PROGRESSIVE CHAMPIONS OF THE UNITED STATES
SENATE: EARLY 20TH CENTURY TO THE PRESENT

Ronald Feinman

DESCRIPTION: This eight-week series will cover the major progressive champions of the United States Senate, from the early 20th Century to the present. It will include both Republicans and Democrats, and also one true Independent Senator. Each lecture and discussion period is devoted to two U.S. Senators, the historic significance of their lives and careers, and will clarify their role in American history and their promotion of progressive values. The goal is to promote appreciation and understanding of these U.S. Senators, and show how they had an impact on present day America. Lectures will be followed by discussion, comments or questions with the participants in this series.

EIGHT LECTURES:

1. Progressives of the Early 20th Century: Robert La Follette, Sr. of Wisconsin and George Norris of Nebraska
   
   
2. Progressives of the New Deal Era: Robert La Follette, Jr. of Wisconsin and Robert F. Wagner, Sr. of New York
   
   
3. Progressives of the Post World War II Era: Paul Douglas of Illinois and Hubert H. Humphrey of Minnesota
   
   
4. Progressives of the 1960’s and 1970’s, Part I: George McGovern of South Dakota and Frank Church of Idaho
   
   
5. Progressives of the 1960’s and 1970’s, Part II: Jacob Javits of New York and Clifford Case of New Jersey
   
   
6. Progressives of the 1960’s and 1970’s, Part III: Charles Mathias of Maryland and Mark Hatfield of Oregon
   
   
7. Progressives of the 1970’s and Beyond: Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts and Paul Wellstone of Minnesota
   
   
8. Progressives of the 1990’s and Beyond: Russ Feingold of Wisconsin and Bernard Sanders of Vermont

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: Dr. Ronald Feinman has been a Professor of American History, Government and Politics for the past four decades, including 22 years as Senior Professor at Broward College, and an Adjunct Professor of History and Political Science at Florida Atlantic University (FAU). He holds a Ph.D. from City University of New York (CUNY) Graduate School, and is the author of Twilight of Progressivism: The Western Republican Senators and the New Deal (Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 1981) and book reviews for various scholarly journals. He blogs about politics and history at: www.theprogressiveprofessor.com. He is also a listed member of the FAU Speakers Bureau and has given lectures to many diverse groups over the past 10 years.