Established in 1966 as a memorial to President Kennedy, Harvard's Institute of Politics has inspired generations of leaders to lead lives of purpose by committing themselves to the practice of politics and governing. Its John F. Kennedy Jr. Forum, one of the world's premier arenas for political speech, discussion, and debate, has hosted many presidential candidates and U.S. presidents over the past five decades.
Walter Mondale was the Democratic nominee for president in 1984, after serving as Jimmy Carter's vice president in 1976-1980 and running mate in the 1980 presidential election. He's pictured here in the JFK Jr. Forum in 1982. Watch his discussion about presidential politics and the media on November 10, 1987 with Andrea Mitchell here: http://iop.harvard.edu/forum/presidential-politics-and-press
Geraldine Ferraro, the 1984 Democratic nominee for vice president, was the first female vice presidential candidate of a major party. She served as an IOP Fellow in Spring 1988.
Michael Dukakis, the 1988 Democratic nominee for president
George H.W. Bush, 41st President of the United States. Pictured here with Harvard students, Bush discussed public service in 1998: http://iop.harvard.edu/forum/gordon-lecture-honorable-george-h-w-bush
Bob Dole, with students, served as vice president under Gerald Ford, and was the Republican nominee for president in 1996.
President Clinton, longtime friend of the IOP, joined the IOP in 1991 to discuss the role of government: http://iop.harvard.edu/forum/new-covenant-government-people
Al Gore, Democratic nominee for president in 2000 and Bill Clinton's vice president, in the JFK Jr Forum in 1993.
In 2003, the Democratic presidential candidates visited Harvard for CNN's Rock the Vote program.
John Edwards, the 2004 Democratic vice presidential nominee spoke in the JFK Jr. Forum. Watch his 2003 appearance on Hardball with Chris Matthews, filmed live in the Forum here: http://iop.harvard.edu/forum/hardball-john-edwards
Mitt Romney, 2012 Republican nominee, with members of the Harvard Republicans in February 2016
Vice President Joe Biden spoke in the JFK Jr. Forum on October 2, 2014
Senator John McCain, 2008 Republican nominee for president, discussed campaign finance reform and bipartisanship in the JFK Jr. Forum in April 2014
Hillary Clinton, the presumptive Democratic nominee in 2016, discussed children's health in the JFK Jr. Forum in 1996: http://iop.harvard.edu/forum/public-address-hillary-rodham-clinton
Learn more about Harvard's Institute of Politics and watch more conversations: http://iop.harvard.edu/
