Cabinet Conversations

Conversations on Creativity, History and Leadership

Join us live as we stream interviews with scholars, artists and other thought leaders as they think aloud about the future of the arts, civics and history. With each conversation, we connect the lessons of the Civil War, Lincoln’s presidency, theatre, arts and education to our contemporary life.

Watch past events on this web page, Facebook Live or YouTube.

Length: 30-60 minutes.

Up Next: Cabinet Conversations: Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness

April 22, 2026

The story of America’s founding remains one of contention, evolution and aspiration. President Lincoln considered the Declaration of Independence and Constitution as “an apple of gold” and “the picture of silver subsequently framed around it.” What do these documents reveal about the elasticity of our democracy, and what “unfinished work,” as Lincoln described, remains for us today?

Past Conversations

September 27, 2025: Echoes from the Steps

April 22, 2025: AI >> The Algorithm of Change

June 24, 2024: Communicating Across the Divide

April 2, 2024: Earthly and Otherworldly: How the Natural World Inspired a Cult Classic

September 20, 2023: Moving Forward: Reflecting on Civics and Social Justice

October 20, 2022: The Emmett Till Antilynching Act

June 17, 2021: Judy and Dennis Shepard Discuss LGBTQ+ Activism and Healing

May 20, 2021: Page to Stage: Directors Talk Producing at Ford’s Theatre

April 15, 2021: The Crossroads of History, Storytelling and Healing

April 8, 2021: Lincoln: The Great Emancipator?

March 18, 2021: Black Women Leading the Change

March 4, 2021: Lincoln and Leadership

February 25, 2021: Black Voices in American Theatre

January 27, 2021: In Lincoln’s Words: Inaugural Addresses

December 17, 2020: A Christmas Carol: A Holiday Tradition at Ford’s Theatre

November 19, 2020: Let’s Talk Turkey!: Abraham Lincoln and Thanksgiving Traditions

October 22, 2020: “A Hearty Laugh Relieves Me”: Political Humor in Contentious Times

October 8, 2020: Mental Health in Times of Crisis

September 24, 2020: A Discussion About Voting Rights

August 27, 2020: Remembering the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom

August 13, 2020: Speak Your Truth, A Conversation on the Representation of Black Voices in the National Story

July 30, 2020: A Reckoning for Confederate Memorials

July 15, 2020: Lessons in Leadership with Carly Fiorina and Sheila Johnson

June 18, 2020: How We Remember and Memorialize the Civil War

June 4, 2020: Interpreting History Through Dramatic Writing and Actor Portrayal

May 20, 2020: Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln’s Killer