Dick Thornburgh Forum for Law and Public Policy

Dick Thornburgh Forum for Law and Public Policy Providing a unique opportunity to foster public education and civic action on important public policy issues at the University of Pittsburgh.

Message from the Governor:

The Forum was established at my Law School alma mater, the University of Pittsburgh. In connection with the Dick Thornburgh Papers held by the University's Hillman Library, the Forum reflects my experiences in public life. It is in intended to foster discourse on issues vital to the preservation of our democratic system and the Rule of Law upon which that system depends

. Special thanks are due to Chancellor Mark Nordenberg, who has been unstinting in support of this effort since its inception. In addition, many others have provided time, resources and dedication to this undertaking. Under the direction of Dr. Edward McCord of the University of Pittsburgh Honors College, we are putting our vision into action.

In remembrance of Bill "Maz" Mazeroski - 9/5/36 - 2/20/26.  In the photo: Dick Thornburgh and Bill Mazeroski, who played...
02/22/2026

In remembrance of Bill "Maz" Mazeroski - 9/5/36 - 2/20/26. In the photo: Dick Thornburgh and Bill Mazeroski, who played for the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1956 - 1972, holding the 1960 World Series Game 7 Program. The game took place on Forbes Field in Pittsburgh, PA on October 13, 1960.

Join the Dick Thornburgh Forum for Law & Public Policy on Tuesday, March 3 at 4:00 p.m. for the next installment of Resh...
02/12/2026

Join the Dick Thornburgh Forum for Law & Public Policy on Tuesday, March 3 at 4:00 p.m. for the next installment of Reshaping Government: Possibilities and Perils. Michael Missal will present “The Firings of Inspectors General, the Demise of Independent and Nonpartisan Government Oversight, and the Unprecedented Attacks on the Federal Workforce.”

Learn more: https://www.thornburghforum.pitt.edu/3326-reshaping-government-possibilities-and-perils-firings-inspectors-general-demise-independent

Register now: https://pittforms.tfaforms.net/424615

In person attendance is suggested. Virtual option available when registering.

Refreshments will be available.

Join the Dick Thornburgh Forum for Law & Public Policy on Tuesday, February 10 at 12:30 p.m. for the next installment of...
01/28/2026

Join the Dick Thornburgh Forum for Law & Public Policy on Tuesday, February 10 at 12:30 p.m. for the next installment of Reshaping Government: Possibilities and Perils. Harry Litman will present “Mounting Challenges to the American Legal System.”

Learn more and register today:
https://www.thornburghforum.pitt.edu/21026-reshaping-government-possibilities-and-perils-mounting-challenges-american-legal-system

If you have registered to join us remotely, please connect using the following link:
https://pitt.zoom.us/j/95493354059

Join the Dick Thornburgh Forum for Law & Public Policy on Tuesday, November 11 at 12:30 p.m. for the next installment of...
10/16/2025

Join the Dick Thornburgh Forum for Law & Public Policy on Tuesday, November 11 at 12:30 p.m. for the next installment of Reshaping Government: Possibilities and Perils. Russell Muirhead will present “Ungoverning and the Politics of Chaos: Can We Still Make Our Constitution Work?”.

Mr. Muirhead serves as the Robert Clements Professor of Democracy and Politics at Dartmouth College and is Co-Director and Founder of Dartmouth’s Political Economy Project. Earlier in his career, he held faculty positions at Williams, Harvard, and the University of Texas. He also has served as a member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives since 2020.

Learn more and register today: https://www.thornburghforum.pitt.edu/111125-reshaping-government-possibilities-and-perils-register-now

The next program in the American Experience Distinguished Speaker Series by the Dick Thornburgh Forum for Law & Public P...
09/17/2025

The next program in the American Experience Distinguished Speaker Series by the Dick Thornburgh Forum for Law & Public Policy is coming up on Monday, October 6 at 4:30 p.m. Former three-term U.S. Senator from Maryland, Ben Cardin, will have a discussion on “Restoring Civility: How to Advocate and Compromise; the Role of Partisan Politics” with Nicola Foote, Dean of the David C. Frederick Honors College, and Mark Nordenberg, Chancellor Emeritus and Director of the Dick Thornburgh Forum for Law & Public Policy.

Learn more and register today: https://www.thornburghforum.pitt.edu/10625-american-experience-distinguished-speaker-series

Sponsored by:
The Dick Thornburgh Forum for Law & Public Policy at the University of Pittsburgh - Institute of Politics
David C. Frederick Honors College

Join the Dick Thornburgh Forum for Law & Public Policy on Wednesday, October 1 at 12:30 p.m. for the next installment of...
09/16/2025

Join the Dick Thornburgh Forum for Law & Public Policy on Wednesday, October 1 at 12:30 p.m. for the next installment of Reshaping Government: Possibilities and Perils. Jeffrey Kovar, Former Assistant Legal Advisor, U.S. Department of State, will address “The Attack on Good Governance and our National Interests.”

