Political strategist Karl Rove will address the topic of “Understanding America’s Challenges” as part of the American Studies Institute Lecture Series on Oct. 16 at 7 p.m. in the Benson Auditorium; the lecture is free and open to the public.
A Fox News contributor and columnist for The Wall Street Journal, Rove served as senior adviser to President George W. Bush from 2000 to 2007 and as Bush’s deputy chief of staff from 2004 to 2007. During Bush’s presidency, Rove coordinated the policymaking process for the White House. Rove was also the chief strategist for both of Bush’s presidential campaigns.
Rove’s speech at Harding has already generated a lot of interest, according to Dr. Bob Reely, associate executive director of the American Studies Institute.
“We’re saying right now he’s almost like our Condoleezza Rice at the first of the (school) year rather than the end of it,” Reely said. “He’s kind of our big-name speaker, is the way it seems to be happening right now. … There’s so much excitement about him.”
According to Reely, Rove will likely address issues such as the economy and terrorism as he discusses the presidential election.
Reely said he recommends that students attend Rove’s lecture, because rather than delivering emotional rhetoric about politics, Rove will have facts to support his arguments.
“(Rove) just won’t bring a feel-good speech,” Reely said. “He’ll have statistics, he’ll have polls, he’ll have data to back up the points that he is making. … It won’t be a speech of passion. It’ll be a speech that, if somebody comes, they’ll walk away from it with being better informed about these, maybe, concerns we have for the election.”
There will be a question-and- answer session after Rove’s speech. Unlike at previous ASI lectures, however, there will not be microphones on the floor for audience members to ask questions during the event. Instead, those who would like to submit questions for Rove are asked to email them to asi@harding.edu.
Following the question-and-
answer session, Rove will sign copies of his book, “Courage and Consequence: My Life as a Conservative in the Fight,” a New York Times bestseller.
Senior public administration major Ashley Shelton said she is looking forward to attending Rove’s lecture.
“I think that having worked in the (presidential) administration that preceded the current one, (Rove) can provide a little insight as to maybe what works and what doesn’t, what needs to change, hope for America’s future,” Shelton said. “And I hope that he will talk about his personal experiences with Bush — not so much ‘personal,’ but working alongside him, what he was able to get done.”
