Overheard at the Bush Center

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 and How institutions, including higher education, can better serve the public.

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 Health CEO Dr. Stephen Hahn address these questions and more.

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; provide a strong sense of community; maintain a welcoming approach to newcomers, including immigrants; pursue commerce-friendly policies; invest in walkable centers, greenspace, and good physical infrastructure; and offer an affordable quality of life. In this virtual conversation, Cullum Clark, Director of the Bush Institute-SMU Economic Growth Initiative, and Henry Cisneros, former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, discuss how America can create more cities of opportunity. Moderated by Holly Kuzmich, Executive Director of the Bush Institute, the conversation addresses policy changes city and state leaders should prioritize to ensure future success.

Engage at the Bush Center, Presented by NexPointEffective 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, humor remains vital as a tool of both diplomacy and leadership. It’s also a way to hold our leaders accountable. On March 8, 2022, Bush Center President and CEO Ken Hersh moderates a panel discussion about humor in the Nation’s highest office featuring Karen Hughes, a longtime advisor to President Bush; Landon Parvin, the author of many humorous speeches delivered by presidents at White House Correspondents’ Association dinners and other lighthearted occasions; and David Litt, a bestselling author and former Funny or Die producer who served as a speechwriter to President Obama. The program complements the special exhibit Liberty and Laughter: The Lighter Side of the White House, open now at the Bush Center.RelatedWatch event videoLearn more about Engage at the Bush Center, presented by NexPoint

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 the path to faster, more inclusive growth and opportunity.Related: The Catalyst: A Journal of Ideas for the Bush Institute - The State of the American DreamBush Institute- SMU Economic Growth Initiative Blueprint for Opportunity

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. RelatedRead the transcriptThe Bush Institute's work on immigration

Recorded at the 2019 Forum on LeadershipWhat 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 space race going to safely benefit the world?FeaturingAriane Cornell Head of Astronaut Strategy and Sales, Blue Origin Sean O’Keefe (Moderator) Professor, Syracuse University Maxwell School; Former Secretary of the Navy; Former Administrator, NASA Matt Rooney (Remarks) Managing Director, Bush Institute-SMU Economic Growth InitiativeRelated2019 Forum on LeadershipBush Institute Economic Growth Initiative

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.RelatedThe Spirit of LibertyFreedom and Democracy at the George W. Bush InstituteAbout Sergeant First Class Ramon Padilla Munguia

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.RelatedOut of Many, One: Portraits of America's Immigrants2021 Forum on Leadership

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. President Bush also served as the Honorary Chairman for Invictus Games Orlando 2016.Related:Watch the full Invictus Games SymposiumLearn more about the Bush Institute Military Service Initiative

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.RelatedBush 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 itself.Texas Tribune CEO and Co-Founder Evan Smith leads the discussion with former U.S. CongressmanWill Hurd, former Mexican Ambassador to the U.S.Geronimo Gutierrez Fernandez, conservationist and film producerJay Kleberg(The River and the Wall), andAdair Margo, who has been involved in the El Paso/Juarez border community her entire life. She founded the Adair Margo Gallery in 1985 and co-authored an oral history of the region with renowned local artist Tom Lea.The conversation also focuses on the people who live and work along the border, and the diversity of culture that makes the region unique. The panel examines topics such as the economy, food, the arts, and education, while also touching on policy that can help us facilitate a more efficient and compassionate immigration system.Learn more about the Bush Institute's work on immigration

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.RelatedRead a transcript of this conversationLearn more about the Bush Institute's work on immigration

Recorded April 20, 2018 at Moody Coliseum at SMUIn 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.Related2018 Forum on Leadership

Recorded December 9, 2020In 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.RelatedAbout 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."RelatedImmigration policy at the George W. Bush InstituteDr. Rice at the 2021 Bush Center Forum on Leadership, introduced by President Bush

Recorded August 6, 2014In 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 FutureLearn more about the Bush Institute Women's Initiative

Recorded April 19, 2018 at the Bush Center's Forum on LeadershipIn 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.” RelatedBush Institute Global Health InitiativeAn Oral History of PEPFAR