Date: Oct 22, 2008

Former White House Press Secretaries to Speak at Hofstra

Dee Dee Myers and Ari Fleischer to discuss "A Daily Briefing - A Look Behind the Scenes"

Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY –Former White House Press Secretaries Dee Dee Myers and Ari Fleischer, will speak at Hofstra University on Tuesday, October 28 at 3 p.m. in the Monroe Lecture Center Theater, South Campus. The lecture is sponsored by The Peter S. Kalikow Center for the Study of the American Presidency, The John D. Miller Fund at the Long Island Community Foundation,and Sondra and David S. Mack.

Dee Dee Myers is the first woman and youngest person ever to serve as White House press secretary. During the first years of the Bill Clinton administration, Ms. Myers explained the actions of the new president to a vigilant press corps and to the nation. Since leaving the white house, Ms. Myers has worked as a political analyst, commentator and writer. Ms. Myers is currently a Contributing Editor to Vanity Fair magazine and a frequent political commentator on NBC and MSNBC. Her current book, Why Women should Rule the World (Harper Collins, 2008) considers the question: What would happen if women ruled the world?

As former White House press secretary, Ari Fleischer was the primary spokesperson for President George W. Bush and delivered the daily White House briefings from 2001 to 2003.  He previously served as the senior communications advisor and spokesman for the Bush-Cheney presidential campaign.  In his almost four years working for George W. Bush, he served as spokesman during the historic presidential recount, September 11, two wars and the anthrax attack.  His best selling book, Taking Heat, details his years in the White House and reached #7 on The New York Times best-seller list.

Admission to the event is free and open to the public. Due to intense interest, this event has limited free public seating.  All those interested in attending must register in advance on this Web site, print out their confirmation and bring it to the event.  Check-in will begin one hour prior to the event and your confirmation will be checked.  Please register online at www.hofstra.edu/educate08 or call 516-463-6818.

Leading up to the debate and the 2008 election, Hofstra is proud to host Educate '08, an unprecedented series of lectures, conferences, artistic performances and exhibitions, town hall meetings and interactive forums focused on the issues, history and politics of presidential elections.  Educate '08 provides our students, faculty and the entire surrounding community with access to the newsmakers, scholars and policymakers who have unique insight and knowledge of the American political system.  Many of our programs and events are free and open to the public, and we encourage you to join us for what will be a fascinating series of events.  Hofstra has hosted more than 30 events, including guests such as George Stephanopoulos; former Gov. Mario Cuomo and Richard Haass, president of the Council on Foreign Relations; Mary Matalin and James Carville; David Gergen; William Kristol and Maureen Dowd; Charlie Cook and many scholars, historians, journalists and policymakers.  
 
Find out more about Educate '08 by visiting www.hofstra.edu/educate08

Hofstra University is a dynamic private institution where students can choose from more than 140 undergraduate and 155 graduate programs in liberal arts and sciences, business, communication, education and allied human services, and honors studies, as well as a School of Law. With a student-faculty ratio of 14-to-1, our professors teach small classes averaging 22 students that emphasize interaction, critical thinking and analysis. Hofstra offers a faculty whose highest priority is teaching excellence. The University also provides excellent facilities with state-of-the-art technology, extensive library resources and internship programs that match students’ interests and abilities with appropriate companies and organizations.  The Hofstra community is driven, dynamic and energetic, helping students find and focus their strengths to prepare them for a successful future.