The Dole Institute of Politics

Address
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

Today

  • Constitution Day Graphic
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    2022 Constitution Day program

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

    Constitution Day at KU Memorial Stadium: (Pre-Game) Date:  September 24, 2022 Time:  TBA Kansas Jayhawks vs. Duke Blue Devils Kansas University Memorial Stadium KU fans are invited to recite the Preamble to the Constitution before the Jayhawks face their opponents.   This is also Family Weekend. The Preamble will be displayed on the video board in […]

  • Juan Manuel Santos
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    President Juan Manuel Santos

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

    The Dole Institute of Politics will honor Juan Manuel Santos, former President of Colombia with the 2022 Dole Leadership Prize. The Dole Leadership Prize is a bipartisan award presented annually to an individual who demonstrates the importance of involvement in political and civic affairs. Santos was identified for recognition by the late Senator Bob Dole […]

  • 9-11 Memorial Poster Exhibit
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    Exhibit: September 11, 2001: The Day that Changed the World

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

      On display from September 6 - September 11, 2022 The Dole Institute will display a special poster exhibition in Simons Media Room from September 6 through September 11, for the occasion of the 21st anniversary of the September 11 attacks. Entitled “September 11, 2001: The Day that Changed the World,” the exhibit reviews the […]

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    Fort Leavenworth: Angela Riotto and Derek Mallett: “Prisoners of War as Military Intelligence in the Civil War and World War 2″

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

    During the Second World War, the US military interrogated over 3,000 German Prisoners of War at a secret facility at Fort Hunt, Virginia. These interrogations offer fascinating perspectives of the German situation in the final year of the war and allow us to evaluate how well American authorities knew its enemy at the time. Derek […]

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    Fort Leavenworth: John Kuehn: “Victory at Sea: World War 2 on Film”

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

    Victory At Sea was one of the most celebrated television programs of its day when it was first aired on NBC beginning in 1952 and almost weekly for 26 episodes until May of 1953. Dr. Kuehn discusses its importance not only as a documentary of naval operations at World War II, but as a reflection […]

  • map of Ukraine and surrounding geography
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    Russia’s special military operation in Ukraine: planning, operations, and prospects

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

    On February 24, 2022, Russia began a war on Ukraine, unleashing brutality on the European continent not seen since 1945. On June 28, two scholars of war; Kevin Benson, Ph.D., Colonel, US Army (ret), and Prof. Chris Marsh, Ph.D., Joint Special Operations University, will assess the Russia-Ukraine war to date and offer their projections on […]

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    Discover with Dole: 4th of July

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

    12:00 – 4:00pm Discover with Dole – family friendly activities Join us for a "Dole" lot of fun with our family-friendly crafts and activities this summer! Vote for your favorite political pet in the election of Socks the Cat vs. Leader the Dog, write a letter to Frances the First Cat of Kansas, scavenger hunts, […]

  • Historian Mary McMurray standing in front of a museum exhibit.
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    From Dependents to Interdependence: The Army Officer’s Wife Ideal and the Making of Army Family Policy

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

    Historian Mary McMurray will contextualize the activism of POW/MIA wives with the changing roles and expectations of the Army wife in the 20th century. Using military guidebooks and other sources directed at military spouses, Mary places Army spouses at the center of systemic changes in the Army. Her presentation, followed by audience Q&A, will cover […]

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    Fort Leavenworth: Ethan Rafuse: “Hybrid War in the Shenandoah in 1864”

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

    Defense analysts have identified the emergence of “hybrid warfare” as a compelling threat to American national security and declared it one of the more notable developments of the first decade of the 21st century. Of course, while the label may be new, hybrid warfare is not new in the human experience. This talk will discuss Union […]

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    Dave Cotter, Mark Hull, Benjamin M. Schneider: “Examining War Crimes in World War 2: A Panel Discussion”

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

    Examining War Crimes in World War II: A Panel Discussion This panel will examine some of the less understood aspects of war crimes of the Second World War. Dr. Mark Hull will examine the power of the media in World War II era Germany in "Inciting Extermination: the Role of Anti-Semitic Media in the Holocaust.” […]

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    “The Future of Big Tech”

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

    “The Future of Big Tech” April 26 | 6 p.m. Inspired by our beloved courtroom-style program, The Counselors, Ed Duckers and Pedro Irigonegaray return – this time as mentors to KU undergraduate students! Students will cross examine expert witnesses to debate the future of Big Tech by addressing the resolution: Antitrust laws should be expanded […]

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    Easter Egg Roll with Dole

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

    Easter Egg Roll with Dole Saturday, April 16 | 10 a.m. Come one, come all, for the Dole Institute’s Easter Egg Roll with Dole! Join us 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 […]