Overheard at the Bush Center

On May 18, the Bush Institute and four partner organizations hosted Elections – A More Perfect Union. In this panel discussion, experts share how the integrity of elections is being protected in various states and conveying the threats currently facing election administration and workers. Panelists include: Maggie Oliver, New Mexico Secretary of State; Joanna Lydgate, Founder and CEO of States Uni...

In this episode, experts and analyst discuss the role of elections in a democratic society, how they have evolved over time, and how important it is to safeguard elections against challenges of the day. Featured guests include: Ken Hersh, George W. Bush Center President and CEO; Jon Meacham, Co-chair of the Vanderbilt Project on Unity and American Democracy; Yuval Levin, Director of Social, Cultur...

Kenneth Hersh, President and CEO of the George W. Bush Presidential Center shares opening remarks at the 2022 Forum on Leadership, highlighting leadership domestic and abroad. Anne Wicks, the Ann Kimball Johnson Director of Education and Opportunity at the Bush Center joins Mitch Daniels, President of Purdue University, to discuss the changes need to be made to ensure opportunity for all students...

Dr. Sakena Yacoobi received the 2022 George W. Bush Institute Citation for her decades of work empowering women and providing leadership and education to her fellow citizens in Afghanistan. In this conversation at the 2022 Forum on Leadership, she shares how her efforts to cultivate love and respect across the deep divisions made throughout history gives hope to generations of women and children.

Sustained and robust economic growth in the United States will require bold and innovative solutions. In a candid conversation at the 2022 Forum on Leadership with Secretary Elaine Chao, 24th United States Secretary of Labor, and Gary Cohn, IBM Vice President, they discuss what it will take from public and private sector leaders to put all Americans on the path to opportunity.

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, what are the lessons learned to address public health challenges? Amid vaccine diplomacy efforts abroad, why is American leadership so critical to address these challenges around the world? In this Forum on Leadership conversation, Dr. Deborah Birx, Senior Fellow at the Bush Institute and former White House coronavirus response coordinator, and Harbinger Healt...

At the 2022 Forum on Leadership, Bush Center President and CEO Ken Hersh sat down for the keynote conversation with General James Mattis, 26th United States Secretary of Defense. He discussed how vital America’s voice is in advancing freedom and prosperity at home and around the world.

Americans are reevaluating their priorities when it comes to where and how they live. The pandemic has spurred a mass migration of people over the past two years, with some cities experiencing vast population increases and others steep declines. But there is a recipe for success: For cities to be prosperous and have vibrant, opportunity-rich economies, they must build a highly educated workforce;...

Engage at the Bush Center, Presented by NexPoint Effective leadership begins with making connections, and humor is a way to build rapport, ease into uncomfortable conversations, and help to bring joy during difficult times. It’s no coincidence that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who has emerged as an inspirational leader to his people, began his career as a comedian. In our own democracy...

In a shift in American culture and values, we asked ‘What does the American Dream look like today? Can it still be realized?’  Cullum Clark, sat down with Dallas Cowboys linebacker Jaylon Smith; Jorge Lima, who is the senior vice president of policy at Americans for Prosperity and leads immigration efforts at the nonprofit, Stand Together; and Dionne Gumbs, CEO and Founder of GenEQTY, to discuss t...

In an interview on immigration insights with Bush Institute Executive Director Holly Kuzmich, former Mayor of El Paso Dee Margo discusses frontline perspectives from the U.S.-Mexico border and what a secure border looks like.  Related Read the transcript The Bush Institute's work on immigration

Recorded at the 2019 Forum on Leadership What was born out of a race between governments to explore the frontier of space has shifted to a competition between private companies. As the frontier continues to change, what is a realistic expectation for the future of space? With both corporations and governments now in this arena, each with different goals and ambitions, how is the future of the new...

In 2017, President George W. Bush delivered a powerful speech at the Bush Institute's Spirit of Liberty event in New York. He discussed the importance of the United States' role in the world, and stressed that we should not become an isolationist, nationalist, or protectionist Nation.  With an introduction by U.S. Army Sergeant First Class Ramon Padilla Munguia. Related The Spirit of Liberty Freed...

At the 2021 Forum on Leadership, Bush Center CEO Ken Hersh sat down for the keynote conversation Hamdi Ulukaya, Founder and CEO of Chobani.  He shared his inspiring story, including the experiences that brought him to America and eventually led him to create Chobani.  He also discusses life in the United States -- and why this is the land of opportunity. Related Out of Many, One: Portraits of Amer...

The George W. Bush Institute conducted an international symposium at the Invictus Games 2016 to discuss solutions to help returning servicemen and women overcome their invisible wounds and improve outcomes for their transition back to civilian life.  Prince Harry joined President Bush for a conversation about the importance of reducing the barriers to care and the role of sport in recovery.  Presi...

Holly Kuzmich, George W. Bush Institute Executive Director, sat down with Carlos Gutierrez, former Secretary of Commerce, to discuss the impact immigrants have on the United States. Related Bush Institute work on immigration

In a companion event to the Bush Center’s special exhibit on immigration and President Bush’s new book, Out of Many, One: Portraits of America's Immigrants , a panel of experts examine the incredible biodiversity, agricultural strength, and beauty of our southern border. The conversation tackles how to thoughtfully secure and manage a diverse border region, and how to protect and preserve the land...

Michael Chertoff, former Secretary of Homeland Security and Co-founder and Executive Chairman of the Chertoff Group, discusses the U.S.-Mexico border and what it will take to address immigration reform that also tackles border security. Related Read a transcript of this conversation Learn more about the Bush Institute's work on immigration

Recorded April 20, 2018 at Moody Coliseum at SMU In 2018, Amazon Chairman and CEO Jeff Bezos sat down with Ken Hersh at the Bush Center’s first annual Forum on Leadership.  They discussed his approach to entrepreneurship and his vision for Amazon in the early days, how he led his company to be the one of the largest retailers in the world, and his vision for the next frontier – space. Related 2018...

Recorded December 9, 2020 In December at ExcelinEd’s EdPalooza, President Bush shared his insights on leadership in education, how to ignite change, and on the post-pandemic road ahead for education in America with former Secretary of Education and Texas 2036 CEO Margaret Spellings. Related About the Bush Institute Education Reform Initiative

Former Secretary of State Dr. Condoleezza Rice joined Holly Kuzmich, Executive Director of the Bush Institute, to discuss immigration -- "America's secret weapon." Related Immigration policy at the George W. Bush Institute Dr. Rice at the 2021 Bush Center Forum on Leadership, introduced by President Bush

Recorded August 6, 2014 In 2014, First Ladies Mrs. Laura Bush and Mrs. Michelle Obama were joined by moderator Cokie Roberts to discuss their unique and powerful platform -- empowering young girls and women around the globe.  Related: Watch all sessions from Investing in Our Future Learn more about the Bush Institute Women's Initiative

Recorded April 19, 2018 at the Bush Center's Forum on Leadership In 2018, President George W. Bush sat down with Bono from U2 to chat  about life, leadership, and PEPFAR -- what Bono called “the greatest health intervention in the history of medicine.”  Related Bush Institute Global Health Initiative An Oral History of PEPFAR