Eugene J. McCarthy Lectureship Established for Public Policy Center

"I am hopeful that this challenge may alleviate this sense of political helplessness and restore to many people a belief in the processes of American politics and of American government."

The annual public lectureship carries McCarthy’s deep commitment to the ideals and principles of democratic self-government. It seeks to inspire a new generation of young people to pursue fresh ideas, to challenge the status quo, to effect positive change in their communities and, like McCarthy himself, to lead with honesty, integrity, and courage.

The inaugural speaker in 2007 was E.J. Dionne Jr., an op-ed columnist for the Washington Post. His bestselling book Why Americans Hate Politics: Death of the Democratic Process won the Los Angeles Times book prize and was a National Book Award nominee.