Release

Historian Richard Kendall Discusses Upcoming Presidential Election
October 20 Event Sponsored by Friends of the Libraries

Contact: Lisa James Goldsberry (518) 437-4980

ALBANY, NY (October 14, 2004) -- Richard H. Kendall, Department of History, will speak on �Presidential Elections: Some Reflections and Preflections� on Wednesday, October 20, 4-6 p.m. in UAlbany�s New Library, Standish Room. The event, on the uptown campus, is free and open to the public.

Kendall, who earned his Ph.D. at Yale University, believes that �for Presidential elections in our time, one of the best studies-a long reflection, really-is Theodore White�s 'America in Search of Itself,' centered on the 1980 election. To fully appreciate this thoughtful and sad commentary, one should also read White�s first Presidential narrative, 'The Making of the President, 1960,' in which he argued and believed that the system-parties, primaries, personalities, principles-did in fact produce the �right man.� The idea merits discussion.� Kendall notes that we have more than 40 years of statistical information to inform this �community conversation.�

Kendall has been �first and last a teacher of American history-political and Constitutional history, and also military history.� He has served as chairman of the Department of History as well as dean of the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences.

The lecture is one of the fall 2004 series of �Community Conversations� sponsored by the University at Albany�s Friends of the Libraries. The Friends sponsor daylong outings to cultural events and historic places as well as hosting �Community Conversations� for the extended university community. The talks are free and open to the public. The trips, modestly priced, include seating on a chartered bus plus a luncheon. Membership in the Friends of the Libraries is open to all who share an enthusiasm for books and a commitment to building for the future of the University Libraries at the University at Albany. For more information about Friends of the Libraries, visit http://library.albany.edu/friends, or call (518) 442-3540.