US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer will give talk Nov. 19

LAWRENCE — The Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics at the University of Kansas has announced that U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer will be a guest at 7 p.m. Nov. 19 on the institute’s YouTube channel.

“We are extremely excited to welcome Ambassador Lighthizer to the institute,” said Bill Lacy, director of the Dole Institute. “We have never before had a cabinet member of a seated U.S. president as a guest. Robert worked with President Ronald Reagan and Senator Bob Dole on trade issues. He also worked on Senator Dole’s 1988 presidential campaign, where I first met him.”

Lighthizer was sworn in as the 18th U.S. trade representative on May 15, 2017. An experienced trade negotiator and litigator, Lighthizer recently led successful negotiations on the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, U.S.-China Phase One agreement and the U.S.-Japan Trade agreement. 

Lighthizer served as deputy U.S. trade representative for President Ronald Reagan. During his tenure, Lighthizer negotiated over two dozen bilateral international agreements, including agreements on steel, automobiles and agricultural products. As deputy trade representative, he also served as vice chairman of the Board of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation.

Before becoming deputy U.S. trade representative, Lighthizer was chief of staff of the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance for Chairman Bob Dole. In this position, he was a key player in enacting the Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981 and other elements of the Reagan economic program.

This special program will be livestreamed to the institute’s YouTube channel and its website. Due to continuing concerns regarding the novel coronavirus pandemic, the program will only be available online. Follow the Dole Institute on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter for updates regarding this and future programming.  
 
The Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics is dedicated to promoting political and civic participation as well as civil discourse in a bipartisan, philosophically balanced manner. It is located in KU's West District and houses the Dole Archive and Special Collections. Through its robust public programming, congressional archive, and museum, the Dole Institute strives to celebrate public service and the legacies of U.S. Senators Bob Dole and Elizabeth Dole.