A former six-term GOP Congressman from Illinois, Adam Kinzinger witnessed firsthand the deeply entrenched political divide that he believes is threatening American democracy as never before.
After leaving office earlier this year and joining CNN as a senior commentator, Kinzinger is essentially without a political home, yet still a believer in the political system — and a way forward.
On Thursday, April 20, he will explore these ideas in conversation with POLITICO reporter Shia Kapos during the 2023 Rudolf G. Schade Lecture on History, Ethics and Law at Elmhurst University.
For Kinzinger, service to country has been a guiding force throughout his life and career, first as a McLean County (Ill.) Board member and U.S. Air Force pilot who served three tours in Iraq, and later as a lawmaker in the halls of Congress. From 2011-2022, Kinzinger served six terms in the U.S. House of Representatives, where he represented Illinois’ 11th and 16th Congressional districts.
At POLITICO, Kapos is a government and politics reporter, and also writes the popular Illinois Playbook. Her work focuses on the intersection of politics, power and personalities. Kapos previously wrote the Taking Names column, a personality-driven feature in the Chicago Sun-Times and before that at Crain’s Chicago Business. She also is the former political editor of the Salt Lake Tribune in Utah.
“Where Do We Go From Here? A Conversation with Adam Kinzinger” begins at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 20, in Hammerschmidt Memorial Chapel. Admission is $15; free for Elmhurst University students, faculty, staff and alumni. Tickets are available at elmhurst.edu/cultural. For questions, email marketing@elmhurst.edu.
The Rudolf G. Schade Lecture on History, Ethics and Law is part of Elmhurst University’s Spring 2023 Cultural Season speaker series. As the University celebrates its most ambitious fundraising campaign in institutional history, this academic year’s Cultural Season theme—The Legacy We Leave: Doing Well, Doing Good, Investing in the Future—highlights philanthropic impact, and building a culture of generosity and hope.
Arrangements for the appearance of Adam Kinzinger were made through UTA Speakers, New York, N.Y.