I

I

The John F. Kennedy Jr. Forum at the Institute of Politics is Harvard's premier arena for political speech, discussion, and debate.

The Forum regularly hosts heads of state, leaders in politics, government, business, labor, and the media. A living memorial to President John F. Kennedy, the Institute's mission is to unite and engage students, particularly undergraduates, with academics, politicians, activists, and policy makers on a non-partisan basis to inspire them to consider careers in politics.

Contact & Follow

Students seeking information about the IOP JFK Jr. Forum Program should contact student co-chairs Hannah Bottarel, Anika Bagaria, or Lauren Miller. If you're interested in attending a JFK Jr. Forum or watching online, make sure to sign up for our newsletter. 

Suggest a Forum here!

TheJFK Jr Forum

Forum »

Upcoming Forums

Strengthening Democratic Institutions

Race, Media and Politics

A Conversation with Malala Yousafzai

America and the World: A Conversation with Ambassador Caroline Kennedy & Senator Ed Markey

Goldsmith Awards Ceremony 2019 with Marty Baron

Free Speech, Open Minds and the Pursuit of Truth

Robotland: The Future of Labor Policy and Work in an AI World

A Conversation with John Kerry

Brexit: What’s Next?

Moral Resistance: When Faith & Activism Meet in the Streets

Big Tech and Democracy

Upcoming Forums

Introducing the Spring 2023 IOP Resident Fellows

Introducing the IOP Spring 2023 Resident Fellows

Wednesday February 1 - 6:00pm to 7:00pm

Join us in the JFK Jr. Forum on February 1, 2023, at 6:00 PM ET as we introduce our spring 2023 resident fellows Kristin Amerling, Negah Angha, Congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler, Quentin Fulks, Matthew Raymer, and Jason Rezaian, with a discussion moderated by IOP Interim Director Setti Warren.

Please click here to RSVP for an in-person seat.

Reparations: Story, History, and Democracy - Now

Reparations: Story, History, and Democracy - Now

Thursday February 2 - 6:00pm to 7:00pm

Join the William Monroe Trotter Collaborative for Social Justice and the Institute of Politics for a discussion on the legacy of Callie House and the long legacy of reparatory justice movements for Black Americans. Panelists include A. Kirsten Mullen, co-author of From Here to Equality: Reparations for Black American's in the Twenty-First Century; Dr. Mary Francis Berry, author of My Face is Black is True: Callie House and the Struggle for Ex-Slave Reparations; and Dreisen Heath, reparations researcher and advocate. Professor Cornell William Brooks will moderate.

Please click here to RSVP for an in-person seat.

2023 Malcolm Wiener Lecture with Gillian Tett

The 2023 Malcolm Wiener Lecture with Gillian Tett

Monday February 6 - 6:00pm to 7:00pm

Join the Institute of Politics at Harvard Kennedy School for the 2023 Malcolm H. Wiener Lecture on International Political Economy by Gillian Tett, chair of the editorial board and editor-at-large, US of the Financial Times: "From Tunnel Vision to Lateral Vision; How Anthropology can help us all make (better) sense of global risks." Following remarks, Jason Furman (AB '92, AM '95, PHD '04), Aetna Professor of the Practice of Economic Policy at Harvard Kennedy School and former chief economist to President Obama, will moderate the conversation.

Please click here to RSVP for an in-person seat.

The Evolution of the Global Human Rights Movement: A Three-Decade Perspective

The Evolution of the Global Human Rights Movement: A Three-Decade Perspective

Wednesday February 8 - 6:00pm to 7:00pm

Kenneth Roth, referred to as the godfather of the human rights movement by The New York Times, stepped down from leading Human Rights Watch in the fall of 2022 after an impactful three-decade-plus career promoting and defending human rights around the world. In his role as a senior fellow at the Carr Center, he will research and write a book on how small groups of people can move governments around the world. In this lecture, Roth will discuss the evolution of human rights work, strategic challenges and opportunities facing Human Rights Watch over the decades, and the future of human rights.

Please click here to RSVP for an in-person seat.