Home - Hatfield Lecture Series

Speaker: Jon Meacham
Lecture date: September 22nd, 2026
Time: 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Title: American Struggle: Democracy, Dissent, and the Pursuit of a More Perfect Union: An Anthology

Presidential historian and Pulitzer Prize–winning author Jon Meacham is one of America’s most prominent public intellectuals. A highly sought-after commentator and a skilled orator, Meacham has the unique ability to bring history to life and offer historical context to current events and issues affecting our daily lives.

Meacham is the author of multiple New York Times bestsellers including The Soul of America, Destiny and Power, Franklin and Winston, and the Pulitzer Prize–winner American Lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House. In his newest book, American Struggle, Meacham unites centuries of essential American voices to understand our national debates and divisions from 1619 to the present, with his signature commentary on the consequential speeches, letters, and essays that led us to this moment.

Meacham served as Newsweek’smanaging editor from 1998 to 2006 and as editor from 2006 to 2010. He holds the Carolyn T. and Robert M. Rogers Chair at Vanderbilt University and is a fellow of the Society of American Historians. In 2024, he was awarded the National Humanities Medal by President Biden and was honored as a Library Lion of the New York Public Library.

About The Mark O. Hatfield Lecture Series

For over 25 years, the Oregon Historical Society has presented the Mark O. Hatfield Lecture Series, bringing together the nation’s top historians and award-winning authors for thought-provoking evenings of history. The series began at the suggestion of Senator Hatfield and continues as a tribute to his legacy of public service and as an opportunity to share stories of the people and events that have shaped history. Past speakers include notable historians and authors Heather Cox Richardson, David McCullough, Henry Louis Gates, Jr., Jon Meacham, Cokie Roberts, and Isabel Wilkerson.

All lectures begin at 7pm and will be held at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall in downtown Portland as well as livestreamed.

All lectures in the 2026 Hatfield Lecture Series will feature live ASL interpretation, available in the theatre and via livestream.

All ticket holders will be emailed a recording of the lecture 48 hours after the event. The recording will be available for 14 days. Recorded lectures will have closed captioning.

Tickets to the four-part 2026 Hatfield Lecture Series go on sale to OHS members September 16 at 10am and to the public September 30 at 10am. Not a member but do not want to miss out on discounted tickets and early seat selection? Join today!

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