Presidential Sites Summit Schedule

Tuesday, March 15

12:00-6:00pm: Registration at the Adolphus Hotel

12:00-3:00pm: Optional Day Trip

The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza

12:00-3:00pm: Shuttle will continuously run between The Adolphus and the Sixth Floor Museum

Join us for the pre-summit excursion to the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza. The museum chronicles the assassination and legacy of President John F. Kennedy; interprets the Dealey Plaza National Historic Landmark District and the John F. Kennedy Memorial Plaza; and presents contemporary culture within the context of presidential history. The museum is approximately a 10-minute walk from the Adolphus Hotel and requires an additional ticket which may have been purchased during Summit registration. If you still wish to attend, tickets can be purchased on-site.

5:30pm: Evening Event

Old Parkland - Discussion with Former Chiefs of Staff: 6:00-9:00pm

5:00pm: Attendees board shuttles outside of the Adolphus Hotel

This evening event will include a reception and program at Old Parkland’s Pavilion. The reception will be held in the Pavilion’s first floor parlors and Century Hall, which is a gallery of historical art and artifacts. The program is hosted in the Debate Chamber and will be a discussion between former Chiefs of Staff to presidents and first ladies about the job itself and the intersection of the work between the East and West Wing.

Introduction: John F.W. Rogers, Chairman of the Board of Directors, The White House Historical Association
Moderator: Mark Updegrove, Moderator, President & CEO, LBJ Foundation
Anita McBride, Chair, Presidential Sites Summit Committee
Tina Tchen, Senior Advisor, Obama Foundation's Girls Opportunity Alliance
Andrew H. Card, Former Chief of Staff, President George W. Bush
Thomas "Mack" McLarty, Chairman, McLarty Associates

Wednesday, March 16

8:00-9:15am: Grand Ballroom – Networking Buffet Breakfast & Exhibition Booths

Network and exchange ideas with representatives from presidential sites across the nation and world. Visit the exhibition booths stationed in the conferencing center.

9:30-10:45am: General Session

Century Ballroom – Sparking Civic Engagement Through History Education

Encouraging civic literacy and engagement is a fundamental component of historical and cultural institutions in the United States. This panel will emphasize the best practices and the challenges of providing the public with historical information that encourages civic engagement.

Introduction: Anita McBride, Chair, Presidential Sites Summit Committee and Stewart McLaurin, President, The White House Historical Association
Moderator: Cathy Gorn, Executive Director, National History Day and Former Member of the Board of Directors, The White House Historical Association
David Bobb, President, Bill of Rights Institute
Tim Bailey, Director of Curriculum Development and Instructional Design, The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History
Wendy May-Dreyer, Board Chair, iCivics

11:00am-12:15pm: General Session

Century Ballroom – Making History Accessible through Technology

This session will explore the innovative ways presidential sites and libraries can incorporate cutting-edge technology into their spaces and digital resources to reach a broader audience and create better experiences for visitors. The panel will feature presenters representing technology companies, museum spaces, and organizations that have embraced current trends in technology.

Introduction: Merlynn Carson, Member of the Board of Directors, The White House Historical Association
Moderator: Teresa Carlson, President & Chief Growth Officer, Splunk and Vice Chairperson, The White House Historical Association
Ed O'Keefe, Chief Executive Officer, Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library Foundation
Jean-Claude Brizard, President and Chief Executive Officer, Digital Promise
Jamila Moore Pewu, Assistant Professor, Digital Humanities and New Media in History, California State University - Fullerton
Gary Sandling, Vice President of Strategy & Chief Content Officer, Thomas Jefferson Foundation, Monticello

12:30-2:00pm: Lunch Program & Exhibition Booths

Grand Ballroom – America250

2026 marks the 250th anniversary of our nation’s founding and cultural institutions across the country having a role to play in commemorating this momentous occasion. This lunch discussion will feature commissioners from America250 that will speak to their plans for this celebration. After lunch, visit the exhibition booths stationed in the conferencing center.

Introduction: Anita McBride, Chair, Presidential Sites Summit Committee
Lynn Forney Young, Honorary President General, Daughters of the American Revolution
Cathy Gillespie, Co-Chair, Constituting America

2:15-3:30pm: General Session

Century Ballroom – First Ladies Impact & Influence

First Ladies of the United States have had tremendous impact on the operations inside the White House and on policies pursued by presidential administrations. This session will explore the ways in which first ladies have shaped history as the closest advisor to the president and as advocates for change and continuity. This panel will be a conversation with premier historians, political scientists, and authors that have studied first ladies.

Introduction: Theresa Behrendt, Member of the National Council on White House History
Moderator: Barbara Perry, Moderator, Gerald L. Baliles Professor and Director of Presidential Studies, University of Virginia's Miller Center
Diana Carlin, Professor Emerita of Communications, Saint Louis University
Catherine Allgor, President, Massachusetts Historical Society
Stacy Cordery, Dennis & Vaune Johnson Chair for Theodore Roosevelt Honors Leadership Studies, Dickinson State University

5:30pm: Evening Event

George W. Bush Presidential Center - Liberty & Laughter: 6:00-8:00pm

5:30pm: Attendees board shuttles outside of the Adolphus Hotel

This evening event will include a program, reception, and open house at the George W. Bush Presidential Center. The reception and program will take place in the museum’s Freedom Hall. The program will be a discussion between former Bush administration alumni. The panel will discuss the lighter side of the administration with stories and memories that most people do not get to hear or experience. After the program, visit the permanent and temporary exhibit spaces as well as shop in the Bush Center gift shop.

