In this episode of ABOTA Speaks, host Jill Webb sits down with the Honorable Kay Bailey Hutchison, former U.S. Senator and U.S. Ambassador to NATO, for a conversation about democracy, judicial independence, and the Rule of Law. Drawing on her extensive experience helping former Soviet republics transition to democracy, Ambassador Hutchison shares why the concept of an independent judiciary — one that can rule against the government — is often the most difficult principle for emerging democracies to embrace.

Ambassador Hutchison explains how the Rule of Law underpins everything from free markets to human rights, and why civility and respect remain essential for productive political discourse. She also discusses her books, American Heroines and Leading Ladies, which chronicle the trailblazing women who helped build America — from World War II correspondents and spies to Supreme Court justices and astronauts.

Whether you're interested in global democracy, judicial independence, or the role of women in American history, this conversation offers wisdom from a lifetime of public service and leadership on the world stage.