The President and the Judiciary
2025-03-12 16:00 - 17:15 (America/Chicago) | The Dole Institute of Politics, 2350 Petefish Drive, Lawrence, KS, 66045, United States
No constitutional power has proven to be greater in American history than that of judicial review. This discussion will focus on how the United States Supreme Court has used this unique power to limit the power of the president by highlighting specific cases, in addition to exploring the president’s role in judicial appointments.

Matt Beat is a former middle and high school educator who taught history and civics across various grade levels. His in-depth lessons inspired him to launch his YouTube channels, Mr. Beat and The Beat Goes On, which have accumulated over 1 million subscribers and nearly 300 million views from around the world. He has also published two books, including The Power of Our Supreme Court, that highlight the powers and dynamics of governmental institutions.
Clay Britton is a lawyer who has worked in federal and state governments as well as in the private sector. For the last six years, he’s also been a lecturer at the University of Kansas, where he teaches a constitutional law class focused on government powers. He began his legal career in 2009 as a prosecutor in the Kansas Attorney General’s Office, then worked at a large Kansas City firm for six years before becoming an Assistant United States Attorney in Kansas. Britton then served as Chief Counsel to Governor Laura Kelly for the first three years of her administration. Today he is a Senior Vice President and General Counsel at Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Kansas. He received his law degree from the University of Kansas School of Law in 2008.

Federalism in Action: The President and the States
2025-03-26 16:00 - 17:15 | The Dole Institute of Politics, 2350 Petefish Drive, Lawrence, KS, 66045, United States
The relationship between the federal government and the states is unique when compared to other nations. This discussion will look at how the states have limited the power of the presidency through our federalist system, in addition to touching on the ways in which states distanced themselves from the federal government.

Matt Beat is a former middle and high school educator who taught history and civics across various grade levels. His in-depth lessons inspired him to launch his YouTube channels, Mr. Beat and The Beat Goes On, which have accumulated over 1 million subscribers and nearly 300 million views from around the world. He has also published two books, including The Power of Our Supreme Court, that highlight the powers and dynamics of governmental institutions.
André Dutra is a Brazilian-American history creator on YouTube. His work analyzes American History and Culture from a human perspective. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Communication Studies from Florida Atlantic University.

Dole & Dr. K: A Story of Loss and Recovery Turned Advocacy for Armenia
2025-04-01 - 2026-02-01 | The Dole Institute of Politics, 2350 Petefish Drive, Lawrence, KS, 66045, United States
This special exhibit will be closing on February 1, 2026, to prepare for a new special exhibit. Make plans to visit the Dole Institute’s Museum & Galleries, open Tuesday through Sunday from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., by visiting our website.

Can’t make it to see this exhibit? View the online exhibit on Dole Collections Online →

A young Bob Dole, searching for a fuller recovery from grave World War II injuries, connected with Armenian surgeon Dr. Hampar Kelikian. Over the course of seven surgeries in seven years, “Dr. K” shared his story of loss and renewal around the 1915 Armenian Genocide—inspiring Dole as he worked to reimagine his future and build a new life.
Kelikian’s lessons resonated with Dole in the decades following as he entered public service. Throughout his time in the U.S. Senate, Dole championed Armenia, including calling for official recognition of the Armenian Genocide – despite long odds and competing national interests.
This exhibit is based on the research of Michael Bobelian, who served as the Dole Archives Fellow for Armenian Advocacy in 2018. Mr. Bobelian is the author of “Children of Armenia: A Forgotten Genocide and the Century-Long Struggle for Justice.”

Preparing for the Unthinkable: The U.S. Navy, SLBMS, and the TRANSIT Satellites
2025-04-02 15:00 - 16:15 | The Dole Institute of Politics, 2350 Petefish Drive, Lawrence, KS, 66045, United States
In April 1960 the US Navy launched the first experimental navigation satellite. This highly classified and cutting-edge technology found in the TRANSIT satellites were designed to provide the Navy’s submarines armed with the new POLARIS ballistic missile with more precise navigation fixes as a means to improve their accuracy, if and when they had to launch their missiles against the Soviet Union. Though useful for the U.S. Navy, President Lyndon Baines Johnson also found a civilian application. Thus, our routine use of GPS today in 2025 is result of this innovative technology during the Cold War.
Dr. Sean N. Kalic is a Cold War historian. He lectures and publishes widely on topics such as U.S. space policy, the Cold War, the post-Cold War security environment, and transnational terrorism. Prior to CGSC, he taught at Youngstown State University, Kansas State University, and Norwich University. He has presented lectures for the U.S. Navy War College’s Fleet Seminar Program, The Slovenian General Staff, The Slovenian Command and General Staff College, The U.S. Army’s Futures Command, as well as numerous international conferences. He has taught in the Department of Military History at the US Army Command and General Staff College since 2004.
The Ft. Leavenworth Series is an annual roster of lectures focusing on significant historical events, usually with an emphasis on military history. Each lecture is presented by faculty from the United States Army Command and General Staff College in Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas. Established by General William Tecumseh Sherman in 1881, the CGSC is the graduate college for U.S. Army and sister service officers. The esteemed faculty and guests of the CGSC provide unique and captivating insights into the history of military conflict from the ancient to the modern ages at the Dole Institute of Politics.

The opinions expressed herein are those of the individual and do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College or any other governmental agency.

The State of Education in Kansas
2025-04-03 19:00 - 20:15 | The Dole Institute of Politics, 2350 Petefish Drive, Lawrence, KS, 66045, United States
Join the Dole Institute Student Advisory Board for the spring Student Advisory Board Program, “The State of Education in Kansas.” SAB coordinator Kenna McNally will be joined by experts to discuss K-12 education policy in Kansas.

