Innovations in Education Peter S. Kalikow Center for the Study of the American Presidency Hofstra University’s Peter S. Kalikow Center for the Study of the American Presidency is a unique source of insight and scholarship about the politics, policies and personalities behind the nation’s highest office. Launched in 2006 through a $3.5 million gift from Hofstra alumnus and trustee Peter S. Kalikow, the center’s mission is to pursue rigorous academic examination of the presidency while promoting a deeper public understanding of the impact of American presidents on the lives of average citizens.
The center is dedicated to promoting scholarly and public discussion of the American presidents and their affect on the American public.
The center played an integral role in the support and coordination of Hofstra’s hosting of the third and final 2008 presidential debate. Hofstra’s hosting of the debate showcased the University’s distinction as the premiere resource for presidential scholarship, through Educate ’08 and Define ’09, its continuing series of lectures and programs that helped to educate students and members of the community, and foster civic engagement on campus. “The Kalikow Center is dedicated to the teaching, researching and understanding of the American presidency through conferences, lectures and special events with presidential and political experts,” said Dr. Meena Bose, director of the center, who also holds the Peter S. Kalikow Chair in Presidential Studies. “The center seeks to educate scholars and the public on the roles and responsibilities of American presidents.” This year, the Kalikow Center announced the appointment of two senior presidential fellows whose work has shaped and transformed the American political landscape: Republican campaign consultant and strategist Ed Rollins,
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and former Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean. With the addition of these two fellows, the center hopes to reach students through a combination of class lectures and informal group discussions that combine scholarly research of the presidency with real-world experience. “When we were looking for these fellows, we searched for people who could offer reformed political commentary across the political spectrum from seasoned members who had been practitioners,” Dr. Bose said.
The appointments continue to expand a long history of presidential scholarship at Hofstra University that began in 1982, with a Hofstra Cultural Center conference examining the legacy of Franklin Delano Roosevelt. To date, the Hofstra Cultural Center has brought together practitioners, scholars, journalists and public officials to examine the policies and issues of 11 presidential administrations. Four former presidents — Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, George H.W. Bush and William Jefferson Clinton — have attended the conferences on their presidencies. At the most recent presidential conference, in 2005, President Clinton delivered a keynote address that included a spirited defense of his administration. “The office of the president is the centerpiece of our democracy, and studying how these 44 men have functioned in this office is of vital importance to all of us,” Mr. Kalikow said of his decision to fund the center. “In times of peril and in times of peace, the office of the president holds the country together.”
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Howard Dean and Ed Rollins Named Kalikow Center Senior Presidential Fellows On November 4 and 5, 2009, the Hofstra Cultural Center and the Peter S. Kalikow Center for the Study of the American Presidency were proud to sponsor the Presidential Studies Symposium President or King? Evaluating the Expansion of Executive Power From Abraham Lincoln to George W. Bush. At this event, newly appointed Senior Presidential Fellows Ed Rollins and Howard Dean made their first joint appearance on campus. In the future, Mr. Rollins and Mr. Dean will guest lecture, participate in University events, and work with Hofstra students in smaller, informal sessions such as meetings of political clubs.
Howard Dean Howard Dean, former Democratic National Committee chairman, U.S. presidential candidate, six-term governor of Vermont, and practicing physician, currently works as an independent consultant in the areas of health care, early childhood development, alternative energy and the expansion of grass-roots politics around the world. Mr. Dean also serves as chairman of the board of the Progressive Book Club, is a CNBC contributor and is the founder of Democracy for America. In 1982 Howard Dean transitioned from a career as a full-time practicing physician to an elected representative in Vermont, propelling him into public service. He served as governor for 12 years – the second most consecutive terms in the state’s history. Respected on both sides of the political aisle, Mr. Dean was chairman of the National Governors Association, the Democratic Governors Association, and The New England Governors’ Conference, Inc., while he served as governor of Vermont. He left office in Vermont to run for president of the United States in 2003, where he implemented innovative fund-raising strategies, including use of the Internet.
Ed Rollins Considered one of America’s premier political strategists and communication experts, Ed Rollins has been in the political arena for more than 30 years. He has managed political campaigns for candidates and initiatives in the United States and around the world. He also specializes in image and crisis campaigns for corporations. In 1984 Mr. Rollins managed President Ronald Reagan’s 49-state landslide reelection campaign, in which President Reagan won more electoral votes than any other president in history. He also ran the campaign to defeat the first sitting house speaker, Tom Foley, in 1994. Mr. Rollins has had major managerial roles in eight other presidential campaigns, including most recently serving as national chairman of the Huckabee for President campaign in 2008.
