From the Hart

Called “the Paul Revere of the age of terrorism,” former senator and presidential candidate Gary Hart addressed a near-capacity crowd in the Council Chamber in April.

“Senator Hart is one of the more articulate, provocative, and thoughtful public servants of our time,” says Robert Eisinger, associate professor and chair of political science. “His combined understanding of national security issues and representative democracy is arguably unparalleled.”

Gary Hart autographs copies of his book while on campus.

For nearly three decades, Hart has been an influential and controversial figure in American politics. Shortly before the September 11 terrorist attacks, he urged President George W. Bush to create a homeland security agency. At the time of his visit, he was considering making a bid for the 2004 Democratic presidential nomination.

Hart’s lecture, which explored Jeffersonian themes set out in his book Restoration of the Republic, was sponsored by the political science department and funded by a grant from the Arkay Foundation with assistance from the Pacific Northwest Political Science Association.