The Panetta Institute for Public Policy

Panetta Institute Announces the 2026 Leon Panetta Lecture Series

The 250th Anniversary of the American Revolution

What Will Be Its Legacy in the 21st Century?

This year’s theme will ask the question The 250th Anniversary of the American Revolution – What will be its Legacy in the 21st Century? Secretary Panetta will moderate each of the sessions. Joining him in these important discussions is an impressive list of speakers to discuss our nation’s history and what it means for our future.

“This year we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the formal start of the American Revolution,” said Panetta Institute Chairman Leon E. Panetta. “As we approach this milestone we do so at a time when the unifying spirit behind that brave fight for Democracy is largely fragmented. Today we are a nation deeply divided over economic issues, foreign policy, and our basic democratic values and systems. Can the lessons of the American experiment guide us through these new challenges? Can our economy sustain itself against threats to trade and unpredictable markets? Will the Trump administration’s efforts to create a new world order bring peace or more war? And finally as we approach the mid-term elections how can we protect the most essential democratic right, the ability to vote. I’ll pose these questions to an impressive list of speakers. A dialogue of ideas is more important than ever. ”

The events for the 2026 season are as follows:*

Monday, March 2, 7:00 – 8:30 p. m. The Lessons of History – Do Americans Still Believe in the Constitution and the Values of Our Democracy? with Douglas Brinkley, author and Professor of History, Rice University; Lindsay Chervinsky, presidential historian, author and executive director of the George Washington Presidential Library; Nicholas Kristof, a columnist for The New York Times and Pulitzer Prize winning journalist and Chris Whipple, Emmy-winning documentary filmmaker, journalist, and author.

Monday, April 20, 7:00 p. m. to 8:30 p. m. The Legacy of the American Economy – Strong Market, Growth and Stability or Another ’29 Crash? with Jared Bernstein, Chief of the Council of Economic Advisers (2023-2025); Mitch Daniels, Governor of Indiana (2005-2013) and Director of the Office of Management and Budget (2001-2003); Anja Manuel, former special assistant to the Under Secretary, U. S. Department of State; and Nina Schick, world-leading authority on AI and its geopolitical impact.

Monday, May 11, 7:00 p. m. to 8:30 p. m. The Legacy of American Foreign Policy – World Leadership, Alliances and Democracy or Power, Tariffs and Territory? with Mark Esper; Secretary of Defense (2019-2020); Jeh Johnson, Secretary of Homeland Security (2013-2017); and Wendy Sherman, Deputy Secretary of State (2021-2023).

Monday, June 1, 7:00 p. m. to 8:30 p. m. The Legacy of Free and Fair Elections – Strong Check and Balance or Constitutional Right in Trouble? with Rahm Emanuel, U. S. Ambassador to Japan (2022-2025), Mayor of Chicago (2011-2019) and White House Chief of Staff (2009-2010); Hugh Hewitt, political commentator, journalist for The Washington Post and the Deputy Director of the Office of Personnel Management (1989-1990); Karl Rove, political consultant and White House Deputy Chief of Staff (2005-2007); and Tim Ryan U. S. Representative, Ohio (2003-2023).

Leon Panetta Lecture Series subscriptions include tickets to all four live events and are available for $400. Individual tickets sell for $100. To order a subscription or individual ticket, call the Panetta Institute at 831-582-4200 to pay with a credit card.

For additional information on tickets, subscriptions or broadcast details, please call the Panetta Institute at 831-582-4200.

* All dates and speakers subject to change.

2026 Leon Panetta Lecture Series Sponsors and Co-Sponsors
Thank you for your generous support and leadership in sponsoring this lecture series for our communities. Your gift is an extraordinary public service.

Sponsors:

Beacon Global Strategies

Laurie and David Benjamin

California American Water

The California State University

Cannery Row Company

City of Monterey

Debra and George W. Couch III

Dorian Daley and Michael Krautkramer

Sherry E. DeBoer

Bill and Nancy Doolittle

Eagan Family Foundation

Ronda and Gordon Eubanks

Gail Griggs

Steve Hallgrimson Family Foundation

Hamilton, Rabinovitz & Associates, Inc.