Kenna McNally serves as the Dole Institute Student Advisory Board Coordinator, in addition to her role as the Dole Institute’s Marketing Intern. She is a junior studying Digital Marketing Communication, Advertising and Public Relations, public policy, and business.
Brett Parker worked in Kansas schools as a classroom aide, substitute teacher, and classroom teacher before being elected to the Kansas House of Representatives in 2016. After leaving the House, Brett has worked for Kansas NEA supporting and advocating for educators in the greater Kansas City area in Kansas.
Senator Doug Shane (R) represents the 37th Senate District, which includes northern Miami County and southwestern Johnson County. Senator Shane is passionate about education, possessing a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine and a Doctorate of Philosophy in Production Medicine and Epidemiology. He became active in education policy after serving on the Louisburg USD 416 Board of Education. As a freshman senator serving on the education committee, he has become a new leading voice on State education policy.
Representative Mari-Lynn Poskin (D) was elected to represent Kansas House District 20 in 2020. Mari-Lynn is a Kansan by choice, choosing to put down roots here in the aftermath of 9/11 after pursuing a corporate relocation lifestyle for many years. She and her husband David have a blended family of seven children who spent a total of 90 years in K-12 classrooms, 62 of which were in Kansas public schools, making them her top legislative issue. David has secondary progressive MS, is in a wheelchair full time and Mari-Lynn is his primary caregiver, giving her firsthand insight into the struggles of living with chronic disease and the importance of access to healthcare and growing its workforce. Before joining the legislature, Representative Poskin worked for 20 years in higher education, including trade, community and four-year colleges. She believes our young Kansans are our greatest asset and will continue to fight to make sure that the qualities which drew her to Kansas continue to define the Sunflower State for generations to come.

The Consent of the Governed
2025-04-09 16:00 - 17:15 | The Dole Institute of Politics, 2350 Petefish Drive, Lawrence, KS, 66045, United States
In the final program of his series, Dole Fellow Matt Beat will explore the various reforms that have been proposed that could not only limit the power of the president but make them less controversial.

Matt Beat is a former middle and high school educator who taught history and civics across various grade levels. His in-depth lessons inspired him to launch his YouTube channels, Mr. Beat and The Beat Goes On, which have accumulated over 1 million subscribers and nearly 300 million views from around the world. He has also published two books, including The Power of Our Supreme Court, that highlight the powers and dynamics of governmental institutions.
Sara Wolk is the Executive Director of the Equal Vote Coalition, a nonprofit fighting for true equality in the vote itself. Her background spans from the sustainable agriculture and architecture fields to participating on an ecological survey project to protect Ecuador’s Cloud Forests that helped cement an international judicial precedent on the rights of nature. Today, she is a peer-reviewed author, speaker, researcher, content creator, and organizer focused on teaching people about voting methods and the way they shape our society.
Walter Clapp is an attorney and speaker who received his law degree from Georgetown University in Washington D.C. where he clerked for both the U.S. House and Senate before turning to private practice. While in the House, Walter focused on oversight of the Executive branch. While in the Senate, Walter was tasked with researching the history of the size of the U.S. House of Representatives. He now runs the No Cap Fund, a 501(c)(4) dedicated to uncapping the U.S. House and restoring trust in Federal institutions in this age of artificial intelligence.

Former Dole Staffers Rod DeArment, Sheila Burke, and Robert Lighthizer
2025-04-16 19:00 - 20:30 | The Dole Institute of Politics, 2350 Petefish Drive, Lawrence, KS, 66045, United States
2025 commemorates the 80th anniversary of Bob Dole’s battlefield wounding, and the end of World War II. Former Dole staffers Robert Lighthizer, Sheila Burke, and Rod DeArment will discuss the Senator’s formative leadership during the Reagan era through his retirement from the US Senate in 1996. How did Dole influence U.S. fiscal and economic policy? What policy concerns shaped his political platform during his presidential runs in 1988 and 1996? Which of his policies and leadership lessons are most relevant today?

About the Dole Lecture
Each spring, the Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics commemorates the date on which Senator Bob Dole was critically wounded while serving in Italy during World War II. To honor Senator Dole’s courageous recovery and commitment to serve the nation, we welcome a guest to the Institute who embodies the commitments that Senator Dole held throughout his career in public service.

Sheila Burke served as Chief of Staff to Senator Bob Dole from 1985 to 1996 in his capacity as Senate Republican Leader. She was previously a staffer on the Senate Finance Committee, including as a professional staff member and as Deputy Staff Director. Burke later went on to serve as Executive Dean of the Harvard John F. Kennedy School of Government, and remains an adjunct lecturer in public policy. She also served as the Deputy Secretary and Chief Operating Officer of the Smithsonian Institution.
Rod DeArment served as Chief of Staff to Senator Bob Dole from 1985 to 1986 in his capacity as Senate Republican Leader. From 1979 to 1985, he served as Chief Counsel and Staff Director and Deputy Staff Director to the Senate Finance Committee, which Dole chaired. DeArment later served as Deputy Secretary of Labor for President George H.W. Bush, and was a partner at Covington & Burling.
Robert Lighthizer served as Chief of Staff of the Senate Finance Committee from 1978 to 1983, including while Senator Bob Dole chaired the committee. Most recently, he served as the United States Trade Representative from 2017 to 2021. Ambassador Lighthizer is also the author of No Trade is Free: Changing Course, Taking on China, and Helping America’s Workers.

