effective advocate, activist or even an elected official? This fall, Dole fellow Nancy Bocskor will give you a roadmap to turn your knowledge and passion into a plan. By utilizing the tools that women activists use worldwide, you will be both inspired and ready to take action.
Bocskor, tagged a “democracy coach” by a German newspaper, teaches citizens around the world how to communicate with passion to effect change in their communities. She is the director of the Center for Women in Politics & Public Policy at Texas Woman’s University in Denton, Texas.

Week 1 | Fellow Nancy Bocskor with guest speaker Farhat Popal
9/25/2019

Week 2 | Fellow Nancy Bocskor with guest speaker Susan Markham
10/9/2019

Fellow Nancy Bocskor with guest speaker Susan Markham, cofounder of Smash Strategies — whose mission is to help companies & non-profits understand that gender equity is “good for business”. During the Obama Administration, Markham was the “go-to” top staffer for the President at USAID ensuring women worldwide had economic, educational, health and political equity. She’s worked in more than 50 countries.

Week 3 | Fellow Nancy Bocskor with guest speaker Sally Canfield
10/16/2019

Week 4 | Fellow Nancy Bocskor with guest speaker Lee Peterson
10/23/2019

Fellow Nancy Bocskor with guest speaker Lee Peterson. Fall fellow Nancy Bocskor welcomes Lee Peterson. Peterson is a top political adviser to those brave candidates who battle dictators such as Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe. He was country director in Russia for the International Republican Institute, chaired by the late Sen. John McCain. Peterson is an expert on British politics and has a PhD from the London School of Economics.

Week 5 | Fellow Nancy Bocskor with guest speaker Deb Sofield
10/30/2019

Fellow Nancy Bocskor with guest speaker Deb Sofield. This week’s guest, Deb Sofield, is an executive speech coach and author who trains political candidates, beauty queens and Fortune 500 executives how to connect with their audiences. She accompanied me to Russia for two summers where she trained young political leaders from more than 80 countries, mentored women from Egypt and Jordan, was an election observer in Bangladesh, to mention just a few. Sofield is a past president of the Women’s Campaign School at Yale, a member of the Greenville, SC water commission and will travel anywhere as long as you feed her three times a day.

Week 6 | Fellow Nancy Bocskor with guest speaker Natalia Budaeva Arno
11/6/2019

Fellow Nancy Bocskor with guest speaker Natalia Budaeva Arno. This week’s guest, Natalia Budaeva Arno is the president and founder of the Free Russia Foundation where she exposes the atrocities of the Putin regime. Arno was the Country Director for Russia for the International Republican Institute for nearly a decade before she was banished from her home during the 2014 crackdown on pro-human rights & democracy organizations in Russia. She testifies before the US Congress, the European Union and worldwide groups that promote civil society.

Week 7 | Fellow Nancy Bocskor with guest speaker Mariam Memarsadeghi
11/20/2019

Fellow Nancy Bocskor with guest speaker Mariam Memarsadeghi. This week’s guest, Mariam Memarsadeghi is the founder of Tavaana.org, an online activism and civil engagement site that breaks through the Iranian firewall to reach hundreds of thousands of Iranian activists. Memarsadeghi was seven years old when she and her family escaped the Iranian regime. She was named a Presidential Leadership Scholar in 2017. She and Bocskor were part of the team that created the first online activism institute in Arabic for the Middle East/North Africa in 2007.

Philip II "Augustus" of France
2019-10-03 00:00
The early reign of Philip II of France was an exhibition of poor generalship, but by the early 1200s, Philip had seized most of the counties and duchies under the control of England’s King John. These victories would construct the territorial basis for modern France. Philip’s crowning victory at the Battle of Bouvines in 1214 was dubbed “the most important battle you’ve never heard of” by the BBC, and the result would forever change the face of Europe. An expert in medieval warfare, John Hosler will lead an examination of Philip and some of his most consequential victories.