Opening Remarks: Ken Hersh, President and CEO, George W. Bush Presidential Center
Welcoming Remarks & Introduction of Program Panelists: Mrs. Laura Bush, former First Lady of the United States
Lindsey Knutson, Director, Leadership Programs, George W. Bush Institute
Candi Wolff, Executive Vice President, Global Government Affairs Citigroup
Jared Weinstein, General Partner, Thrive Capital
Spencer Geissinger, Vice President of Events and Business Development, Susan Davis International
Moderator: Kevin Sullivan, Senior Advisor, George W. Bush Presidential Center
Remarks from The White House Historical Association: Anita McBride, Chair, Presidential Sites Summit Committee
Closing Remarks: Pat Mordente, Director, George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum

Note: This event is not open to press coverage.

8:30pm: Cigar Lounge Event

(Optional Event) Liberty Cigars and Blue Smoke of Dallas: 8:30-10:30pm

8:00pm: Attendees board shuttles outside of the Bush Center

Thursday, March 17

8:00-9:15am: Grand Ballroom – Networking Breakfast & Exhibition Booths

Network and exchange ideas with representatives from presidential sites across the nation and world. Visit the exhibition booths stationed in the conferencing center.

9:30-10:45am: General Session

Century Ballroom – Towards Inclusive History: Slavery and Race

This general session will examine how presidential sites, libraries, and museums can and should include discussions of slavery and race in their public programs, resources, and exhibits. The panel will feature presenters who have embraced the need to incorporate these stories in historic spaces.

Introduction: Katherine Malone-France, Chief Preservation Officer, National Trust for Historic Preservation and Ex-Officio Board Member, The White House Historical Association
Moderator: Brent Leggs, Senior Vice President and Executive Director, African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund, National Trust for Historic Preservation
Asantewa Boakyewa, Associate Director of Collections & Exhibits, Anacostia Community Museum, Smithsonian Institution
Lina Mann, Historian, White House Historical Association
Elizabeth Chew, Executive Vice President & Chief Curator, James Madison's Montpelier
Jennifer Stacy, Advisor, Highland's Council of Descendant Advisors

11:00am-12:15pm: General Session

Century Ballroom – Presidential Mourning and Tragedy: Interpreting and Remembering

Historians, archivists, and historical sites are often called upon to tell the stories of tragic aspects of presidential legacies—including death. The panel will feature historians and presenters that have planned presidential funeral services and manage sites that discuss presidential tragedies.

Introduction: Stewart McLaurin, President, The White House Historical Association
Moderator: John Heubusch, Executive Director, Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & Institute
Jean Becker, Former Chief of Staff, President and Mrs. George H.W. Bush
Louis Picone, Historian and Board Trustee, Grover Cleveland Birthplace Memorial Association
Nicola Longford, Executive Director, The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza

12:30-2:00pm: Networking Lunch, Exhibition Booths, & Recognition of Next-Gen Leader

Grand Ballroom – Next-Gen Leaders & Networking Lunch

This networking lunch has been set for our attendees to gather and network about aspects pertaining to their presidential sites, libraries, and museums. The White House Historical Association thought this would be a great opportunity for the attendees to have conversations important to their missions. The luncheon will also include the video premiere of The American Presidents Song.

Introduction: Stewart McLaurin, President, White House Historical Association
Genevieve Ryan Bellaire, Founder and CEO of RealWorld, Co-Chair of Next-Gen Leaders

2:15-3:00pm: General Session

Century Ballroom – Donor Cultivation in a Post-Pandemic Environment

Fundraising practices and strategies have altered significantly since COVID-19 and the increase in virtual experiences for donors. Many sites and organizations are attempting to navigate the changing landscape of donor cultivation. This session will consider such changes and discuss the best cultivation practices in a post-pandemic world.

Introduction: Ashley Dabbiere, Member of the Board of Directors and Chair of the Board Development Committee, The White House Historical Association
Moderator: Rhett Wilson, Chief Development Officer, White House Historical Association
Jason Molihan, Director of Membership at the Milken Center for Advancing the American Dream
Joe Bondi, Senior Vice President, Development at George Washington's Mount Vernon
Aimee Furrie, Manager of Product Innovation, EverTrue

3:15-4:00pm: General Session

Century Ballroom – Maximizing Site Potential

Every cultural organization faces similar problems of maximizing the public awareness of their institution. In this session, representatives from institutions across the nation will discuss how they have found success increasing visits from the public and encouraging community participation and awareness.

Introduction: Robert McGee, White House Historical Association Director Emeritus and Member of the National Council on White House History
Moderator: Jamie Bosket, President & CEO, Virginia Museum of History & Culture
Sara Bon-Harper, Executive Director, James Monroe's Highland
Charles Hyde, President and CEO, Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site
Christie Weininger, Executive Director, Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library & Museums

5:00pm: Evening Event

AT&T Stadium - A Presidential Tribute with David M. Rubenstein: 6:00-9:30pm

5:00pm: Attendees board shuttles outside of the Adolphus Hotel

This evening event will include a reception, dinner, and program at AT&T Stadium. The reception will be held in the suite of Dallas Cowboys owners Jerry and Gene Jones. The dinner and program will feature a presidential Tribute with David M. Rubenstein.

Friday, March 18

Optional Day Trips to Presidential Sites

Attendees are responsible for arranging their travel and accommodations.

George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum - Dallas, TX
William J. Clinton Presidential Library and Museum - Little Rock, AR
George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum - College Station, TX
Lyndon B. Johnson Presidential Library and Museum - Austin, TX