Presidential Library to feature Newsweek columnist at Spring Speaker Series

The Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library and Museum today announced that Robert Samuelson, columnist and contributing editor on politics, economics, and social issues for Newsweek and The Washington Post, will be the speaker at the 2009 Spring Speaker Series luncheon. The event will be on Friday, May 8, at 11:30 a.m. at the Stonewall Jackson Hotel and Conference Center in Staunton. Mr. Samuelson will speak on the Federal Reserve, a relevant topic given the nation’s economic challenges, and an appropriate topic for a Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library audience, given that President Wilson signed the Federal Reserve Act into law in 1913. The event is sponsored by Edward Jones Investments.

Dr. A. Stanley Link, Jr., Chair of the Board of the WWPL, said, “The Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library and Museum is honored to have Robert Samuelson speak for our event this year. It will be interesting to hear such an accomplished economics commentator offer his thoughts about the Federal Reserve and his analysis of the economic situation.”

A New York native, Mr. Samuelson is a 1967 graduate of Harvard University. He began his journalism career as a business reporter for The Washington Post in 1969. In 1973, he left the Post to be a free-lance writer, and his articles were published all over the world. He served as an economics correspondent for The National Journal for eight years beginning in 1976. He started writing a column for the Post in 1977. He joined Newsweek in 1984. He has won numerous awards, including the National Headliner Award four times, the Gerald Loeb Award for Best Commentary three times, and a National Magazine Award.

Mr. Samuelson is the author of three books. His newest book, published last year, is The Great Inflation and Its Aftermath: The Past and Future of American Affluence. He is also the author of The Good Life and Its Discontents: The American Dream in the Age of Entitlement, 1945-1995 and Untruth: Why the Conventional Wisdom Is (Almost Always) Wrong. Individual tickets are $45.00, while patron seats are available for $135.00, which includes two tickets. Those interested in attending or with questions about the event should contact Karen McGrath, Director of the Annual Fund and Special Events, at [email protected], or at 540.885.0897, ext. 112.

– News Release