Overheard at the Bush Center

United States Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett joined Shilo Brooks, President and CEO of the Bush Center, to discuss her book, Listening to the Law: Reflections on the Court and Constitution for a special Engage at the Bush Center, presented by NexPoint. During their discussion, she reflected on her journey to the Supreme Court, offering insights into her daily life and the Court’s delibera...

As part of the Engage at the Bush Center  series, presented by NexPoint, the Bush Center hosted highly acclaimed author and biographer Walter Isaacson in celebration of America’s 250th anniversary. In reflecting on his latest book, Isaacson discussed the Declaration of Independence’s most defining line and how it has shaped our ideals and continues to guide our ongoing pursuit of liberty and equal...

Recently, the Bush Center held the ninth Forum on Leadership focused on the theme The Heart of America.  Forum on Leadership is a landmark gathering which develops, recognizes, and celebrates leadership by bringing together notable voices for in-depth discussions on today’s pressing issues.  In his welcoming remarks, Shilo Brooks, President and CEO of the George W. Bush Center, explored what is at...

Recently, the Bush Center held the ninth Forum on Leadership focused on the theme The Heart of America.  Forum on Leadership is a landmark gathering which develops, recognizes, and celebrates leadership by bringing together notable voices for in-depth discussions on today’s pressing issues.  Panelists Mark Updegrove, President and CEO of the LBJ Foundation; Michelle Ferrari, Director and Producer...

Recently, the Bush Center held the ninth Forum on Leadership focused on the theme The Heart of America. Forum on Leadership is a landmark gathering that develops, recognizes, and celebrates leadership by bringing together notable voices for in-depth discussions on today’s pressing issues. In this panel discussion with Jeff Reinbold, President and CEO of the National Parks Foundation, and Grace Lee...

Ellen and Clayton Kershaw joined the Bush Center for an inspiring conversation on the power of sports to lift communities, drawing on lessons from Clayton’s storied career with the Los Angeles Dodgers and the couple’s deeply rooted commitment to service. In this Engage at the Bush Center, presented by NexPoint discussion, the Kershaws shared stories of baseball, faith, and family, and reflected on...

As part of the Engage at the Bush Center series presented by NexPoint, the Bush Center, in collaboration with the George W. Bush Presidential Library, hosted acclaimed filmmaker Ken Burns and Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Rick Atkinson in celebration of America’s 250th anniversary. Together, they explored how the American Revolution shaped our national identity and considered not just where we...

In this special Engage at the Bush Center event presented by NexPoint , Dori Thornton Waller , former White House Deputy Social Secretary, Sara Armstrong , former Deputy Chief of Staff to Mrs. Laura Bush, and Susan Whitson , former Press Secretary to Mrs. Laura Bush, shared memorable stories and cheerful moments from their holidays in the People’s House.

Keith Hennessey , the Bush Institute’s David Rubenstein Fellow,  Kristen Silverberg , Business Roundtable President and COO, and  Marc Sumerlin , former Deputy Director of the National Economic Council, joined Director of the Bush Institute-SMU Economic Growth Initiative Cullum Clark for a thought-provoking and timely conversation on the condition of the U.S. economy, the role of the Federal Reser...

As part of our Engage at the Bush Center series presented by NexPoint, legendary sportscasters Bob Costas and Joe Buck came to the Bush Center and shared unforgettable stories, reliving the most transformational and unifying moments in sports history. Related:  Watch the  Engage at the Bush Center program presented by NexPoint here View special exhibit Game Changer: United by Sports , presented by...

The Seventh Annual Laura Bush Book Club proudly featured Amor Towles. One of Mrs. Bush’s favorite authors, Towles’ novels Rules of Civility, A Gentleman in Moscow, and The Lincoln Highway, and his collection of shorter fiction Table for Two have all been New York Times bestsellers.

The Bush Center held its eighth annual Forum on Leadership, a landmark event that develops, recognizes, and celebrates leadership by bringing together notable voices for in-depth discussions on today’s pressing issues. Freedom of the press is foundational to our nation. Martin Baron, Former Executive Director of The Washington Post , and Jessica Yellin, Founder of News Not Noise ; joined in discus...

