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

  • Featured

    Walt Riker & Clarkson Hine

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

    The 2022 Dole Lecture will be held on April 14 at 7 p.m. Presented each spring, the lecture commemorates the date when Bob Dole was critically wounded while serving in Italy during World War II. The Dole Lecture honors Senator Dole’s courageous recovery and continuing commitment to serve the nation. This year’s special guest speakers […]

  • Featured

    John Della Volpe: “Fight: How Gen Z is channeling their fear and passion to save America”

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

    On April 12 at 7 p.m., John Della Volpe will discuss his book “Fight: How Gen Z is channeling their fear and passion to save America." The book covers the coming of age of the 70 million young people in America born in a 20-year period beginning in the mid-1990s. Volpe examines the political awakening of this […]

  • Featured

    Dave Mills: “Bread for my Enemies: US Aid to Germany after World War 2”

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

    The greatest challenge to peace in Western Europe immediately after World War Two was the possibility that the people themselves would vote in Communist governments, primarily due to hunger. This presentation will demonstrate the challenges and the extent to which the American government fed Germany and other nations for both humanitarian and anticommunist reasons between […]

  • Featured

    SAB Program: “Fall Forecast: Predicting the 2022 Midterm Elections”

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

    Fall Forecast: Predicting the 2022 Midterm Elections Thursday, March 31 | 7 p.m. The Dole Institute Student Advisory Board Program, "Fall Forecast: Predicting the 2022 Midterm Elections" will be held on March 31 at 7 p.m. The program will feature Colleen McCain Nelson, executive editor of The Sacramento Bee and the California regional editor for […]

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    The Last Liberal Republican

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

    “The Last Liberal Republican" John Roy Price  Tuesday, March 8, 2022 | 7 p.m. Join us March 8 at 7 p.m. when author John Roy Price will discuss his book “The Last Liberal Republican: An Insider's Perspective on Nixon's Surprising Social Policy.” During the first Nixon administration, John Roy Price was special assistant to the president of the United States and […]

  • Featured

    Rich Barbuto: “Defending New York City in the Early Republic”

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

    “Defending New York City in the Early Republic" Rich Barbuto Thursday, March 3, 2022 | 3 p.m. During the American Revolution, New York City was occupied by the British. Thereafter, the city soon became the largest port of the new republic. Threatened again as tensions with Britain reached a fevered pitch, federal, state, and local […]

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    A Conversation on Race, Part V: Tribute to Black History

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

    Join us for A Conversation on Race, Part V: Tribute to Black History to hear from guests Kevin Willmott, professor, Film & Media Studies; Mark McCormick, director of strategic communications, ACLU of Kansas; Dorthy Pennington, associate professor, Department of Communication Studies; and Shawn Alexander, professor, Department of African & African American Studies. The conversation will be […]

  • Featured

    Kansas Day Celebrations

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

    Kansas Day Celebrations January 26-February 2 Celebrate Kansas Day all week long at the Dole Institute! Join us during Museum hours Wednesday, January 26 through Wednesday, February 2 – with special emphasis on Saturday, January 29 – to explore Kansas-themed items at Discover with Dole! Make your own special Kansas postcard using historical examples from […]

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    Kennan and Nitze: Early Cold War Theorists

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

    Ft. Leavenworth: Kennan and Nitze: Early Cold War Theorists Gates Brown and Dave Mills December 2, 2021 | 3 p.m. Brown and Mills will discuss two of the most influential Cold War theoriest: George Kennan and Paul Nitze, who were exact opposites in strategy and outlook. Kennan was a realist who believed the U.S. should eliminate its […]

  • Featured

    THE COUNSELORS | Resolved: Cash bail will not be required for individuals who are not a flight risk or dangerous

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

    On Nov. 17, the Dole Institute of Politics will debut The Counselors, an engaging series featuring two advocates arguing either side of an important national issue. In a cross between a courtroom trial and a debate, the two counselors will present their opposing arguments and call two expert witnesses each to help build their case. […]

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    Careers in Public Service

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

    The Dole Institute of Politics invites you to join us for an online panel discussion on careers in public service featuring four former Dole Student Advisory Board members.   Julia Groblacher: Foreign Service Officer, U.S. Department of State After graduating from KU in 2010, Julia received her Masters in Public Policy from the Harvard JFK […]

  • Featured

    Kansas Veterans Virtual Memory Wall Veterans Day Open House

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

    Thursday, November 11, 2021 12-4 p.m. Join us for a public open house debut of our Kansas Veterans Virtual Memory Wall. Guests will have opportunities to interact with the virtual exhibit, submit new veteran profiles, and enjoy music while honoring Kansas veterans and their families. Special thanks to these project contributors: Bernhard Mueller-Anderson, Quatrefoil Associates […]