The 2025 Easter Egg Roll with Dole
2025-04-19 | The Dole Institute of Politics, 2350 Petefish Drive, Lawrence, KS, 66045, United States
Come one, come all, for the Dole Institute’s Easter Egg Roll with Dole! Join us on Saturday, April 19, for a morning of family fun, including a White House-style egg roll race, egg hunt, games, crafts, and more. The event is free and open to the public, and will go on rain or shine.
Learn more about this event by visiting our website.

The Counselors: Should Medical Assistance in Dying Be Legal in the United States?
2025-04-24 18:30 - 20:00 | The Dole Institute of Politics, 2350 Petefish Drive, Lawrence, KS, 66045, United States
Join us for this spring’s edition of The Counselors: “Resolved: Medical Assistance in Dying Should be Legal in the United States.” The program, a cross between a mock trial and a debate, features attorneys Ed Duckers and Pedro Irigonegaray alongside members of the Dole Institute Student Advisory Board and students from the Washburn University School of Law who’ve conducted research over the past months, and will cross-examine expert witnesses.
This program will be moderated by Nathan Binshtok, SAB member and Pizza and Politics Coordinator, majoring in Economics and Political Science, on a pre-law track.

This program is presented in partnership with the Washburn University School of Law

Affirming Side
Pedro Irigonegaray is an attorney and partner at Irigonegaray, Turney, & Revenaugh. A trial lawyer since 1973, Pedro is a former President of The Kansas Trial Lawyers Association, a Fellow in The American College of Trial Lawyers and a Fellow in The International Academy of Trial Lawyers.
Jaspreet Chowdhary has dedicated her career to helping transform systems to be more equitable and empower people to make decisions about their own lives. Currently, Jaspreet is the Senior Legislative Counsel at Compassion and Choices where she helps draft, authorize, and implement medical aid in dying policies across the country. In her current role, she prepares external policy documents for legislators and partner organizations, creates and deepens relationships with stakeholders. She also assists with end-of-life care and access efforts across the country.
Diana Barnard is an Associate Professor of Family Medicine at the University of Vermont Medical Center. She is also board certified in Hospice and Palliative Medicine. Dr. Barnard is a founding board member of Patient Choices Vermont which led the grassroots effort to pass Vermont’s Medical Aid in Dying Law. Since passage of the law in 2013, Dr. Barnard has worked across the country on both educational and legislative efforts related to Medical Aid in Dying. She believes that everyone deserves the best possible genuinely patient centered end of life care.
Janira Silva, 2L at Washburn University School of Law
Cas Casmus, KU senior and SAB member majoring in Philosophy
Ava Levin, KU freshman and SAB member majoring in Political Science and Spanish

Negating Side
Ed Duckers is partner at Stoel Rives LLP and the head of the firm’s Litigation Practice in California and a member of the firm’s Executive Committee. He is a past chair of Stoel Rives’ Food and Agribusiness Industry Team.
Jason Raibley is a philosophy professor at the University of Kansas known for his work in medical ethics (quality of life measurement), political philosophy, moral psychology, and value theory. He is an Associate Editor at the Journal of Ethics and does referee work for various leading ethics and philosophy journals.
Michaela Prezzia worked as Coalitions Coordinator for the Patients Rights Action Fund, a single-issue organization committed to fighting assisted suicide. She helped states form diverse coalitions committed to prevent legalization of the practice as one that threatens harm, abuse, and coercion to vulnerable populations. She helped develop and coordinate state trainings (including training materials), end-of-life directives, strategic coalition meetings, press releases, and responses to bills at various stages of ratification across the United States. She has since turned to teaching.
Ryan Petersen, 3L at Washburn University School of Law
Jaspreet Kaur, KU sophomore and SAB member majoring in communications
Harini Sreekanth, KU junior and SAB member majoring in Political Science and Philosophy

A Fireside Chat with Sec. Robert Gates
2025-04-30 19:00 - 20:30 | The Dole Institute of Politics, 2350 Petefish Drive, Lawrence, KS, 66045, United States
Former United States Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates (2006-2011) will be in conversation with Dole Institute Visiting Fellow Jerry Seib for the opening of the 2025 KU Security Conference, which is aimed at understanding China’s long-term geopolitical objectives and how they affect U.S. national security.
More information about the KU Security Conference can be found on the ICCAE website.

This program is presented in partnership with the University of Kansas National Defense Initiatives, the Intelligence Community Center for Academic Excellence, and the Command and General Staff College Foundation, Inc.

Jerry Seib has been a journalist with The Wall Street Journal for almost 45 years. He served as the Journal’s Executive Washington Editor and wrote the weekly “Capital Journal” column for 29 years. He also reported from the Middle East for the Journal in the mid-1980s, covered the White House, has moderated three presidential debates, and interviewed every president since Ronald Reagan.

Robert M. Gates served as the nation’s 22nd Secretary of Defense (2006-2011). Dr. Gates served eight U.S. presidents across both parties and has the distinction of being the only secretary of defense in U.S. history to be asked to remain in office by a newly elected president. On Gates’s last day in office President Barack Obama awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom, America’s highest civilian honor.
Prior to becoming Secretary of Defense in 2006, Gates served as president of Texas A&M University, one of the nation’s largest universities.
Gates served in the CIA for nearly 27 years, culminating his service as Director of Central Intelligence from 1991 to 1993. He is the only career officer in CIA’s history to rise from entry-level employee to director. He spent nearly nine years on the National Security Council at the White House, serving four administrations across both parties.
Gates has been awarded the National Security Medal, the Presidential Citizens Medal, has three times received the National Intelligence Distinguished Service Medal, and has three times received CIA’s highest award, the Distinguished Intelligence Medal.
Gates is a principal at the consulting firm Rice, Hadley, Gates & Manuel, LLC, alongside former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, former National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley, and Executive Director of the Aspen Strategy Group Anja Manuel. Additionally, he is Chancellor of William & Mary, his alma mater. He has served on various public boards to include Starbucks, Fidelity Funds, the NCAA, the American Council on Education, and the Boy Scouts of America. Gates has authored four books, covering his experiences at CIA and at the Pentagon, leadership, and U.S. nonmilitary instruments of power.

