From Satire to Security to Citizenship: Eagleton Institute's Guest Speakers Cover the Political Scene

For those trying to make sense of the current political scene, check out satirist Andy Borowitz, New York Times best-selling author and creator of the wildly popular The Borowitz Report. Borowitz, an internet phenomenon who writes for The New Yorker, will give his take on “Politics 2013” Tuesday, Feb. 12. Called “America’s Satire King” by the Daily Beast, Borowitz will share his observations at 7 p.m. in the Nicholas Music Center, 85 George St. 

Borowitz appears as part of the It’s All Politics lecture series that receives major support from the Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation.

E.J. Dionne Jr., syndicated columnist for The Washington Post and a senior fellow in governance studies at the Brookings Institution, will present, “Habit for Democracy – Rebuilding the American Idea,” Wednesday, Feb. 20 at 7 p.m. in Trayes Hall at the Douglass Campus Center, 100 George St.

A University Professor in the Foundations of Democracy and Culture at Georgetown University, Dionne frequently appears on National Public Radio, MSNBC, NBC’s Meet the Press, and PBS’ News Hour, among others, and is the author or editor of numerous books and volumes. His latest book is Our Divided Political Heart: The Battle for the American Idea in an Age of Discontent (Bloomsbury USA, 2012).

Dionne appears as part of the Louis J. Gambaccini Civic Engagement Series, which was established by family, friends and colleagues of the longtime New Jersey public servant to honor his outstanding legacy and lifelong dedication to upholding the highest standards of civic responsibility. Gambaccini served as a commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Transportation and founded New Jersey Transit. At Rutgers, he directed the Alan M. Voorhees Transportation Center at the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy.

The Honorable Joe Sestak, a former Democratic congressman from Pennsylvania (2007-2011) who rose to the rank of three-star Admiral during his 31 years of service in the U.S. Navy, will speak about “Leadership for a Better America.” His lecture is part of the Arthur J. Holland Program on Ethics in Government. Sestak, who was director of Defense Policy for the National Security Council under President Bill Clinton, will appear at 7:15 p.m. on Tuesday, March 5 in Hickman Hall (Room 101), 89 George St.

Sestak led a series of operational commands at sea, culminating in command of the George Washington Aircraft Carrier Battle Group during combat operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.  He headed “Deep Blue,” the Navy antiterrorism unit focused on the global war on terrorism and oversaw the Navy’s five-year, $350 billion warfare budget as Deputy Chief of Naval Operations.

Sestak is a Distinguished Practice Professor at Carnegie Mellon University.

The Holland Program was established in 1989 by then-President of Rutgers Edward J. Bloustein to honor the distinguished alumnus and longtime mayor of Trenton. Holland was a proponent and practitioner of open, responsive and ethical government. The Holland Ethics Lecture focuses on ethical issues that arise in the context of running state and local government.

John Lawrence, who recently retired as chief of staff to Rep. Nancy Pelosi, the former House Speaker and current Minority Leader, will deliver the talk “American Health Care: The Policy and Politics of the Affordable Care Act,” as the Albert W. Lewitt Lecturer on Tuesday, April 9. His 2:15 p.m. presentation will be at the Douglass Campus Center.

Lawrence had been a high-level congressional staff member for more than three decades and was staff director for the Committee on Education and the Workforce and the Committee on Natural Resources.

The Lewitt Lecture is made possible through a gift by Mrs. Benjamin Leon in memory of her brother Albert W. Lewitt, who served on Capitol Hill in the 1940s as a staff member first for Sen. W. Warren Barbour and later for Sen. Albert W. Hawkes.