Kaiser Permanente

Stan McKee

Sharon and Stan Meresman

Montage Health

Monterey Bay Aquarium

Monterey County Office of Education

Leon and Sylvia Panetta

Pebble Beach Company

Susan Prest

Toeniskoetter Family Foundation

Kathy and Tom Wiggans

Rhonda Williams and Myles Williams

Stanley Zax

Zenith Insurance Company

Co-Sponsors:

AT&T California

Bank of America

Louis and Jane Castruccio

College of Health Sciences and Human Services at Cal State Monterey Bay

The J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation

Panetta Institute Survey Shows Record Number of College Students Concerned About the Health of our Democracy — 76% Say They Will Not be able to Achieve the American Dream 82% Believe the President Should Defend and Follow the Constitution

In the Panetta Institute’s 2025 nationwide survey of college students, results show students are deeply concerned about the future of the United States and their own personal prospects for economic security. A record 55% felt that American democracy was not working well, an increase of 9 points from 2024 and a record low in the survey’s twenty-four-year history. Sixty-five percent of college students say that things in the country are off on the wrong track.

“A record number of students are concerned about the health of our democracy and are uncertain and concerned about the future of our country,” said Institute Chairman Leon E. Panetta. “At the same time, we saw a spike in the amount of students who believe politics is relevant to their lives. Young people are dissatisfied with the current leadership and worried about their future, but they are expressing an interest in participating in our democracy to make things better. We believe these results suggest we are at a pivotal time in how we approach this next generation of voters and inspire them to apply themselves to protecting our democracy.”

The Panetta Institute for Public Policy Announces the 2025 Leon Panetta Lecture Series – What Will Be the Legacy of the Trump Era? Live, In-Person Events Featuring John Kerry, Bob Rubin, Susan Schwab, Jeff Sessions, Janet Napolitano, Alejandro Mayorkas, Nick Burns, Chris Christie, John Kirby, James Carville and Mary Matalin Among Others

The Panetta Institute announces its live, in-person events for the 2025 Leon Panetta Lecture Series. Subscriptions are available for the forums, which will take place at the Monterey Conference Center on Monday evenings this spring.

This year’s theme will ask the question What Will Be the Legacy of the Trump Era? Secretary Panetta will moderate each of the sessions. Joining him in these important discussions is an impressive list of speakers discussing the new administration’s impact on the economy, the rule of law, foreign policy, and governance of our democracy.

The events for the 2025 season are as follows:*

Monday, March 17 – 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Tariffs, Tax Cuts, Debt, Inflation – What Will Be the Economic Legacy of the Trump Era? with Christina Romer, former Chair of the Council of Economic Advisers; Bob Rubin, former U.S. Secretary of Treasury; Susan Schwab, former U.S. Trade Representative; and Kevin Warsh, former member of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors.

Monday, April 14 – 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Constitution, Immigration, Law and Order, Pardons – What Will Be the Law Enforcement Legacy of the Trump Era? with Alejandro Mayorkas, former Secretary U.S. Department of Homeland Security; Janet Napolitano, former Secretary U.S. Department of Homeland Security and former governor of Arizona; Chuck Rosenberg, former U.S. Attorney; and Jeff Sessions, former U.S. Attorney General.

Monday, May 19 – 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Russia, China, the Middle East, the Panama Canal – What Will Be the Foreign Policy of the Trump Era? with Nick Burns, former U.S. Ambassador to China; John Kerry, former U.S. Secretary of State; John Kirby,former National Security Communications Advisor; HR McMaster, former National Security Advisor; and Rex Tillerson (invited), former U.S. Secretary of State.

Monday, June 9 – 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Bipartisanship, Gridlock, Checks and Balances, Stability or Chaos – What Will Be the Governing Legacy of the Trump Era? with James Carville, former advisor Clinton campaign; Chris Christie, former Governor of New Jersey; and Mary Matalin, former White House advisor to President George W. Bush.

“President Trump has now entered his second term as president promising a “Golden Age” for America. He has promised change and issued a record number of executive orders. His first term saw a great deal of chaos and unpredictability,” said Panetta Institute Chairman Leon E. Panetta. “Will that happen again or will he provide the leadership to turn crisis into opportunity? What will be the legacy of the Trump Era? We will discuss these and other questions related to our economy, law enforcement, foreign policy, and governance of our democracy with our distinguished panel of speakers.”

