ELECT-ILE DYSFUNCTION

Myrna Goldberger

Recipient of the LLS 1999 Excellence in Teaching Award

DESCRIPTION: By now, Americans are accustomed to shenanigans in our presidential elections. However, digging for, and dispersing “dirt,” damaging reputations, using negative and subliminal advertising, and creating fact/fiction have all been used in other types of elections throughout our history. These stories, termed “dark enlightenment” by political author Larry Sabato, describe in detail those events and strategies that have dominated our politics and aroused diverse reactions. From Senate races to House of Representatives campaigns, and also to mayoral and gubernatorial contests, mudslinging has been as prevalent in lesser political elections as in presidential ones. From “Tricky Dick” vs. Helen Gahagan Douglas, to Charles Robb vs. Oliver North, to Giuliani vs. Dinkins, to George Wallace vs. Albert Brewer, to George Smathers vs. Claude Pepper (Florida) these stories, including sexual tidbits, have become legend and have had influence on our political history. The aim of this series is to compare some of the past scandalous presidential elections to other tales of political campaigning. Visuals will be used to enhance “edutainment” for Myrna’s Groupies.

EIGHT LECTURES:

1. Alfonse D’ Amato vs. Charles Schumer
   
2. Jesse Helms vs. Harvey Gantt
   
3. Richard Daley vs. Robert Merriam
   
4. George Wallace vs. Albert Brewer
   
5. Edwin Edwards vs. David Duke
   
6. George Smathers vs. Claude Pepper
   
7. Richard Nixon vs. Helen Gahagan Douglas
   
8. Charles Robb vs. Oliver North

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: Myrna Goldberger has been an instructor for the Lifelong Learning Society (LLS) for 21-plus years. Educated at the University of Maryland, Loyola College and Johns Hopkins University, Myrna has had 50-plus years of experience in educational programming, including Elderhostel and scholar-in-residence weekends. She currently presents lectures to community and religious groups, as well as to special-interest groups in Florida and other states. Moreover, she performs in self-written one-act plays focusing on famous American women and men. Her students, who call themselves “Myrna’s Groupies,” describe her as “charismatic, knowledgeable and dynamic.” Myrna calls what she does “edutainment” and has been the recipient of LLS awards.