Veteran Journalist Cokie Roberts Speaks on Campus
On Feb. 4, Holy Cross hosted award-winning journalist Cokie Roberts, who delivered a talk, titled “The 2012 Election & What it Bodes for the Next Four Years.”
To an overflowing crowd in the Rehm Library, Roberts spoke about today’s divisive political climate and the factors that have led to our nation’s current polarization, including the media, political redistricting in the House of Representatives, and the influence of outside groups and “the permanent campaign” in the Senate.
An author of history books, Roberts was quick to point out that, although “unpleasant” and “nasty,” this is not the most partisan time in America’s history.
“They’re not shooting each other,” she remarked, referring to the pre-Civil War days, when political disagreements were settled with duels.
In reflecting on the 2012 presidential election, Roberts told the audience that “we have not witnessed the death of the Republican Party.” Instead, the Republicans now have to “figure out how to sound more welcoming to more Americans.”
“We’ll still see a very competitive and interesting two-party system as we go forward,” she concluded before taking questions from audience members.
Roberts is a political commentator for ABC News and a senior news analyst for National Public Radio. From 1996 to 2002, she and Sam Donaldson co-anchored the ABC interview program, This Week. In her more than 40 years in broadcasting, she has won numerous awards, including three Emmys. She has been inducted into the Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Fame, and was cited by the American Women in Radio and Television as one of the 50 greatest women in the history of broadcasting. She is the bestselling author of “We Are Our Mothers’ Daughters,” “Ladies of Liberty” and “Founding Mothers.”
For additional information, please contact Cristal Steuer at 508-793-2419.