The Waldo Family Lecture Series on International Relations is a lecture series which takes place at Old Dominion University in

Norfolk, Virginia Norfolk ( ) is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. Incorporated in 1705, it had a population of 238,005 at the 2020 census, making it the third-most populous city in Virginia after neighboring Virginia Be ...

. The university's first endowed lecture series was endowed by the Waldo family in 1985 to honor the memories of Loren Pierce Waldo, Jr., William Joseph Waldo, Robert Hendren Waldo, Susan Waldo O'Hara, Julia Ann Waldo Campbell, and Harry Creekmur Waldo. International Relations was chosen as the topic for the lecture series due to the University's proximity to the International Port of Hampton Roads and the presence in Norfolk of the world's largest naval installation. Beginning in 1987, guest speakers for the lectures have come from such diverse fields as government, public service, foreign affairs, and journalism. Lectures have had such themes as "The Future of the West in a Changing World," "Human Rights in the 21st Century" and "America in the World - All Tactics, No Strategy," and have discussed such issues as the shortage of doctors in third-world countries, the 2008 financial crisis, and the diminishing role of Congress in the United States.

Past speakers

George S. McGovern George Stanley McGovern (July 19, 1922 – October 21, 2012) was an American historian and South Dakota politician who was a U.S. representative and three-term U.S. senator, and the Democratic Party presidential nominee in the 1972 pres ...

(1987), Senator, U.S. Presidential Candidate (1972) *

John B. Anderson John Bayard Anderson (February 15, 1922 – December 3, 2017) was an American lawyer and politician who served in the United States House of Representatives, representing Illinois's 16th congressional district from 1961 to 1981. A member o ...

(1988), U.S. Presidential Candidate (Independent Party, 1980), Congressman, Executive Director of Council for National Interest *

Seymour M. Hersh Seymour Myron "Sy" Hersh (born April 8, 1937) is an American investigative journalist and political writer. Hersh first gained recognition in 1969 for exposing the My Lai Massacre and its cover-up during the Vietnam War, for which he receive ...

(1989), Investigative Journalist, Pulitzer Prize Winner, Political Writer * Thomas R. Pickering (1991), Ambassador to the United Nations, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs *

James R. Schlesinger James Rodney Schlesinger (February 15, 1929 – March 27, 2014) was an American economist and public servant who was best known for serving as Secretary of Defense from 1973 to 1975 under Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford. Prior ...

(1994), Secretary of Defense, Secretary of Energy * Mary Robinson (2006), President of Ireland, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights *

John Warner John William Warner III (February 18, 1927 – May 25, 2021) was an American lawyer and politician who served as the United States Secretary of the Navy from 1972 to 1974 and as a five-term Republican U.S. Senator from Virginia from 1979 to 200 ...

(2008), U.S. Senator, Chair of Senate Armed Services Committee * Zbigniew Brzezinski (2009), National Security Adviser (1977-1981), Bush National Security Advisory Task Force *

Frederick Kempe Frederick Kempe (born September 5, 1954) is president and chief executive officer of the Atlantic Council, a foreign policy think tank and public policy group based in Washington, D.C. He is a journalist, author, columnist and a regular commentat ...

(2010), President of

Atlantic Council The Atlantic Council is an American think tank in the field of international affairs, favoring Atlanticism, founded in 1961. It manages sixteen regional centers and functional programs related to international security and global economic prosp ...

R. Nicholas Burns Robert Nicholas Burns (born January 28, 1956) is an American diplomat and academic who serves as the United States ambassador to China since 2022. Burns has had a 25 year career in the State Department, and served as United States Under Secre ...

(2013), Ambassador, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs * Colonel Jack H. Jacobs, U.S. Army, retired (2018), Medal of Honor recipient, military analyst for NBC and MSNBC, Vice-Chairman of Medal of Honor Foundation, U.S. Military Academy McDermott Chair of Politics.

References

{{Old Dominion University Old Dominion University University and college lecture series 1987 establishments in Virginia Recurring events established in 1987 International relations education