KU News Release

Former vice president, senator and general to speak at KU

Walter Mondale

Howard Baker Jr.

LAWRENCE — The Dole Institute of Politics at the University of Kansas will host three of history’s most prominent leaders within a three-week period this spring when former Vice President Walter F. Mondale, former Senate Majority Leader Howard H. Baker Jr. and former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Richard B. Myers speak here. The programs include two of the institute’s annual events: the Dole Leadership Prize and the Dole Lecture.

“This is a unique situation for us,” said Bill Lacy, director of the institute. “Due to a wonderful set of circumstances, this is the first time we have hosted three such high-level American leaders in separate programs within such a short period of time.”

Each of the programs is free and open to the public, but tickets will be required.

“An Evening with Walter Mondale” will be held at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 12, at the Dole Institute. Mondale was vice president under President Jimmy Carter from 1977 to 1981, was the Democratic Party’s nominee for president in 1984, served in the U.S. Senate for 12 years and was appointed by President Clinton to be U.S. Ambassador to Japan in 1993. He is currently senior counsel with the law firm of Dorsey & Whitney LLP, headquartered in Minneapolis.

On Sunday, April 22, Baker will receive the Dole Leadership Prize and participate in a moderated discussion at the Lied Center. Baker served three terms in the U.S. Senate from 1967 to 1985, where he served two sessions as Majority Leader (1981-85) and two sessions as Minority Leader (1977-1981). He was President Reagan’s chief of staff from 1987 to 1988 and was U.S. Ambassador to Japan from 2001 to 2005. He is currently senior counsel with the law firm of Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC, and is married to former Kansas Sen. Nancy Kassebaum Baker.

On Wednesday, May 2, Myers will present the Dole Lecture at the Dole Institute. Myers became the 15th chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in October 2001. He previously was vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, commander in chief of the North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Space Command and commander of the Pacific Air Forces. He is a native of Kansas City, Mo., and a 1965 graduate of Kansas State University. He entered the Air Force in 1965 through the Reserve Officers Training Corps program.

Tickets for “An Evening with Walter Mondale” will be available at the Dole Institute beginning Friday, March 16. Ticket information and times for the Dole Leadership Prize program and Dole Lecture will be announced in late March.

All programs will be simulcast to KU’s Edwards Campus in Overland Park. For more information, contact the Dole Institute at (785) 864-4900 or visit www.doleinstitute.org.

The Dole Institute of Politics is dedicated to the mission of promoting civic engagement, public service and politics.

-30-

The University of Kansas is a major comprehensive research and teaching university. University Relations is the central public relations office for KU's Lawrence campus.