Jeffrey Kovar is retiring after 40 years of distinguished service with the federal government. Most recently he was the Assistant Legal Adviser for Political-Military Affairs at the United States Department of State. In that role, he directed an office advising on matters involving international humanitarian law, the use of force, counter-terrorism, cyber operations, military cooperation and basing agreements, sensitive intelligence operations, and weapons sales and transfers under the Arms Export Control Act and the International Trafficking in Arms Regulations. During his career, Mr. Kovar has also specialized in a variety of other private and public international law areas, including human rights and refugees, environmental protection, outer space, Antarctica, investment claims and disputes, judicial cooperation, family law, and commercial law.

Learn more and register today: https://www.thornburghforum.pitt.edu/10125-reshaping-government-possibilities-and-perils

Sponsored by:
The Dick Thornburgh Forum for Law & Public Policy at the University of Pittsburgh - Institute of Politics
The Center for International Legal Education

Co-Sponsored by:
Institute for Cyber Law, Policy, and Security
University of Pittsburgh School of Law
David C. Frederick Honors College

The Dick Thornburgh Forum is grateful to the Richard King Mellon Foundation for its generous support of the Forum's Governance Programs.

Remembering Dick Thornburgh today on his date of birth - July 16, 1932.Doing an act of kindness today in honor of Dick T...
07/16/2025

Remembering Dick Thornburgh today on his date of birth - July 16, 1932.

Doing an act of kindness today in honor of Dick Thornburgh's legacy will be a tribute to him - a man who inspired us to make the world a better place.

Learn more about Dick Thornburgh by visiting the University of Pittsburgh online archive at:
https://thornburgh.library.pitt.edu/

As the world remembers Pope Francis today, this photo reflects Dick and Ginny Thornburgh with Pope John Paul II in Decem...
04/21/2025

As the world remembers Pope Francis today, this photo reflects Dick and Ginny Thornburgh with Pope John Paul II in December 1990.
Visit the Dick Thornburgh online archives to learn more at:
https://thornburgh.library.pitt.edu/

On March 28, 1979, which was 46 years ago, Dick Thornburgh was in office as the Governor of Pennsylvania for just 68 day...
03/28/2025

On March 28, 1979, which was 46 years ago, Dick Thornburgh was in office as the Governor of Pennsylvania for just 68 days, when the Three Mile Island (TMI) accident happened.

Learn more about this day, and the days to follow, by visiting the Dick Thornburgh archive papers online collection containing videos and photographs at:
https://thornburgh.library.pitt.edu/three-mile-island.html

C-SPAN documentary featuring the late Dick Thornburgh archive curator, Nancy Watson:
https://www.c-span.org/program/american-history-tv/governor-thornburgh-and-three-mile-island/461188

Join us in the Pitt Law Courtroom on March 18 at 12:30 to learn from former US Ambassador to ASEAN, David Carden.REGISTE...
03/12/2025

Join us in the Pitt Law Courtroom on March 18 at 12:30 to learn from former US Ambassador to ASEAN, David Carden.

REGISTER AT: https://pittforms.tfaforms.net/424615

Ambassador David Carden (Ret.) is a lawyer, diplomat, mediator and author who served as the first resident U.S. Ambassador to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) with the rank of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary. In that position he was responsible for establishing the Mission and working with the President and officials from the White House, the Department of State, the Department of Defense and other agencies, to execute the Obama Administration’s 2011 “pivot” to Asia. Prior to and after his Ambassadorship, he was a partner in the Chicago, New York, and Singapore Offices of Jones Day, where he co-chaired the Securities Litigation & SEC Enforcement Practice and was Partner-in-Charge of the Firm’s offices in Asia. He is the author of Mapping ASEAN: Achieving Peace, Prosperity and Sustainability in Southeast Asia and a frequent contributor to publications, including The Guardian, Foreign Policy, Politico, and The Strategic Review.
NOTE: If you register to attend virtually, the webinar connection information will be sent to you prior to the lecture to the email address you provide when registering and will also be available on our website prior to the program at: www.thornburghforum.pitt.edu

This program is free to Pitt Law faculty, staff, students, and those not seeking CLE credit. There is a $30 fee for processing CLE credit for all others. To register for CLE credit, please email Marie Hamblett, [email protected].

Co-sponsored by: Pitt Law, Pitt Cyber, Center for Governance and Markets, David C. Frederick Honors College

Thank you to the Richard King Mellon Foundation for its generous support of the Dick Thornburgh Forum's governance programs.

Address

Hillman Library, Dick Thornburgh Room, 3960 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA
15260

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