Marine, Public Servant, Kansan
2019-10-17 00:00
The groundwork for Ernest “Ernie” Garcia’s life was laid by his ancestors through a decade of field labor, the Great Depression, the Dust Bowl and two world wars. Through hard work, education and some basketball, Ernie would rise to become a public servant, Marine Corps officer and the sergeant-at-arms for the U.S. Senate. Author Dennis Raphael Garcia and Ernie Garcia visit the institute to discuss his remarkable life story, his family’s American dream and the immigrant experience. This program includes a book sale and signing with the author.

The League of Wives: Heath Hardage Lee
2019-10-22 00:00
Historian and author Heath Hardage Lee specializes in telling little-known stories of dynamic women throughout history. Her latest work, “The League of Wives,” explores a group of fearless military wives that bucked convention during the Vietnam War to advocate on behalf of their POW/MIA husbands and bring them home. The book has since been optioned for film by Reese Witherspoon’s production company, while its eponymous exhibit debuted at the Dole Institute in spring 2017 and has since traveled nearly 5,000 miles to institutions across the U.S. Lee visits the institute to discuss her book, the research process and what’s next for “The League of Wives.” This program includes a book sale and signing with the author.

Taliban Safari: One Day in the Surkhagan Valley
2019-10-24 00:00
In his book “Taliban Safari,” retired Lt. Col. Paul Darling offers an engrossing and true day-in-the-life narrative of a combat soldier in Afghanistan in 2009. From the mundane to the high-octane, Darling’s reflections will place the realities of combat into a broader perspective. Darling is both the father and son of combat soldiers, and his writing has appeared in outlets like Defense News and the Armed Forces Journal. This program includes a book sale and signing with the author.

2019 | Rep. Sharice Davids
2019-10-27 00:00
The institute is pleased to welcome U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids for the 2019 Elizabeth Dole Women in Leadership Lecture. Rep. Davids serves Kansas’ third legislative district and was sworn into the 116th Congress in January 2019. A graduate of Johnson County Community College, the University of Missouri at Kansas City and Cornell Law School, she serves on the Transportation and Infrastructure and Small Business Committees. She is one of the first two Native American women to serve in Congress, joining Rep. Deb Haaland of New Mexico. Rep. Davids’ career has focused on economic and community development and included time as a White House Fellow.

The Evolution of TV News
2019-11-13 00:00
A 2018 Pew Research Center survey reminds us that television continues to outpace online, radio and print outlets as the preferred news source for American adults. Once dominated by three networks, the rise of cable news has dramatically altered the landscape of TV journalism and political coverage. Join consultants and lecturers Michael Cascio and Ed Hersh for a discussion of how television news has evolved, challenges facing today’s outlets and what role TV journalists play in our political arena.

General Sir John Monash
2019-11-14 00:00
John Monash was a reserve colonel in the Australian army before World War I, but once the conflict began, he would become a full-time army officer. Promoted to brigadier general, major general and eventually lieutenant general, he commanded the Australian Corps on the Western Front. Monash was one of the first true advocates of combined arms warfare and had a deserved reputation for taking care of his men, going as far as to have hot meals delivered to the front lines in the midst of battle. David Mills examines Monash here, described by British historian A.J.P. Taylor as “the only general of creative originality produced by the First World War.”

Battle for the Marble Palace: The Forging of the Modern Supreme Court
2019-11-19 00:00
Author Michael Bobelian returns to the Dole Institute to explore a forgotten battle of 1968. Against a backdrop of the Vietnam War, riots during the Democratic National Convention and the assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy, Abe Fortas was nominated to be chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. The ultimately failed nomination would launch an all-out cultural war between the two major political parties — one that would determine the course of major cases for years to come. This program includes a book sale and signing with the author.

Brigadier General Frank "Pinkie" Dorn
2019-12-05 00:00
From 1942 to 1945, Frank “Pinkie” Dorn, a Chinese linguist and country expert, served in the China-Burma-India theater. Geoff Babb shares the story of Dorn, a colorful and talented officer, writer, mapmaker and artist who had previously served in China as a language student and army attaché. These duties would prepare him for his long service in this critical theater of World War II in the Indo-Pacific, including his time leading the team that trained, advised and equipped 39 Chinese divisions to go on the offensive against Japan in China and Burma.
