COLLEGE STATION, TX (September 9, 2024) — The Mosbacher Institute for Trade, Economics, and Public Policy, part of The Bush School of Government and Public Service, will host former U.S. Senator Rob Portman for the 26th installment of the ConocoPhillips White House Lecture Series. Portman’s lecture, titled “Bringing America Together: Lessons on Bipartisanship from two Bush Administrations and Beyond,” is scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, at 5:30 p.m. in the Annenberg Presidential Conference Center. Guests may RSVP until Sept. 17 to hear Portman speak.
“I am honored to be the 2024 ConocoPhillips White House Lecture Series speaker and look forward to sharing with the Texas A&M community what I learned from George H.W. Bush, how I tried to apply it in my public service career, and how his lessons are relevant today,” Portman said.
Portman will draw from his over 30-year career in public service that is known for civility, successful bipartisan policymaking, work ethic and a grasp of a broad range of complex issues. Portman served as a U.S. Senator from Ohio from 2011-2023, having been ranked highly twice in the Bipartisan Index created by The Lugar Center and the McCourt School of Public Policy. Before then, Portman was appointed by former President George H.W. Bush as White House Director of Legislative Affairs from 1989-1991.
“My career in public service began working for President George H.W. Bush on his campaigns and in the White House,” Portman said. “He was a mentor who taught me that public service is about others, and therefore finding common ground to help solve problems to make peoples’ lives better.”
Portman was also chosen by former President George W. Bush to serve as the 14th U.S. Trade Representative from 2005-2006 and 35th Director of the Office of Management and Budget from 2006-2007. As well, Portman served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Ohio’s 2nd District from 1993-2005. Most recently, Portman established the Portman Center for Policy Solutions at the University of Cincinnati and is the Distinguished Visiting Fellow in the Practice of Public Policy with the American Enterprise Institute.
“Senator Portman, with his bipartisan approach to public service, is a wonderful example of the values of The Bush School,” John Sherman, dean of The Bush School, said. “We are honored to have him continue The Bush School tradition of initiating conversations with national leaders on issues that are of national importance.”
The ConocoPhillips White House Lecture Series brings to public attention the various White House and Executive Branch offices that provide policy, administrative and overall support to the President of the United States. Past lecturers have included former Secretary for Housing and Urban Development Henry Cisneros, former Vice President Mike Pence, former Vice President Dick Cheney, former Secretary for Transportation Ray LaHood, Ambassador Carla Hills, former TIME magazine managing editor Nancy Gibbs, former Vice President Dan Quayle, among many others. The lecture will be recorded and captioned for post-event viewing.
“We are delighted to hear about bipartisanship from Senator Portman—someone who can speak to this topic with authority from his many years of experience negotiating on Capitol Hill,” said Dr. Raymond Robertson, director of The Mosbacher Institute.
