MOUNT VERNON – The City of Mount Vernon invites the community to the second installment of the Washington Forum, “Ohio’s Role in Shaping the Nation: Mother of Presidents,” on Tuesday, Feb. 24 at 6 p.m. at the historic Woodward Opera House.
This engaging evening will explore the extraordinary influence of Ohio, long known as the “Mother of Presidents,” and the legacy of the Buckeye leaders who helped shape the American republic, including William Henry Harrison, Ulysses S. Grant, Rutherford B. Hayes, James A. Garfield, Benjamin Harrison, William McKinley, William Howard Taft and Warren G. Harding.
A distinguished panel of scholars from across the state will lead the conversation:
- Dr. Joseph Klesner (Kenyon College), moderator, on Hayes
- Dr. Wendy Singer (Kenyon College), on Grant
- Dr. Christopher Devine (University of Dayton), on Garfield and Taft
- Dr. Margaret Sumner (Ohio State University), on McKinley and Harding
- Dr. Margaret Newell (Ohio State University), on William Henry Harrison and Benjamin
Harrison.
Together, they will examine why Ohio became a proving ground for presidential leadership and how its leaders shaped national policy, political culture, and America’s role in the world.
The event is free and open to the public and is part of the City’s America 250 programming, commemorating the nation’s 250th anniversary.
The Washington Forum is a 2026 civic initiative presented by the City of Mount Vernon in partnership with the Center for the Study of American Democracy at Kenyon College.
Titled “The Washington Forum: A Year of Civic Leadership & Stewardship,” the series features monthly public programs focused on civic life, governance, history, and the responsibilities of citizenship, all guided by the enduring example of George Washington and his vision of principled leadership and public virtue.
Residents and visitors alike are encouraged to attend this timely and thought-provoking
conversation celebrating Ohio’s lasting impact on the nation.