Douglas Brinkley, the Katherine Tsanoff Brown Professor in Humanities and professor of history at Rice University, has been selected to deliver the 2025 National Heritage Lecture in Washington, D.C., a prestigious annual event hosted by the White House Historical Association in partnership with the U.S. Capitol Historical Society and the Supreme Court Historical Society.
The lecture will take place Oct. 9 at Decatur House, a historic site near the White House. The program will begin at 6 p.m. and will be followed by a reception.
A renowned presidential historian, Brinkley will present “Presidential Evolution: A History of Executive Orders Over 47 Presidencies,” which will examine how American presidents have wielded executive orders as tools to shape and sometimes expand the scope of executive power.
“It’s a tremendous honor to be invited to deliver the National Heritage Lecture,” Brinkley said. “This platform provides a unique opportunity to reflect on the enduring influence of executive orders and the evolving role of the presidency throughout American history.”
In addition to his role at Rice, Brinkley serves as the presidential historian for CNN and is a contributing editor at Vanity Fair. His work in public history spans a wide range of institutions, including museums, historical societies and academic organizations.
Established in 1991, the National Heritage Lecture series aims to deepen public understanding of the U.S. government and the principles upon which it was founded. Each year, one of the three sponsoring organizations hosts a lecture focusing on a specific branch of government and the pivotal moments and figures that have shaped its legacy.
For more information visit www.whitehousehistory.org.