America's National Churchill Museum and Westminster College are pleased to announce that Former Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon will deliver the 60th John Findley Green Foundation Lecture at 2 p.m. on Sept. 17 in Champ Auditorium. Nixon’s address is part of the 20th Annual Hancock Symposium, Sept. 16-17, themed "Justice: For All?" The public is cordially invited to attend free of charge. Registration for Gov. Nixon's address is highly encouraged.

The Green Foundation Lecture is foundational to international history and known worldwide as the very platform where former British Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill delivered his famous "Iron Curtain" speech on March 5, 1946. We will soon celebrate the 80th anniversary of Churchill’s historically significant address, delivered on what has become a world stage for international leaders.

As the 60th Green Foundation lecturer, Governor Nixon will share his insights on leadership and public service, following in the footsteps not only of Mr. Churchill, but also President George H.W. Bush, Caspar Weinberger, Mikhail Gorbachev, Margaret Thatcher, Lech Walesa, Bernie Sanders, and Madeleine Albright, to name just a few.

We believe this inspiring event will provide you with a rare opportunity to experience a living tradition that has shaped both history and civic life. Please mark your calendar and make plans to attend the lecture as well as a reception immediately following on Latshaw Plaza, outside of Champ Auditorium. ANCM will also be open free of charge from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., which you are cordially invited to visit.

2025 Hancock Symposium — Justice: For All?

Among the most foundational maxims of democracy is adherence to the rule of law. Over the past decade, we have witnessed a global backslide when it comes to this principle of fair and impartial application of legal standards. In part due to a lack of civics education, the recent decline in international and domestic adherence to the rule of law has had clear impacts on many rights, including speech, religion, voting, and equality. As technologies such as artificial intelligence emerge that further imperil privacy, trial processes, and other fundamental legal protections, the continued erosion of the rule of law could lead to the breakdown of democratic norms, both in the United States and around the world.

Questions of rule of law ― and the justice it can help secure ― are complex, multifaceted, and important issues that impact every academic and professional discipline. The 2025 Hancock Symposium will offer a spectrum of perspectives in order to spark the inclusive conversations necessary to expand our understanding of the rule of law and its importance to our future freedoms.

For nearly two decades, Westminster College's Hancock Symposium has provided campus with two engaging days of lectures, panel discussions, and presentations by noted experts on one particular subject of global interest. The dynamic sessions challenge individuals with innovative ideas.

Full Schedule

Speaker Bios