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Politics have taken center stage as America prepares to decide on its next president and Boston College is no exception.
Former Republican presidential candidate Jon Huntsman, NBC newsman Tom Brokaw and correspondent Luke Russert ’08, local television reporter Paula Ebben ’89 and BC’s political scientists are among the headliners at the speaking programs taking place on campus leading up to election day.
This coming Tuesday, Oct. 9, Brokaw and Russert will team up at 4 p.m. in Robsham Theater for the Chambers Lecture, which is hosted by the Winston Center for Leadership and Ethics at the Carroll School of Management.
Brokaw is now a roving special correspondent at NBC, after spending 22 years as the anchor and managing editor of the “NBC Nightly News” as well as hosting the network’s other two signature news productions, “The Today Show” and “Meet the Press.” He is the author of The Greatest Generation and other books.
His journalistic acumen and historian’s perspective have helped his audience understand some of the most complex stories of our times, from the lives of the veterans of World War II to the battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan to the challenges facing Americans today and in the future. His latest book, The Time of Our Lives: A Conversation About America, looks at how to strengthen enduring American values.
Russert, who started his career with NBC News in August 2008 following his graduation from BC, will join Brokaw. A Washington, DC-based correspondent, Russert reports from Capitol Hill on the House of Representatives and covers youth and young adult issues for “NBC Nightly News,” “Today,” MSNBC and msnbc.com. His 2008 election-day reporting on the impact of young people on Barack Obama’s victory was nominated for a News & Documentary Emmy award as part of NBC News’ 2008 Election Night coverage. He is the son of the late Tim Russert, a well-respected broadcast journalist.
Next Thursday, Oct. 11, WBZ-TV reporter Paula Ebben ’89 will moderate a roundtable discussion about the upcoming presidential election at 6:30 p.m. in Room 115 of Stuart Hall at BC Law School. Joining Ebben for a bi-partisan discussion of major campaign topics will be Political Science faculty members Associate Professor Dennis Hale, Assistant Professor David Hopkins, Professor Marc Landy, and Moakley Professor of Political Science Kay Schlozman. The event is being co-hosted by the Boston College Alumni Association, Political Science Department, and BC Political Science Alumni Network.
Two days ago, Huntsman, the former Republican presidential candidate and Utah Governor, spoke at the Clough Colloquium, which is also hosted by the Winston Center. Huntsman, who was US Ambassador to both China and Singapore and served as Utah governor between 2005 and 2009, shared his insights into the leading issues of the day – from China and the economy to business abroad and political leadership in the US – and what impact they will have on the 2012 elections.