The People, the President, and the Constitution

Related Organization: Kansas City Public Library

Nearly 90 million Americans who were eligible to vote in the November 5 election did not, according to U.S. News & World Report. Yet, many of those people have very strong opinions leaning to one extreme or the other. Can respectful conversation knit the nation back together and inspire more Americans to participate? 

Mizzou alumnae Jean Becker and Linda Lorelle co-founded Civil Dialogues in 2024 with the idea that it might. Everyone benefits from thoughtful and open conversations about political differences and, most importantly, it’s the only way for democracy to continue as a viable form of government. 

The Kinder Institute at the University of Missouri hosts an evening of Civil Dialogues on the topic of “The People, the President, and the Constitution” led by Becker, George H.W. Bush’s post-presidential chief of staff, and Emmy Award-winning journalist Lorelle. Panelists include Jay Sexton, director of the Kinder Institute, and veteran reporter and editor Kathy Kiely. They discuss what’s happening in the Trump administration, how and why Americans must engage in our democracy, and the steps to move forward together for the future of the country.   

The Civil Dialogues series provides a safe space to express views and ask questions without judgment. Each conversation reflects and respects a diversity of viewpoints, both on stage and in the audience, to engage in a civil, constructive conversation led by those who know about the topic.    

Co-presented by the Kinder Institute on Constitutional Democracy.