For additional information on tickets, subscriptions or broadcast details, please call the Panetta Institute at 831-582-4200.

* All dates and speakers subject to change.

**The Panetta Institute for Public Policy Honored U.S. Senators Angus King and Amy Klobuchar and U.S. Representative Mike Gallagher at 2023 Jefferson Lincoln Awards On Saturday November 11, 2023**

The Panetta Institute for Public Policy announced the recipients of its 2023 Jefferson-Lincoln Awards. The 2023 annual awards was presented to U.S. Senator Angus King (I) of Maine, U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D) of Minnesota and U.S. Representative Mike Gallagher (R) of Wisconsin. The honors were conferred at a black-tie gala dinner held at The Inn at Spanish Bay in Pebble Beach on Saturday, November 11, 2023.

Commenting on the honorees, Institute Chairman and Co-Founder Leon E. Panetta said, “our democracy is under threat. Political theatrics have taken the place of governing and the victims of this vacuum of leadership are the American people. We need elected officials who understand their responsibility to the American people and to our democracy. The Panetta Institute honors three leaders who put duty before party and have shown the courage and integrity in their stewardship of our democracy.”

The November 11 celebration also served as the premier fundraiser to help support The Panetta Institute for Public Policy and its mission to attract thoughtful men and women to lives of public service, inspiring them to a high standard of conduct and equipping them with the practical skills of self-government. The gala featured a gourmet four-course meal and award-winning wines. For more information on purchasing seats for the gala or sponsoring a table call the Panetta Institute at 831-582-4200.

Panetta Institute Survey Shows Students’ Outlook on the Future and the Direction of the Nation are at an All –Time Low

No Longer Believe the American Dream is Achievable

In the twenty-third year of its nationwide survey of college students, the Panetta Institute for Public Policy has found that college students’ outlook on the state of the nation is at a historic low. Deeply dissatisfied with the country’s political leadership, 70% of students believe the country is on the wrong track and a staggering 76% are uncertain or concerned about the future of the country. Both results are all-time lows in the history of the Panetta Institute Poll.

Students are deeply concerned about the future and the survey results suggest that many have all but given up on achieving the traditional American Dream. Thirty-eight percent believe they will be worse off compared to their parents, the lowest result in the history of the survey. Seventy percent of college students believe that it is harder for them to achieve the American Dream than it was for their parents and 38% believe they will be worse off financially than their parents. At least 3 in 10 college students want to achieve the following, but don’t believe they will be able to do so: have enough money to retire comfortably (38%); be debt free (33%); own a business (32%); or own a home (31%). Thirty-two percent of students believe that they will not be able to retire and will instead “always be working.”

Click here for a complete report on this year’s findings.2023 Survey Report (6-2-23).

The theme for the annual Leon Panetta Lecture Series for 2023 was The Presidency and a Divided Congress: Can They Govern?

Live In-Person Events Featured John Boehner, Douglas Brinkley, Liz Cheney Steny Hoyer, David Petraeus, Bob Gates, Annette Gordon-Reed and Bob Woodward, Among Others

The Panetta Institute announced a return to live in-person events for the 2023 Leon Panetta Lecture Series.

This year’s theme focused on The Presidency and a Divided Congress: Can They Govern? Joining Secretary Panetta in these important discussions was an impressive list of speakers covering economic issues, foreign policy and defense, partisan politics and history. “After two years of Democratic control of the presidency and both houses of Congress, the 118^thCongress returns the nation to the realities of a divided government,” said Institute chairman Leon E. Panetta. “A single party has controlled the White House and the Congress only three times in the last three decades. But, at a time when so much is at stake can the nation afford the risks associated with a do-nothing Congress? Will the Congress act to raise the debt limit and avoid damaging our economy? Can we avoid an economic recession? Will the new Congress remain unified in support of the war in Ukraine? Will the Congress work together and avoid gridlock? Finally, are there lessons we can learn from history that can guide us forward in this divisive time. I’ll pose these questions to our impressive list of speakers.”