On Tuesday, Feb. 6, former U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney will share her views on the state of American democracy and the presidency, as well as her first-hand perspective on the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol and the ensuing Congressional investigation, in a compelling, exclusive conversation with Jon Meacham, Carolyn T. and Robert M. Rogers Chair, Distinguished Visiting Professor of Political Science and Pulitzer Prize-winning historian.
“Defending Our Democracy” is the inaugural event for the Carolyn T. and Robert M. Rogers Center for the American Presidency, which was established in the College of Arts and Science by a $5 million gift from the Rogers family in 2021. The gift contributes to the $3.2 billion Dare to Grow campaign-the most ambitious fundraising effort in Vanderbilt’s history.
Hosted in conjunction with the Vanderbilt Project on Unity and American Democracy, the event marks the beginning of the Rogers Center’s mission to explore and promote understanding of the American presidency in all its complexity.
The discussion will also delve into Cheney’s insights from her congressional primary campaign. Cheney, who served as the U.S. representative for Wyoming’s at-large congressional district from 2017 to 2023, brings a wealth of experience and a unique perspective on critical moments in recent American history.
“Defending Our Democracy” will be at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 6, in Langford Auditorium on the Vanderbilt campus.
>>Register here to attend; registration is free and required, and space is limited.
Update: The event registration is at full capacity. Please register for the waitlist and we will contact you if spaces become available.
As the nation continues to reflect on the events of Jan. 6, 2021, this conversation between Cheney and Meacham will provide valuable insights into the challenges facing American democracy and the presidency, particularly given the approach of the 2024 presidential election.
Meacham, a renowned historian and author, brings a valuable perspective to the conversation. Meacham is the Carolyn T. and Robert M. Rogers Professor of American Presidency and co-chair of the Vanderbilt Project on Unity and American Democracy, has authored several New York Times bestsellers and is a contributing editor at Time magazine.
Cheney’s distinguished career includes not only her congressional service but also roles at USAID and the Department of State, where she worked in various capacities in Poland, Hungary, Russia and Ukraine. She is the author of the newly released memoir, Oath and Honor, which tells her firsthand account of the moment our democracy threatened to unravel and the story of the brave men and women who fought to save it. A specialist in national security and foreign policy, Cheney is the co-author of Exceptional: Why the World Needs a Powerful America with her father, former Vice President Dick Cheney.
In recognition of her unwavering commitment to democracy, Liz Cheney, along with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, received the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library’s prestigious Profile in Courage Award in 2022.
The event is part of the university’s Dialogue Vanderbilt initiative, which works to provide a range of programs to students, faculty and the public that promote civil discourse and better understanding while addressing political polarization.
This event was made possible by a generous donation from Jennifer and Abe Friedman in a new series, the Vanderbilt Forum on Unity & Democracy.