The Brain of the Carrier Group: The Combat Information Center
2025-05-07 15:00 - 16:15 | The Dole Institute of Politics, 2350 Petefish Drive, Lawrence, KS, 66045, United States
This lecture will begin with the genesis of the shipboard combat information center (CIC) in World War II from the Guadalcanal campaign (1942) up through that at Okinawa (1945). From there it will move to a discussion of the development of the CIC on aircraft carriers through the Cold War and its current incarnation as the Combat Direction Center about US carriers (CVNs). Dr. Kuehn author served as a CDC officer from 1998-2000 aboard the aircraft Carrier USS John C. Stennis.
Dr. John T. Kuehn is a Professor of Military History at the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College (CGSC). He is a Major General William Stofft Professor Emeritus and served as Fleet Admiral Ernest King Visiting Professor of Maritime History at the Naval War College from 2020-2021. He retired from the U.S. Navy 2004 at the rank of commander after 23 years, serving as a naval flight officer (NFO) flying land and carrier-based aircraft.
The Ft. Leavenworth Series is an annual roster of lectures focusing on significant historical events, usually with an emphasis on military history. Each lecture is presented by faculty from the United States Army Command and General Staff College in Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas. Established by General William Tecumseh Sherman in 1881, the CGSC is the graduate college for U.S. Army and sister service officers. The esteemed faculty and guests of the CGSC provide unique and captivating insights into the history of military conflict from the ancient to the modern ages at the Dole Institute of Politics.

The opinions expressed herein are those of the individual and do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College or any other governmental agency.

Beyond Lend-Lease: The American Military Mission to China, 1941-1945
2025-06-04 15:00 - 16:15 | The Dole Institute of Politics, 2350 Petefish Drive, Lawrence, KS, 66045, United States
China’s War with Japan began in 1937 with the Marco Polo Bridge Incident near Beijing. While diplomatic and economic means were used to support the Chinese for several years, it was not until the 10th of October 1941 that an American military mission to support Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek (Jiang Jieshi) was established. Brigadier General John M. Magruder, an officer with significant experience in China, led a small team of U.S. Army specialists in coordinating the delivery, onward movement, and utilization of military supplies and equipment provided under the Lend Lease program. This effort preceded the official declaration of war against Japan by the United States. This vital mission was a precursor to General Joseph S. Stilwell’s assignment as chief of staff to Chiang, commander of all US forces, and the establishment of the China-Burma-India Theater.
Dr. Geoff Babb was commissioned from Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine in 1973 as a US Army Military Intelligence Officer. After serving in the Defense Intelligence Agency as a ground forces analyst, he was assigned to Monterey, California, Hong Kong, and Beijing for language and area studies. He was then assigned to Joint and Army Headquarters in Hawaii. In 1991, he joined the Command and General Staff College faculty at Fort Leavenworth. After retiring from the military, he earned a Masters in East Asian Languages and Cultures, and a Doctorate in History from the University of Kansas. He has published numerous book chapters and articles on China and Asia. He currently serves as a professor in the Department of Military History.
The Ft. Leavenworth Series is an annual roster of lectures focusing on significant historical events, usually with an emphasis on military history. Each lecture is presented by faculty from the United States Army Command and General Staff College in Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas. Established by General William Tecumseh Sherman in 1881, the CGSC is the graduate college for U.S. Army and sister service officers. The esteemed faculty and guests of the CGSC provide unique and captivating insights into the history of military conflict from the ancient to the modern ages at the Dole Institute of Politics.

The opinions expressed herein are those of the individual and do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College or any other governmental agency.

No Sacrifice Too Great: The 1st Infantry Division in World War II
2025-06-06 14:00 - 15:30 | The Dole Institute of Politics, 2350 Petefish Drive, Lawrence, KS, 66045, United States
From their landing on Omaha Beach during Operation Overlord to the fierce battles in the Battle of the Bulge, the U.S. Army’s 1st Infantry Division – currently stationed at Fort Riley, KS, and known as the Big Red One – continuously adapted to the evolving battlefield conditions throughout Europe in World War II.
As the world reflects on the 81st anniversary of D-Day, retired U.S. Army Colonel Gregory Fontenot, author of No Sacrifice Too Great: The 1st Infantry Division in World War II, will join retired U.S. Army Ranger and University of Kansas Professor Adrian R. Lewis to discuss the Division’s WWII history, highlighting the experiences and stories of individual members of the Big Red One.

Adrian R. Lewis is the David B. Pittaway Professor of Military History at the University of Kansas, Lawrence. He has extensively researched and written on war, military affairs, and the U.S. Armed Forces, teaching courses on World War II, the Cold War, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and recent military operations. His notable publications include The American Culture of War and Omaha Beach: A Flawed Victory. Prof. Lewis has taught at prestigious institutions like the U.S. Military Academy and the University of California, Berkeley. He earned degrees from UC Berkeley, the University of Michigan, Southern Illinois University, and the University of Chicago. A retired soldier, he served in various infantry divisions and has experience in Korea, Alaska, Panama, and Germany.

