The Dole Institute of Politics

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2350 Petefish Drive
Lawrence, KS 66045 United States Get Directions

The mission of the Dole Institute of Politics is to promote political and civic participation as well as civil discourse in a bi-partisan, balanced manner.

By providing a forum for discussion of political and economic issues, fostering public service leadership and encouraging participation in the political process, we emphasize that politics is an honorable profession and that only through political and civic participation can citizens redirect the course of our nation. While the objective is to accomplish this mission on a broad scale, our location at the University of Kansas provides a unique opportunity for outreach to young people and students.

We utilize the three distinct components of the Dole Institute to accomplish this mission: unique displays that tell the compelling story of Bob Dole’s life in the context of Kansas and The Greatest Generation; one of the largest congressional archives in existence which houses all of the Senator’s congressional papers; and finally, the vigorous public programming conducted by the Dole Institute.

Events at this venue
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The 2024 Post Election Conference: Kansas Panel

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The Dole Institute of Politics 2350 Petefish Drive, Lawrence, KS, United States
Hybrid Hybrid Event

Join Dole Fellow Jonathan Shorman as he moderates the Kansas Panel of the 2024 Post Election Conference. Shorman will lead a panel that will provide an overview of elections throughout Kansas this year, including the race to become the next representative of the Kansas 2nd Congressional District, and political realignment that has led eastern Kansas […]

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The Counselors: Should the Draft Be Reinstated?

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The Dole Institute of Politics 2350 Petefish Drive, Lawrence, KS, United States
Hybrid Hybrid Event

Join us for the next edition of The Counselors—an engaging program featuring debates on contemporary topics. This fall, Dole Institute Visiting Fellows and attorneys Ed Duckers and Pedro Irigonegaray will debate whether or not the military draft should be reinstated in the United States with the assistance of expert witnesses. This program will be moderated […]

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Congress in the 21st Century

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The Dole Institute of Politics 2350 Petefish Drive, Lawrence, KS, United States
Hybrid Hybrid Event

In partnership with the Association of the Former Members of Congress, the Dole Institute will welcome Democratic and Republican former members of Congress for “Congress in the 21st Century,” a three-part Discussion Groups series. This program will explore the critical period following elections, examining how outcomes shape policy, governance, and community engagement. The discussion will focus […]

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Tribute to Veterans Gala

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The Dole Institute of Politics 2350 Petefish Drive, Lawrence, KS, United States

Join us in celebrating our Veterans and their families on Sunday, November 10, 2024. The program will include a Salute to Veterans from the University of Kansas ROTC and music from the Moonlight Serenade Orchestra. Reservations are required. Admission is free, however, space is limited. To make a reservation, please call the Dole Institute of […]

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World Leaders in Wartime: Abraham Lincoln

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The Dole Institute of Politics 2350 Petefish Drive, Lawrence, KS, United States
Hybrid Hybrid Event

Abraham Lincoln, often characterized as one of America’s preeminent war leaders, was a master politician who intuitively understood the political consequences of any decision.  Yet on matters of strategy, arguably the most important responsibility of a wartime president, Lincoln deferred to his military commanders rather than exercise his authority as commander-in-chief.  His strategy of deference […]

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Congress in the 21st Century

Event Category:
The Dole Institute of Politics 2350 Petefish Drive, Lawrence, KS, United States
Hybrid Hybrid Event

In partnership with the Association of the Former Members of Congress, the Dole Institute will welcome Democratic and Republican former members of Congress for “Congress in the 21st Century,” a three-part Discussion Groups series. Join us for an engaging program with two former members of Congress as they share insider insights from the campaign trail. […]

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KUCCO Annual Trunk or Treat

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The Dole Institute of Politics 2350 Petefish Drive, Lawrence, KS, United States

Join KU Center for Community Outreach and the Dole Institute of Politics for our annual Trunk or Treat! Located in the parking lot of the Dole Institute of Politics, all are welcome to join us for games, activities, and candy. Come in your best costume for a scary good time!

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How to Make Congress Work for the American People

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The Dole Institute of Politics 2350 Petefish Drive, Lawrence, KS, United States
Hybrid Hybrid Event

Public frustration with Congress has been the status quo since the institution’s very first days. Many point to constant gridlock and high levels of partisanship as the main problems that have led to Congress’s recent decrepitude. While partisanship and gridlock does impact Congress’s ability to be a responsive and representative body, an often underdiscussed problem […]

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Sandra Day O’Connor

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The Dole Institute of Politics 2350 Petefish Drive, Lawrence, KS, United States
Hybrid Hybrid Event

The Dole Institute of Politics will award the 2024 Dole Leadership Prize to Sandra Day O'Connor, former Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court and founder of the nonprofit educational organization iCivics, at a public program on October 24 at 7 p.m. It is the first time the Institute has honored a recipient posthumously. […]

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The Battle for Congress

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The Dole Institute of Politics 2350 Petefish Drive, Lawrence, KS, United States
Hybrid Hybrid Event

As Democrats and Republicans compete for control of the House and Senate, a look at the themes driving races across the country and what to look for in November.     Jonathan Shorman is The Kansas City Star's lead political reporter, covering Kansas and Missouri government. Shorman has spent more than a decade covering politics in […]

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The Growing Divide: Political Realignment in the Modern Era

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The Dole Institute of Politics 2350 Petefish Drive, Lawrence, KS, United States
Hybrid Hybrid Event

As this year’s momentous election campaign nears its climax, it is illustrating anew how the Democratic and Republican parties are undergoing profound ideological and demographic changes. Dole Institute Visiting Fellow Jerry Seib will be joined by Karen Tumulty, an associate editor and columnist at The Washington Post, for an overview of the campaign and how […]

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China in the Heartland: Building a Balanced Approach

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The Dole Institute of Politics 2350 Petefish Drive, Lawrence, KS, United States
Hybrid Hybrid Event

As China’s influence grows around the world, skepticism in the United States grows in tandem with it. Evidence of this is seen throughout the Heartland of America, where anti-China legislation and rhetoric have grown over the years. Professor Jack Zhang of the KU Department of Political Science will be joined by Susan Thornton, Vice Chair […]

The Dole Institute is committed to universal accessibility in all programs and resources. We are in the process of making all of our web projects fully accessible. An accessible version of the material represented on this site will be made available upon request. Please contact us at doleinstitute@ku.edu to request the material be made available in an accessible format, or for general assistance.