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, February 24, 2026, at 6:00 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 timel