Gregory Fontenot is a retired Colonel of the U.S. Army. He is currently a consultant on threat emulation for Army experimentation and a working historian. He was lead author of On Point: The US Army in Operation Iraqi Freedom published by Command General and Staff College Press and is the author of The 1st Infantry Division and the US Army Transformed: Road to Victory in Desert Storm, 1970–1991, winner of the 2017 Army Historical Foundation award for Unit History, as well as Loss and Redemption at St. Vith: The 7th Armored Division in the Battle of the Bulge.

Bolstering Funding and Practices for Resilient Elections: Sustainable Funding and Models of Success at the State and Local Level
2025-06-18 11:00 - 12:00 | https://doleinstitute.org/event/bolsteringelectionsreportlaunch/
Join the Dole Institute and the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate for the launch of the landmark report created through the Bolstering Elections Initiative, “Bolstering Funding and Practices for Resilient Elections: Sustainable Funding and Models of Success at the State and Local Level.”
Moderated by former election administrator and senior advisor to the Bolstering Elections Initiative Tammy Patrick, this virtual event will feature insights and analysis from some of the researchers, practitioners, and experts who contributed to this report.
Register to attend

Discover with Dole: Celebrating Independence Day
2025-06-24 - 2025-07-06 | The Dole Institute of Politics, 2350 Petefish Drive, Lawrence, KS, 66045, United States
Join us for a special 4th of July-themed Discover with Dole from June 24 to July 6! These free, family-friendly activities and crafts in our Museum & Galleries allow children of all ages to learn about this important date in our nation’s history through scavenger hunts, trivia, coloring, and much more. Plus, you’ll have the opportunity to learn about the life and legacy of one of Kansas’ greatest sons, Robert J. Dole, and experience the beauty of the Dole Institute during the summer.

Museum & Gallery Hours

The Dole Institute’s Museum & Galleries are open daily between June 24 and July 6 from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., including special hours on June 30 and July 4. All programs are free and open to the public. Learn more about the Institute’s Museum & Galleries →

Whiz Kids at War: Data Analysis and America’s War in Vietnam
2025-08-06 15:00 - 16:15 | The Dole Institute of Politics, 2350 Petefish Drive, Lawrence, KS, 66045, United States
The Vietnam War was not just America’s first televised war, it was the nation’s first computerized war. The conflict’s hybrid character created a fragmented battlespace that was defined by a lack of front lines, the comingling of friendly and enemy forces, and a patchwork of political and military control. Data collection and analysis thus became a cornerstone of the American war in Southeast Asia, one that held great promise for assessing and fighting a “war without fronts” but fell far short of expectations.
Martin G. Clemis is an associate professor in the Department of Military History at the Command and General Staff College. He is the author of The Control War: The Struggle for South Vietnam, 1968-1975 (University of Oklahoma Press, 2018), and a contributing author in Beyond the Quagmire: New Interpretations of the Vietnam Conflict (University of North Texas Press, 2019), Drawdowns: The American Way of Postwar (New York University Press, 2017), and War and Geography: The Spatiality of Organized Mass Violence (Ferdinand Schoningh, 2017). Martin has had articles published in Army History and Small Wars and Insurgencies.
The Ft. Leavenworth Series is an annual roster of lectures focusing on significant historical events, usually with an emphasis on military history. Each lecture is presented by faculty from the United States Army Command and General Staff College in Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas. Established by General William Tecumseh Sherman in 1881, the CGSC is the graduate college for U.S. Army and sister service officers. The esteemed faculty and guests of the CGSC provide unique and captivating insights into the history of military conflict from the ancient to the modern ages at the Dole Institute of Politics.

The opinions expressed herein are those of the individual and do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College or any other governmental agency.

September 11, 2001: The Day That Changed the World
2025-09-02 - 2025-09-14 | The Dole Institute of Politics, 2350 Petefish Drive, Lawrence, KS, 66045, United States
In commemoration of the anniversary of the September 11, 2001, attacks, the Dole Institute will be displaying a special memorial poster exhibit, “September 11, 2001: The Day That Changed the World,” developed by the 9/11 Memorial Museum with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
The exhibit reviews the events of the day, highlights personal experiences, and invites reflections from all patrons. Guests can also view the Institute’s permanent September 11 Memorial in Hansen Hall, featuring two original beams from World Trade Center Tower 1.
Plan your visit to the Dole Institute’s Museum & Galleries →

The Musket Problem: Technology and Military Innovation in the French Army 1700-1815
2025-09-03 15:00 - 16:15 | The Dole Institute of Politics, 2350 Petefish Drive, Lawrence, KS, 66045, United States
In 1700, the French army adopted the musket with attached socket bayonet, but it took over a century for it to master the new art of war that the technology brought about. Exploring why explains the challenges new technologies present to militaries and illustrates how they adapt to them.
Dr. Jonathan Abel is an Associate Professor of Military History at the US Army Command and General Staff College, where he teaches courses on French history as well as Greece and Rome, and wargaming. He received his PhD from the Military History Center at the University of North Texas in 2014, and he is the author of several works on the eighteenth-century French army.
The Ft. Leavenworth Series is an annual roster of lectures focusing on significant historical events, usually with an emphasis on military history. Each lecture is presented by faculty from the United States Army Command and General Staff College in Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas. Established by General William Tecumseh Sherman in 1881, the CGSC is the graduate college for U.S. Army and sister service officers. The esteemed faculty and guests of the CGSC provide unique and captivating insights into the history of military conflict from the ancient to the modern ages at the Dole Institute of Politics.

The opinions expressed herein are those of the individual and do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College or any other governmental agency.

