Event details

• Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2009, 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
• Dole Institute of Politics, KU campus, Lawrence
• Cost: Free
• Age limit: All ages

The Dole Institute of Politics’ spring semester study group, “Obama’s First 100 Days,” will begin Tuesday, Feb. 17. Sessions will meet from 4 to 5:30 p.m. every Tuesday into April, except for March 17, in the Simons Media Room at the Dole Institute.The not-for-credit study group allows students and the public to participate in a bipartisan examination and discussion of the activities and significance of the new administration’s first 100 days.“With President Obama promising a less-partisan approach in the Oval Office, we wanted to mirror that spirit of cooperation with a bipartisan study group focusing on the new administration,” said Bill Lacy, director of the Dole Institute. “Traditionally, the institute hosts separate Republican and Democratic study groups lasting seven to eight weeks. This will be a first for us: a study group that is co-led and runs through the semester to fully examine the first 100 days.”The study group will be led by Dole Fellow Scott Burnett and Lacy. Burnett served as director of the Presidential Speakers Bureau during President Jimmy Carter’s administration from 1977 to 1981. Lacy served as White House political director and deputy assistant to President Ronald Reagan. Burnett and Lacy will host political practitioners, journalists and other observers as they offer their perspectives on President Obama’s first 100 days.“I’m excited to examine previous administrations’ first 100 days in office and compare them to President Obama’s. History should provide us great insight for the new president’s administration,” said Burnett.Burnett’s political career did not end when he left the White House. In 1998, he was elected to the Jackson County, Mo., legislature, where he currently serves as legislative chairman. He is also a senior partner at SGB Communications, a government relations and campaign management firm in Kansas City, Mo. Burnett’s early political career included service in the Congressional offices of U.S. Reps. Bill Roy and Martha Keys of Kansas in the mid-1970s. After serving in the Carter administration, he also served as Missouri state coordinator for the Carter/Mondale re-election campaign in 1980. Following his professional career on the national political scene, Burnett worked for PPM Inc., an environmental remediation company.Lacy has served as director of the Dole Institute since 2004. In 2007, Lacy took a leave of absence to serve as campaign manager for Fred Thompson’s presidential run. In his early political career, Lacy held various positions in the Republican National Committee, including political director. Lacy left the RNC to serve in the Reagan administration until 1986. Following his White House roles, Lacy worked as a strategist for various national political campaigns, including those of Sen. Bob Dole of Kansas and President George H.W. Bush.This is the 10th semester for the Dole Institute study group program. Lacy hosted Burnett as a guest in fall 2004 during the first Dole Institute study group.