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 Forum Program should contact the Student Chair Blake Barclay or IOP Forum Coordinator Cathey Park. 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

Headshots of Linda Henry, Kasie Hunt, and Ashley Parker

Postponed: Media in a Polarized World

Monday March 9 - 6:00pm

This event in the JFK Jr. Forum has been postponed.

Join Linda Henry, Managing Director of The Boston Globe, Kasie Hunt, NBC's Capitol Hill Correspondent, and Ashley Parker, White House Reporter, The Washington Post, for a conversation on how today's polarized world impacts the media landscape.

Headshots of Farah Pandith and Aditi Kumar

Postponed: International Women's Day

Tuesday March 10 - 6:00pm

This event in the JFK Jr. Forum has been postponed.

In celebration of International Women's Day, the Institute of Politics convenes a conversation with Farah Pandith, Senior Fellow, Future of Diplomacy Project at the Belfer Center and IOP Resident Fellow, S’14, and Aditi Kumar, Executive Director of the Belfer Center on the role of diplomacy in advancing women's issues on a global scale.  

John Hennessey

Postponed: 2020 Godkin Lecture with John Hennessy

Wednesday March 11 - 6:00pm

This event in the JFK Jr. Forum has been postponed.

The 2020 Edwin L. Godkin lecture featuring John Hennessy, Chairman of Alphabet, in conversation with Harvard Kennedy School’s David Gergen on the state of higher education, challenges for universities, and the role of technology in higher education with a welcome by Dean Douglas Elmendorf. 

2020 Goldsmith Awards

Postponed: 2020 Goldsmith Awards

Thursday March 12 - 6:00pm

This event in the JFK Jr. Forum has been postponed.

Join us in the JFK Jr. Forum for the 2020 Goldsmith Awards Ceremony. Kathleen Carroll, winner of the 2020 Goldsmith Career Award and former AP Executive Editor, will give a keynote speech. Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics, and Public Policy Director Nancy Gibbs will moderate the ceremony and present the 2020 Goldsmith Prize for Investigative Reporting.

Headshots of Eric Schmidt, Daniela Rus, and Graham Allison

Postponed: The Clash of AI Superpowers

Tuesday March 24 - 6:00pm

This event in the JFK Jr. Forum has been postponed.

Join Eric Schmidt, former CEO of Google and Chairman of the Defense Innovation Board; Daniela Rus, Director of the Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) at MIT; and Graham Allison, Douglas Dillon Professor of Government, for a conversation on great power competition between the U.S. and China in technology and artificial intelligence.