Church and State
2025-09-04 19:00 - 20:30 | The Dole Institute of Politics, 2350 Petefish Drive, Lawrence, KS, 66045, United States
With Catholics assuming prominent roles in Washington, and a new American Pope in place in the Vatican, a look at how Catholic thought is impacting the public debate.

Jerry Seib has been a journalist with The Wall Street Journal for almost 45 years. He served as the Journal’s Executive Washington Editor and wrote the weekly “Capital Journal” column for 29 years. He also reported from the Middle East for the Journal in the mid-1980s, covered the White House, has moderated three presidential debates, and interviewed every president since Ronald Reagan.
James V. Grimaldi is executive editor of the National Catholic Reporter, a 60-year-old award-winning nonprofit news organization independent of the Catholic Church and based in Kansas City, Mo. A multiple Pulitzer Prize winner and former investigative reporter for The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post, Grimaldi is a native of Kansas City, Missouri, and a graduate of the University of Missouri Journalism School and Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. He has an honorary doctorate in humane letters from Creighton University and was named 2025 Distinguished Alumnus at the University of Missouri. His relationship with NCR began when he was a student at Kansas City’s Jesuit-run Rockhurst High School. Grimaldi, who has two grown sons, lives in Washington, D.C. with his wife, two dogs and three cats.
Ashley McGuire is a Senior Fellow with The Catholic Association. Her writing has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, USA TODAY, TIME, Newsweek, First Things, RealClearPolitics, the New York Post, and The Huffington Post, among others, and she has appeared on CNN, Fox News, PBS, and most major television networks. In March of 2013, Ashley traveled to Rome to cover the papal conclave and provided live commentary for major news outlets like CNN International and the BBC. In April of 2014, she traveled to Geneva to testify at the United Nations in defense of the Holy See. She is a recipient of the Phillips Foundation Robert Novak Journalism Fellowship and the Susan B. Anthony List’s Young Pro-Life Leader award. She lives in the Washington, D.C. area, with her husband and five children.

Democracy for Brownies with the Dole Institute of Politics
2025-09-08 17:30 - 19:00 | The Dole Institute of Politics, 2350 Petefish Drive, Lawrence, KS, 66045, United States
Join GSKSMO at the Dole Institute of Politics for a fun, interactive learning experience about the branches of American government and how they work together to form our democracy.
Register on the Girl Scouts of NE Kansas & NW Missouri website →

FALL 2025 | Leadership Lessons from the Front Lines of Public Service
2025-09-10 | The Dole Institute of Politics, 2350 Petefish Drive, Lawrence, KS, 66045, United States
Dole Fellow, bestselling author, and political consultant Joni Wickham examines topics in local governance, including mayoral and representative leadership, public advocacy, and local policymaking in her Fall 2025 Discussion Groups series, Leadership Lessons from the Front Lines of Public Service.”
Learn more about her Discussion Groups series by visiting her Fellow profile.

Transformational Leadership: Exhausting and Exhilarating
2025-09-10 16:00 - 17:30 | The Dole Institute of Politics, 2350 Petefish Drive, Lawrence, KS, 66045, United States
Former Kansas City Mayor Sly James took office after an economic downturn and at a moment when civic pride was nonexistent. Through a systems-thinking approach to governance, strategic community engagement, and data-informed decision-making, Mayor James’ administration led the city through a renaissance that transformed everything from the city’s skyline to its sense of self. Mayor James will talk about his time in office, his leadership style and explain why transforming his hometown was both exhausting and exhilarating.

Joni Wickham is a former Chief of Staff to Kansas City, Missouri, Mayor Sly James, and previously worked with the American Federation of Teachers, the Missouri Department of Transportation, and in the office of Missouri Secretary of State Robin Carnahan. A recipient of the 2019 University of Missouri Truman School of Public Affairs Mel Carnahan Public Service Award, she was also named to the Kansas City Business Journal’s prestigious Class of 2023 Women Who Mean Business.
Sly James is a former mayor of Kansas City, Missouri, known for leading the city’s transformation through major initiatives like a new airport terminal, a modern streetcar line, and North America’s first “Smart City” project. A Marine Corps veteran and successful trial attorney, he also championed universal pre-K and diversity in the legal profession, founding the award-winning KCMBA Diversity Initiative. His leadership earned numerous honors, including the American Graduate Champion of Education and Government Technology’s Top 25 Doers, Dreamers, and Drivers. Sly is also an author of two books focused on civic leadership and opportunity.

Democracy for Cadettes with the Dole Institute of Politics
2025-09-10 18:00 - 19:30 | The Dole Institute of Politics, 2350 Petefish Drive, Lawrence, KS, 66045, United States

Kansas Court of Appeals Constitution Day Hearings
2025-09-16 10:00 - 12:00 | The Dole Institute of Politics, 2350 Petefish Drive, Lawrence, KS, 66045, United States
In honor of Constitution Day, the Kansas Court of Appeals will be hearing oral arguments in two cases at the Dole Institute on Tuesday, September 16 at 10 a.m. Learn more about docket and case information by visiting the Kansas Court of Appeals website →
Commemorated annually throughout the nation, Constitution Day celebrates the anniversary of the adoption of the United States Constitution in September 1787. Learn more about the Dole Institute’s Constitution Day celebrations →

Water for Our Future
2025-09-23 19:00 - 20:15 | The Dole Institute of Politics, 2350 Petefish Drive, Lawrence, KS, 66045, United States
Join Dole Fellow Karen Willey for a bipartisan conversation with legislative members of the Water Program Task Force. Kansas State Sen. Kenny Titus (R) and State Rep. Lindsay Vaughn (D) are two members of the 16-member panel, which will produce its first report by the end of January 2026.
The Water Program Task Force was by Kansas House Bill 2172 (2025) to examine policy solutions in response to Kansas’ current and future water supply, assess potential impacts on the state’s economy, and consider funding efforts for related special projects. Governor Laura Kelly signed HB 2172 in March 2025 having received overwhelming bipartisan support during consideration in the state legislature.

