Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library aims to be ‘heart of intellectual programming’

Historians, political figures, business leaders and authors will highlight an opening week lecture series for the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library, with plans to make western North Dakota a destination for future high-profile speakers.

“We want this to be the heart of intellectual programming on the topics of conservation, leadership and citizenship in the world, not just America,” Robbie Lauf, executive director of the library, said Friday.

The library in Medora will host a Campfire and Prairie Talks lecture series Thursday and Friday that kicks off with Theodore Roosevelt V and historian and author Doris Kearns Goodwin, a member of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library Foundation Board. 

The events ahead of the Saturday grand opening are open only to founding benefactors of the library but will be livestreamed for the public.

A lecture on Friday will feature five North Dakota governors. Gov. Kelly Armstrong will moderate the panel featuring former Govs. Doug Burgum, Jack Dalrymple, John Hoeven and Ed Schafer. 

Armstrong said the library has been decades in the making, and each governor was a part of that story.

“I think it’s a really cool opportunity for them to tell their piece of the story, given their moment in time when they had the opportunity to lead this state,” he said.

Armstrong said he doesn’t remember any previous occasion when five North Dakota governors were onstage together for an event.

“I think this is really a unique thing, and I’m really excited to be a part of it,” Armstrong said. 

Another panel on Friday will feature Republican North Dakota U.S. Sen. Kevin Cramer and Democratic U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York. Roosevelt was born in New York, but some historians would argue that he was raised and matured in different places around the globe, including during the time he spent in Medora following the deaths of his wife and mother on the same day in 1884.

Cramer said Roosevelt is a unique political figure in American history who had a durable legacy throughout the decades and is admired by members of both major political parties

“Here we have Theodore Roosevelt, really the godfather of populism on the one hand, but also progressivism,” Cramer said. 

He said President Donald Trump and Roosevelt are both populists, but Roosevelt would be considered a liberal populist by today’s standards.

“Perhaps some of that could come out in the discussion, which I think would be kind of fun,” Cramer said. 

Other notable panelists during the library’s opening week include Rahm Emanuel, former ambassador to Japan; Kjersti Armstrong, first lady of North Dakota; author Arthur C. Brooks; Harold Hamm, founder of Continental Resources; Adam Putnam, CEO of Ducks Unlimited; Brad Smith, president of Microsoft; Mike Wirth, CEO of Chevron; Brian Moynihan, CEO of Bank of America; Johnny Morris, founder of Bass Pro Shops; and Candice Millard, former writer and editor for National Geographic.

The library will open to the public Saturday after an opening ceremony at 10:27 a.m. MT, a time selected to honor Roosevelt’s Oct. 27 birthday. Free tickets for the grand opening are still available through the library’s website. Tickets are also available for a show featuring 1,776 drones on Saturday night. Attendees are encouraged to take shuttles, with information available through the ND250 travel information site.

The presidential library plans additional programming, with future events expected to be open up to the public, Lauf said.

Additional exhibits and special events at the library are being planned for September and Roosevelt’s birthday in October, said Matt Briney, spokesperson for the library.

“We hope to constantly bring world leaders, thought leaders, musicians, poets, politicians, authors alike to come and have interesting conversations in the place that created a president,” Lauf said.

North Dakota Monitor reporter Michael Achterling can be reached at [email protected].

North Dakota Monitor editor Amy Dalrymple can be reached at [email protected].