Mr. Rollins has served in the administrations of four U.S. presidents (Nixon, Ford, Reagan and George H.W. Bush), including two tours of duty at the highest level of the White House as assistant to the president. He directed both the White House Office of Political Affairs and the White Office of Intergovernmental Affairs for President Reagan. He was also President Reagan’s deputy chief of staff in the second term. His other government experience includes directing congressional relations at three Cabinet agencies (Transportation, Commerce and FEMA). He was also deputy superintendent and At the Peter S. Kalikow Presidential Studies Symposium President or King? Evaluating dean of the faculty of the the Expansion of Executive Power From Abraham Lincoln to George W. Bush. National Fire Academy. Left to right: Dr. Meena Bose, Hofstra professor of political science and Peter S Kalikow Chair
As chairman of the Democratic National Committee, Mr. Dean created and implemented the “50 State Strategy” and the development of 21st-century campaign tools. He is credited with helping Democrats make historic gains in 2006 and 2008. Under his leadership, significant resources were dedicated to revitalizing the Democratic Party by building and strengthening in Presidential Studies; Howard Dean; and Ed Rollins. Mr. Rollins was the first the organizational tools, non-member of Congress to technological capabilities and serve as chairman and chief executive officer of the National infrastructure required to win, while laying the foundation for a Republican Congressional Committee (the political arm of the long-term Democratic majority. House Republicans) and served as senior adviser to the chairman Howard Dean graduated from Yale University with a B.A. in of the National Republican Committee for four years. political science in 1971, and earned a medical degree from the Mr. Rollins is a senior political analyst for CNN. His memoir, Bare Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City in 1978. Knuckles and Back Rooms, was the No. 1 selling political book in Upon completing his residency at the Medical Center Hospital of America in 1996 and made it to the top of The New York Times and Vermont, he went on to practice internal medicine in Shelburne, every other national bestseller list. Mr. Rollins lives in New York Vermont. He is married to Dr. Judy Steinberg, and they have two City with his wife, Shari, and 12-year-old daughter, Lily. children, Anne and Paul. v Find out more at hofstra.edu
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The Hofstra Cultural Center has presented 11 presidential conferences. Beginning in March 1982 with Franklin Delano Roosevelt, these conferences have brought together scholars, journalists, and government officials to examine and discuss the policies and issues that arose during each presidency. Former President Bill Clinton spoke to thousands of students, faculty, and members of the press in attendance at the most recent conference examining his presidency.
Hofstra Cultural Center Presidential Conference Series v FDR: The Man, The Myth, The Era – 1882-1945, March 4-6, 1982 v Harry S. Truman: The Man From Independence, April 14-16, 1983 v Dwight D. Eisenhower: Soldier, President, Statesman, March 29-31, 1984 v John F. Kennedy: The Promise Revisited, March 28-30, 1985 v Lyndon Baines Johnson: A Texan in Washington, April 10-12, 1986 v Richard Nixon: A Retrospective on His Presidency, November 19-21, 1987 v Gerald R. Ford: Restoring the Presidency, April 6-8, 1989 v Jimmy Carter: Keeping the Faith, November 15-17, 1990 v Ronald Reagan: The Fortieth President, April 22-24, 1993 v George Bush: Leading in a New World, April 17-19, 1997 v William Jefferson Clinton: The “New Democrat” From Hope, November 10-12, 2005
“Governing Together: How Do Midterm Elections Influence Presidential Leadership of Congress?” Spring 2010 Course Co-Taught by Ed Rollins and Dr. Meena Bose This course will examine conflict and cooperation between President Barack Obama and the 111th Congress as the midterm election approaches. It will evaluate agenda-setting and policy-making between the two branches, focusing on the president’s progress in enacting his campaign promises. It also will analyze how the November 2010 elections shape executive and legislative rhetoric, policy priorities, and governance.
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Kalikow Center Upcoming Events v Spring 2010: Evaluating Media Coverage of the Obama Presidency: Is There a Liberal Bias? v Fall 2010: Presidential Leadership at the United Nations
Past Events As a major sponsor of Educate ’08 and Define ’09, the Kalikow Center aims to educate students and the community about the world of politics and encourage civic engagement.
educate ’
v Focus the Nation: Climate Change Symposium: Climate Change: The National Implications v From Votes to Victory: Winning and Governing the White House in the 21st Century v “What Lessons Do Past Presidents Have for 2008?” A Biographer’s Round-Table v The Wisdom of Our Fathers v 2008 Election: Issues Up Close v Stopping Politics at the Water’s Edge: What Are American Foreign Policy Priorities in 2008? v What Will the Next President Do? Identifying the U.S. Agenda for 2009 v The Politics and Promises of Presidential Campaign Speeches, 1896-2008 v A Daily Briefing – A Look Behind the Scenes
v Arnold A. Saltzman Lecture on the State of the Union, featuring political strategist and CNN commentator Donna Brazile v Half the Sky – Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide, a lecture featuring New York Times Pulitzer Prize-winning journalists and authors Sheryl WuDunn and Nicholas Kristof v The Obama Phenomenon: What’s Next?, a lecture by David Plouffe, campaign manager, Obama for America v A 360-Degree Look at World Events with CNN anchor Anderson Cooper v International Scene Lecture Series: Danger Ahead: Afghanistan/Pakistan
Prominent Speakers v Peter Beinart: Senior fellow for U.S. Foreign Policy, Council on Foreign Relations; columnist, The Washington Post; contributor, Time; editor-at-large, The New Republic v Elisabeth Bumiller: Reporter for The New York Times and Condoleezza Rice biographer v Charlie Cook: Publisher, The Cook Political Report; political analyst, National Journal Group and NBC News; columnist, National Journal magazine, CongressDailyAM, and The Washington Quarterly v Fred Greenstein: Professor emeritus of Princeton University and presidential expert v David Maraniss: Reporter for The Washington Post and William J. Clinton biographer v Dr. Jay M. Parker: Visiting associate professor in Georgetown University’s Department of Government; adjunct associate professor in the graduate school faculties at Columbia University and The George Washington University; senior fellow at the Center for the Study of the Presidency, The George Washington University v Nancy Soderberg: Former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations (1997-2001); third ranking official of National Security Council at the White House (1993-1997); and deputy director of the Presidential Transition for National Security
v President or King? Evaluating the Expansion of Executive Power From Abraham Lincoln to George W. Bush
v George Stephanopoulos: Chief Washington correspondent for ABC News and anchor of ABC’s Sunday morning program This Week with George Stephanopoulos
v National Teach-In on Global Warming v International Scene Lecture Series: Economic and Foreign Policy Challenges to the New Administration v Evaluating the First Hundred Days of the Obama Administration
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Innovations in Education