This program is presented in partnership with the KU Honors Program.

Karen Willey serves as the Douglas County, Kansas Commissioner for District 3. Dr. Willey holds a BA in Environmental Studies and a PhD in Geography, both from KU. She works as a nonprofit consultant through Futureful, a local company providing organizational health and fundraising support to health, housing, and human services organizations in urban Kansas City. She leverages this social impact work along with her science and entrepreneurship experience in crafting grounded local policy.
Sen. Kenny Titus was born and raised in Great Bend, Kansas, and attended Kansas State University where he received BS degrees in Journalism and History and a MA in History, along with a JD from the University of Kansas School of Law. Kenny has worked as a public service attorney for the Kansas Department of Transportation, Kansas Attorney General, and Kansas Department of Agriculture, where he dealt extensively with the state’s water law issues, and he taught water law as an adjunct professor for the University of Kansas School of Law. He currently resides near Manhattan and represents the 51st District in the Kansas House, which includes Pottawatomie, Wabaunsee, and Riley Counties and serves on the House Water Committee.
Rep. Lindsay Vaughn is a Kansas State Representative serving District 22 in Overland Park, where she was born and raised. Lindsay is the Ranking member of the House Water Committee and is focused on developing policy and working with stakeholders across Kansas to build nonpartisan coalitions aimed at sustainable water use. As the youngest woman in the Kansas Legislature, Rep. Vaughn is also dedicated to elevating the voices of young Kansans and advocating for future generations. To her legislative work, she brings diverse experiences in nonprofit and volunteer management as well as grassroots community organizing. Lindsay is active in her local community and serves on the board of Heartland Conservation Alliance, a land trust dedicated to stewarding the Blue River watershed.

Turning Research, Policy Solutions and Civic Engagement into Results for Kansas Women
2025-09-24 16:00 - 17:30 | The Dole Institute of Politics, 2350 Petefish Drive, Lawrence, KS, 66045, United States
United WE has been breaking down barriers to women’s economic growth and leadership since 1991. The “think and do” tank’s nonpartisan, research-backed approach has driven meaningful change across the nation, proving that when women succeed, communities and economies flourish. Kansas in particular has been fertile ground for United WE’s policy agenda, including increasing access to childcare, occupational licensing reform, fostering women’s entrepreneurship and growing the civic leadership bench with women interested in serving their communities.

Joni Wickham is a former Chief of Staff to Kansas City, Missouri, Mayor Sly James, and previously worked with the American Federation of Teachers, the Missouri Department of Transportation, and in the office of Missouri Secretary of State Robin Carnahan. A recipient of the 2019 University of Missouri Truman School of Public Affairs Mel Carnahan Public Service Award, she was also named to the Kansas City Business Journal’s prestigious Class of 2023 Women Who Mean Business.
Wendy Doyle is a leading advocate for women’s economic and civic advancement, serving as president and CEO of United WE. Over the past decade, she has driven impactful policy change through research, advocacy, and initiatives like the Appointments Project. Wendy regularly advises policymakers, testifies before legislatures, and champions reforms in equal pay, childcare, paid leave, and more. Her leadership has earned numerous honors, including the Missouri Lieutenant Governor’s Women of Achievement award and induction into the Missouri Public Affairs Hall of Fame. She holds a B.A. from Rockhurst University.

Tanks and Trenches: Armored Warfare in WWI
2025-10-01 15:00 - 16:15 | The Dole Institute of Politics, 2350 Petefish Drive, Lawrence, KS, 66045, United States
The tank was one of the most iconic weapons of the 20th century. While it was a dominate weapon on the battlefields of Europe and the Middle East from World War II and beyond, its origins were deeply tied to the realities of the Western Front of the Great War This lecture will examine how the need to overcome the defensive power of trench warfare led to the creation of the tank and why, despite many technological advances in tank design throughout the war, the battlefield performance of armored warfare during the conflict was quite mixed.
Dr. Richard S. Faulkner is a Professor of Military History and has taught at the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College (CGSC) for over 21 years. He served 23 years in the U.S. Army and commanded a tank company in the 1st Armored Division during Operation Desert Storm. He is the author of The School of Hard Knocks: Combat Leadership in the American Expeditionary Forces (Texas A&M Press, 2012), which was the recipient of the Society for Military History’s 2013 Distinguished Book Award. His second book, Pershing’s Crusaders: The American Soldier in World War I (University Press of Kansas, 2017) received the World War I Association’s 2017 Norman B. Tomlinson, Jr. Prize for the best work of history in English on World War One, the Organization of American Historians’ 2017 Richard W. Leopold Prize, and the Army Historical Foundation’s 2017 Excellence in U.S. Army History Book Award.
The Ft. Leavenworth Series is an annual roster of lectures focusing on significant historical events, usually with an emphasis on military history. Each lecture is presented by faculty from the United States Army Command and General Staff College in Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas. Established by General William Tecumseh Sherman in 1881, the CGSC is the graduate college for U.S. Army and sister service officers. The esteemed faculty and guests of the CGSC provide unique and captivating insights into the history of military conflict from the ancient to the modern ages at the Dole Institute of Politics.

The opinions expressed herein are those of the individual and do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College or any other governmental agency.