The Bush Center held its eighth annual Forum on Leadership, a landmark event that develops, recognizes, and celebrates leadership by bringing together notable voices for in-depth discussions on today’s pressing issues. Dr. Ben Sasse, former U.S. Senator from Nebraska and former President of the University of Florida; Dr. R. Gerald Turner, President of Southern Methodist University, and Dr. Melva W...

The Bush Center held its eighth annual Forum on Leadership, a landmark event that develops, recognizes, and celebrates leadership by bringing together notable voices for in-depth discussions on today’s pressing issues. In a panel discussion, entrepreneurs Salim Asrawi, Co-Founder and President of Texas de Brazil, and Daniel Lubetzky, Founder of Builders Movement and KIND, shared how they’ve made t...

Topics of geopolitics have been increasingly prominent in the U.S. government in recent years, and no one knows the struggles of maneuvering through these discussions better than a member of the United States Congress. The Engage at the Bush Center program presented by NexPoint brought Senator James Lankford (R-OK) and former Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson (R-TX) to discuss these topics and get the...

The incredible story of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, nicknamed the Six Triple Eight, recently came to the Bush Center. The program followed the release of Netflix’s The Six Triple Eight , a film that tells the story of WWII’s only Women’s Army Corps unit of color.  The Engage at the Bush Center program presented by NexPoint featured, former U.S. Ambassador Nicole Avant , best-sel...

Ree Drummond, star of the long running hit Food Network show,  The Pioneer Woman,  joined us for a festive Engage at the Bush Center event presented by NexPoint.  In a conversation with lifestyle expert Kimberly Schlegel Whitman,  Drummond shared stories about her favorite family traditions, tips for gift giving, and of course, the right food for every holiday occasion.   Related: Food, Family & H...

As part of the Engage at the Bush Center  series presented by NexPoint, Jared Cohen, author of Life After Power, and Jeffrey Engel, founding David Gergen Director of the Center for Presidential History at SMU, headlined a conversation on the post-presidency. The conversation, moderated by Freddy Ford, President Bush’s Chief of Staff, featured insights from history and memorable stories.

Russia and China are closer allies than at any time in the two countries’ modern history. In an Engage at Bush Center conversation presented by NexPoint, a panel of distinguished experts discussed how the United States should deal with Moscow and Beijing. Krys Boyd, Host and Managing Editor of KERA Radio’s award-winning national program, Think , led the conversation featuring John J. Sullivan, for...

Sitting U.S. Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch returned to the Bush Center as part of the Engage at the Bush Center series presented by NexPoint. Justice Gorsuch discussed his new book, Over Ruled: The Human Tool of Too Much Law , and the complex role laws play in Americans lives. Related:  A Conversation with Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch - Engage at the Bush Cente r, presented by NexPoint...

Recently, the Bush Center hosted author Heather Morris for the Laura Bush Book Club as part of Engage at the Bush Center  series presented by NexPoint, with support from H-E-B.  In her conversation with Bush Institute’s Anne Wicks, Morris discussed her No. 1 international bestselling novel and new original series, The Tattooist of Auschwitz – a story about hope and love, based on interviews conduc...

While foundational to the beliefs of our nation, religious freedom is still denied to many around the globe. This conversation dives into the global significance of this liberty and its domestic importance for our pluralistic society. Panelists: Rushan Abbas, Founder and Executive Director, Campaign for Uyghurs David French, Opinion Columnist, The New York Times Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO and Nation...

William J. Burns , Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, was the keynote speaker at the Bush Center’s 2024 Forum on Leadership. Burns was joined by David J. Kramer, Executive Director of the Bush Institute, for a conversation on how the CIA assesses challenges facing the United States from Russia and China to the Middle East.  Related:  2024 Forum on Leadership

America's role in the world leads to competition and clashes with Russia and China, including when it comes to promoting values of human dignity and personal freedoms. Top minds on this issue will discuss how human rights and democracy factor into the great power competition. With an introductory testimonial by Seohyun Lee, North Korean Human Rights Advocate.  Panelists:  Mark Green, President, Di...

When freedom is under attack, oppressed people’s most powerful tool is often their voice and the voices of others.  Global activists Pashtana Durrani, Joseph Kim, and Alice Zhuravel, joined Bush Institute’s Director of Global Policy, Natalie Gonella-Platts, for a panel  discussion at the 2024 Forum on Leadership on how they are pushing back against authoritarian threats and speaking truth to power...