James Carville, also known as “Ragin’ Cajun,” and perhaps best known for the role he played behind the scenes in Bill Clinton’s successful bid for the White House in 1992, will speak at Southern Arkansas University on September 9.
Carville’s speech is being presented by Farmers Bank & Trust and proceeds will benefit the SAU Foundation.
“James Carville is an internationally-recognized political consultant, known for his keen wit and astute political analysis,” said Southern Arkansas University President Dr. David Rankin. “It will be a pleasure to have him at SAU as part of this outstanding lecture series.”
The event begins with a private reception from 6 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Farmers Bank & Trust. The dinner and presentation will follow at 7 p.m. in the Grand Hall of the Donald W. Reynolds Campus and Community Center at SAU. Tickets are $100 to attend the dinner and lecture and $200 to attend the dinner and lecture as well as the private reception where you can have a photo taken with Carville.
Bob Burns, chairman and chief executive officer of Farmers Bank & Trust, said the goal of the lecture series is not to support any specific political interest, but to support students who want to attend the University but may have financial difficulties.
“What is really important is that the series helps us make a difference in the lives of a few students,” Burns said. “The more funds we raise, the more students who get to go to college.”
Burns said there are four students who currently benefit from the lecture and the hope is to add two to three more this year.
Those who want to help students this year by participating in the lecture are in for an interesting night.
Carville, along with his wife Mary Matalin, wrote “All’s Fair: Love, War, and Running for President,” the best-selling political memoir in American history. His second book, “We’re Right, They’re Wrong,” made it to number one on The New York Times Best Seller list and his third, “And The Horse He Rode In On-the People v. Ken Starr.” His latest release is “Take It Back: Our Party, Our Country, Our Future,” with Paul Begala.
Perhaps a lesser-known fact about Carville is that he was a partner in a restaurant in San Francisco called Hawthorne Lane. Another interesting fact is that he was featured in a documentary called “The War Room” about the 1992 Bill Clinton presidential campaign that was nominated for an Academy Award.
For more information on the event, or to reserve tickets, call the SAU Foundation office at 877-235-7409 or 870-235-4078.
