The annual Manatt-Phelps Lecture in Political Science was established by Charles T. and Kathleen Manatt together with Thomas and Elizabeth Phelps in 2002.
This prestigious lecture, usually held in the fall, brings to campus a prominent practitioner or scholar to address the ISU community on issues of significance to the United States and to Iowa in international political economy.
The Department of Political Science and the Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics are pleased to announce this year’s Manatt-Phelps Lecture in Political Science, “America @ 250 Presents: Strongmen and How to Push Back Against Them” with Ruth Ben-Ghiat. This year’s event is the 23rd Manatt-Phelps Lecture; the Manatt and Phelps families are grateful to the department for their steadfast promotion of the lecture.
Eugene Robinson
October 1, 2025
Michael Waldman
October 8, 2024
Governor John Kasich
March 27, 2024
Nikole Hannah-Jones
November 2, 2022
Michael Steele
October 28, 2021
Frank Figliuzzi
November 19 2019
Senator Ben Sasse
October 25, 2018
Ali Velshi
October 18, 2017
Malcolm Nance
October 17, 2016
E.J. Dionne, Jr
April 13, 2016
Nirupama Rao
October 8, 2013
François M. Delattre and Peter Ammon
February 7, 2013
Lee Hamilton
March 27, 2012
Kazuhide Ishikawa
October 26, 2010
His Excellency Jorge Dezcallar de Mazarrendo
October 26, 2009
The Honorable Lloyd Axworthy
October 30, 2008
Frederick W. Smith
December 4, 2007
Joseph Biden
October 31, 2006
Chuck Hagel
October 30, 2005.
Jan Eliasson
October 26, 2004
Luis Ernesto Derbez Bautista
November 3, 2003
Charles T. Manatt
October 23, 2002
