Rhodes Political Science Professor Dr. Michael Nelson will be a Clinton School of Public Service speaker Oct. 6. He will discuss his book, Resilient America: Electing Nixon in 1968, Channeling Dissent, and Dividing Government. The book explores how urban riots and the Tet Offensive, the assassinations of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy, the politics of outrage and race—all pointed to a reordering of party coalitions, of groups and regions, a hardening and widening of an ideological divide—and to the historical importance of the 1968 election as a watershed event.
In addition, Nelson’s book, 41: Inside the Presidency of George H. W. Bush, has been selected for DirectBrands’ book clubs in the history section. Nelson is a recognized Presidential scholar and in November, Southern Methodist University’s Center for Presidential History will release his work on the 2004 election, including video recorded interviews with major players. He also will participate in an event at the Clinton Presidential Library in conjunction with the 10th anniversary of the library’s opening.
Update 11/03/14: Here is a video link to the talk Nelson gave at the Clinton School. In addition to his commentary on political topics, Nelson also writes articles about the military academies, liberal education, music, baseball, and football. His article “Football as Metaphor” recently was published in The Weekly Standard.