When people think of college, ‘Animal House’-like thoughts of fraternities come to mind.
On Monday night, Fairfield was introduced to another fraternity, one looking to induct a new member this November, the fraternity of presidents.
Doug Brinkley, Professor at Rice University and notable Presidential historian, spoke in the first Open VISIONS Forum, which also commenced the forum’s 11th season.
Brinkley told a crowd of more than 500 University community members that this election would be the turning point in any view of history.
‘No matter who wins we will have either a black man or a woman in the presidential or vice presidential role,’ Brinkley said.
Brinkley explained that presidents could be judged on different levels. He explained that some of the presidents were great orators like Kennedy and Reagan, and some not so great as in the case of Bush and Nixon.
In an exclusive interview with The Mirror, Brinkley said, ‘History can tell us a lot of things. In 1962, John F. Kennedy won over an older and less charismatic Richard Nixon. Now, Obama may find himself in a similar situation.’
Brinkley also expressed the value in choosing the right running mate. He mentioned and praised McCain’s choice of Sarah Palin as Vice-Presidential nominee, while saying Obama’s choice not to choose Clinton may be his downfall.
After a question was asked to him, Brinkley agreed with the audience member in saying that election tampering concerns may take away from the added enthusiasm in this election.
Brinkley spoke on a day when Merrill Lynch was sold to Bank of America, and Lehman Brothers filed for bankruptcy, yet he expressed how times will get better.
‘As a historian, I understand the sustainability of this county,’ he stated. ‘Presidents must think about their children’s children while they are in many ways forced to think about the current time.’
Mike Jehle, executive director of the Fairfield Museum, introduced Brinkley to the crowd.
‘Doug Brinkley had the goal of grabbing America by the neck and making it look at the twenty-first century,’ said Jehle.
Brinkley’s talk also tied into the academic setting of the campus as many students attended it from classes.
‘I have always taught and studied the American Presidency and have even geared my class around Doug Brinkley,’ said Professor of Politics, John Orman. ‘But, now having brought my students to this Open VISIONS, it was great to see them react to him directly.’
But Open VISIONS proved that the intellectual community was not only restricted to the University, but included Fairfield Prep students as well. A student group responsible for a play on all 43 Presidents, joined by director Megan Hoover ’99, attended the show.
Prep student Dan Luciano said he ‘learned more about the two sides in the [lecture], and is excited about the election to follow.’
Brinkley is the first in the series political experts to present themselves in of the Open VISIONS Forum. Jeff Tobin, of the Washington Post will talk about the Supreme Court on Sept. 24. Mika Brezinski and Monica Crowley, liberal and conservative pundits respectively, will have a political debate on Oct. 27.
Program director and Art History Professor Phillip Eliasoph said of the 2008 election based Open VISIONS, ‘The current presidential campaign provides one demonstrable example of the breadth of American democracy and Open VISIONS Forum has seized the moment with speakers that deepen our knowledge of a multifaceted world.’
Leave a Reply