William W. Treat Lecture

The annual Treat Lecture is NH Civics’ premier public event. As the title suggests, it can be a formal lecture, more often, however, it has taken the form of a conversation. Our inaugural event in 2012 was a conversation between former US Supreme Court Justice David Souter and PBS New Hour’s Margaret Warner. More recently, Justice Souter himself interviewed US Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor. Other Treat Lectures have featured talks by attorneys David Boies & Ted Olsen, National Public Radio’s Nina Totenberg, writer and founder of Citizen University Eric Liu, Maine Senator Susan Collins, and former New Hampshire Governor and Senator Judd Gregg.

Treat Lectures & Events

Protect & Defend the Constitution: The Significance of the Oath of Office

Why is Civic Education Essential to Our National Security?

Meeting the Moment: Renewing Democracy through Civic Learning

A Conversation with Judge Merrick Garland

Margaret Warner in conversation with retired Supreme Court Justice David Souter

Rachel Maddow uses Constitutionally Speaking clip to make her point

Laura Knoy interviews attorneys Ted Olson and David Boies

Robin Young interviews NPR correspondent Nina Totenberg

Author Eric Liu's lecture in 2017

PBS story on Supreme Court Justice David Souter's talk 

Comic rendition of Supreme Court Justice David Souter's talk by NH artist Marek Bennett 

Concord Monitor article on Justice Sandra Day O'Connor's visit 

Senator Susan Collins interviewed by Virginia Prescott

2019 William Treat Lecture: Civic Engagement & Civility

Senator Judd Gregg interviewed by Joe McQuaid

RBG co-creator Julie Cohen interviewed by Professor Leah Plunkett