Bipartisan Consensus Building: Making Public Policy Work for Everyone
2025-10-08 16:00 - 17:30 | The Dole Institute of Politics, 2350 Petefish Drive, Lawrence, KS, 66045, United States
Kansas State Representatives Laura Williams (R) and Brandon Woodard (D) are a unique team. They previously ran against each other for public office, but are now both elected officials in the Kansas House of Representatives who work together on a broad spectrum of policy issues. In this session, we’ll hear about their bipartisan public policy work, how they approach problem-solving, and why they work so well together.

Rep. Laura Williams (R) serves in the Kansas House of Representatives, representing her childhood city, Lenexa, Kansas. She serves on Commerce, Financial Institution & Pensions Committees and the Joint Committee on Fiduciary Financial Institutions Oversight. She also serves as the Vice Chair of the Judiciary Committee. With a degree from the University of Kansas, Laura dove headfirst into the world of business as an independent contractor developing marketing strategies for small to medium-sized businesses. But that was just the beginning of her entrepreneurial journey. In 2017, she co-founded a Creative Agency with her husband that continues to thrive today. Now serving her second term in office, Laura is using her experience and passion for entrepreneurship to drive legislative priorities that remove barriers for business owners, create affordable access to childcare, and lower the cost of living for Kansas families. She currently serves as Chair of the Kansas Republican House Campaign Committee. She has served on the Community Council for She Should Run, a non-partisan organization helping break barriers for women to consider running for elected office. She is an alumnae of the BILLD 2024 for Council of State Governments, American Council of Young Political Leaders Canada 2024, and Emerging Leader 2023 Class of GOPAC. Laura is married to her husband, Kyle Williams and celebrated their tenth year of marriage this past May. She has 2 children, Eloise and Sullivan.
Rep. Brandon Woodard (D) is a passionate community organizer, dedicated advocate, and proud lifelong Kansan who represents the 108th District in the Kansas House of Representatives, covering parts of Lenexa, Olathe, and Overland Park. With deep roots in his community and a fierce commitment to public service, Brandon has become a leading voice for human rights, economic justice, and a more equitable Kansas for all. As House Democratic Leader, elected by his colleagues in 2024, Brandon is critical in shaping the legislative agenda, advancing progressive policies, and strategizing on key issues impacting Kansans.

The 2025 Constitution Day Program: Healthcare in the U.S. Constitution
2025-10-15 19:00 - 20:30 | The Dole Institute of Politics, 2350 Petefish Drive, Lawrence, KS, 66045, United States
In observation of Constitution Day, Dole Institute associate director Dr. Barbara Ballard, and attorney and Student Advisory Board alum Jesse Burbank will be in conversation with I. Glenn Cohen, the James A. Attwood and Leslie Williams Professor of Law at Harvard Law School, about the intersection of healthcare policy and the U.S. Constitution, including discussions on Medicare and Medicaid, Obamacare, abortion, gender-related medical treatment, and the future of healthcare.
The Dole Institute’s Constitution Day Program is made possible by the support of longtime Friend of the Dole Institute, Mark P. Johnson.

Dr. Barbara Ballard is senior associate director at the Dole Institute, where she leads civic engagement and leadership programs. She has served at the University of Kansas since 1980 and teaches in education and gender studies. A Kansas House Representative since 1992, she is the Democratic Caucus Chair and serves on key committees. She is also a former president of the National Black Caucus of State Legislators.

Jesse Burbank earned his bachelor’s degree in history and political science from the University of Kansas in 2017. He was a member of the Dole Institute Student Advisory Board, and he served as Dole Institute Director Bill Lacy’s research assistant during his senior year. Jesse earned his law degree with honors from Harvard Law School in 2020, and worked in private practice after law school at the law firm Sidley Austin LLP in Chicago before joining the U.S. Army JAG Corps in late 2022. He is now a Captain in the U.S. Army, serving as a criminal trial attorney in the Military District of Washington, DC. He was previously a federal prosecutor in the District of Kansas and a Special Victims’ Counsel at Fort Riley, representing survivors of sexual assault and related offenses throughout the military justice process.

Prof. I. Glenn Cohen is the Deputy Dean and James A. Attwood and Leslie Williams Professor of Law at Harvard Law School and serves as the Faculty Director, Petrie-Flom Center for Health Law Policy, Biotechnology & Bioethics. He is one of the world’s leading experts on the intersection of bioethics and the law, as well as health law. He also teaches civil procedure. He is an elected member of the National Academy of Medicine. He has spoken to NATO on biotechnology and human enhancement, addressed the OECD and members of the US and the Korean Congress on medical AI policy, and advised then- U.S. Vice President Harris on reproductive rights. He has provided bioethical advising and consulting to some of the largest healthcare companies in the world including Bayer, Otsuka, and Illumina. He has given grand rounds and lectured to medical and industry conferences across the world. His work has been frequently covered by or appeared in media venues such as PBS, NPR, ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN, the New York Times, The Washington Post, the Boston Globe. He is the author of more than 300 articles and leading law, medicine, and science journals and the author, co-author, editor, or co-editor of more than 20 books. Prof. Cohen’s current projects relate to medical AI, mobile health and other health information technologies, abortion, reproduction/reproductive technology, the therapeutic use of psychedelic drugs, research ethics, organ transplantation, rationing in law and medicine, health policy, FDA law, translational medicine, medical tourism and many other topics

Democracy for Juniors with the Dole Institute of Politics
2025-10-20 17:30 - 19:00 | The Dole Institute of Politics, 2350 Petefish Drive, Lawrence, KS, 66045, United States
