Families of Vietnam War soldiers and Presidents Reagan and Hoover will be the subjects of three lectures offered this summer at the Dole Institute of Politics.

This is the first time the Kansas University institute has offered presentations during the summer in addition to its programs during the academic year.

“We did a survey of our regular attendees from the past year, and we found 90-plus percent had interest in summer programs,” said Bill Lacy, the institute’s director. “The authors are going to be really interesting and kind of offer a unique look at things.”

Hal Wert, author of the recent “Hoover, the Fishing President,” will kick off the series at 7:30 p.m. July 21. Wert, who received a Ph.D. from KU and is a professor of history at the Kansas City Art Institute, focused his book on the life of the 31st president, who was shy and private.

Craig Shirley, a political strategist, will follow with a lecture at 7:30 p.m. July 28. Shirley initially was scheduled to be at the Dole Institute in February, but his trip was canceled because of inclement weather.

Shirley will discuss his book “Reagan’s Revolution,” which focuses on Reagan’s only losing campaign, his quest for the 1976 Republican nomination for president. Shirley argues that loss sparked Reagan’s election in 1980 and the changes of his presidency.

The final installment of the series will be at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 4, when author Donna Moreau discusses “Waiting Wives: The Story of Schilling Manor, Homefront to the Vietnam War.”

Moreau’s book is about the former Salina Air Force base that served as the only place in the country set aside for the wives and children of soldiers assigned to Vietnam.

Moreau is the daughter of one of the “waiting wives” and now lives in Massachusetts.

Each of the lectures is at the Dole Institute and will be followed by a question-and-answer session and book signing. They are free and open to the public, but reservations are requested by calling 864-4900 or e-mailing doleinstitute@ku.edu.