The annual John J. Rhodes Lecture was held, for its twentieth year, with U.S. Senator Jeff Flake and former U.S. Senator Jon Kyl serving as the lectures honorees. The event was held on the campus of Arizona State University at the Galvin Playhouse.


Flake and Kyl both spoke about the divisive nature of Washington, D.C. in recent years, which led to Flake's eventual decision to retire from the Senate at the end of his term rather than seek reelection.


Kyl served for many years with Senator John McCain, who both Senators hold in high regard. Kyl retired from the Senate at the end of his third term in 2013, and has since become involved with several different organizations in Arizona including the Center for Political Thought at ASU.


Only eleven individuals have served as U.S. Senator from Arizona, with Flake and Kyl being seen by some as widely influential members during their time in the Senate.


You can find photos from the event here: https://flic.kr/s/aHsmdfHMq9