Annual History Dinner Event | Sandra Day O'Connor Institute

View photos from 2024 Event

Dinner with LBJ and the 1960s

The Institute will honor President Lyndon B. Johnson and the 1960s this year. Registration opening soon.

Saturday, November 1, 2025

6:00 PM Reception | 7:00 PM Program and Dinner

The Phoenician | Scottsdale, Arizona

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FEATURING

Doris Kearns Goodwin

PULITZER PRIZE WINNER
NEW YORK TIMES #1 BEST-SELLING AUTHOR
OF AN UNFINISHED LOVE STORY

A smiling woman with shoulder-length blonde hair in a black jacket poses against a textured backdrop, reminiscent of a classic dinner scene from history.

The book cover of "An Unfinished Love Story" by Doris Kearns Goodwin showcases a nostalgic collage of black and white photos from the 1960s with a gold background, capturing the essence of history. It proudly highlights the author as a Pulitzer Prize winner.

DISTINGUISHED MODERATOR

Mark Updegrove

PRESIDENT AND CEO | LBJ FOUNDATION
DIRECTOR | LBJ PRESIDENTIAL
LIBRARY 2009-2017

A man in a suit stands before a large portrait of an older man, evoking a sense of history. The earthy-toned background adds depth to the scene. With a serious expression, he appears as if pondering over the monochrome masterpiece, perhaps after an enlightening dinner discussion.

Dinner Co-Chairs

ROBYN & MICHAEL DEBELL
CINDY & MIKE WATTS

A smiling man in a dark blazer and white shirt sits on a stool, while a woman in a red dress stands beside him, leaning with her arms crossed. Both have short, light hair and exude the warmth of an old-fashioned history dinner set against a plain white background.

A woman with short dark hair and a gray blazer stands next to an older man with white hair and a beard, wearing a light blue shirt and dark jacket. They smile warmly in the warmly lit room, hinting at shared memories or perhaps stories of history over dinner, with artwork adorning the walls behind them.

Evening Benefactors

Christy & Daryl Burton | Sue & Bud Selig

Honorary Co-Chairs

Ellen & Howard Katz | Margot & Dennis Knight

Previous History Dinners

The Sandra Day O’Connor Institute for American Democracy established its acclaimed annual History Dinner to honor great statesmen. Past History Dinners have featured Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, John F. Kennedy, Dwight D. Eisenhower, and Alexander Hamilton. As part of these occasions, the Institute has presented award-winning authors such as Pulitzer Prize winners Doris Kearns Goodwin, Jon Meacham, and Ron Chernow to enrich our audience.