Straight out of the political battle line in the nation’s capital, Jack Kemp and Bill Bradley are headed to address members of an MSU program.
Kemp, a former U.S. representative and Cabinet member, and Bradley, a former U.S. Senator and Democratic presidential candidate, will speak at the Michigan Political Leadership Program’s fund-raiser, or MPLP, on Feb. 22 at Laurel Manor in Livonia.
The program is a 10-weekend noncredit course that offers education in practical politics, public policy analysis, personal leadership style and effective governance. It is administered by MSU’s Institute for Public Policy and Social Research.
“We are very excited to be able to have them to help us to raise funds for our program,” said Shannon Horvath, the program’s administrator.
Horvath expects roughly 700 people to attend, which will help fund 24 paid program scholarships that are given each year.
Ann Mervene, co-director of the program, said the speakers will address prominent issues in American politics.
“They are both significant leaders in their respective parties, renowned for intellect and leadership, both having run for president,” Mervene said. “We thought that they would have incisive comments about the current political scene.”
Kemp is the co-director of Empower America, a Washington public policy think tank. In 1996, he was Republican presidential candidate Bob Dole’s runningmate. Kemp spent 13 years playing professional football before entering politics.
Bradley, also an athlete, led the NBA’s New York Knicks to two NBA Championships before entering politics. He served in the U.S. Senate from 1979-97, before running for the Democratic presidential nomination last year.
Both men join a list of big-name political guests who have spoken at the event.
“Last year was a huge success because we had Mike McCurry, and we were his first speaking engagement after he left the White House (as press secretary),” Mervene said.
“That was definitely a highlight. He shared the stage with former Reagan Press Secretary Marlin Fitzwater, who had been out for a while.”
Program graduate and East Lansing Councilmember Sam Singh is looking forward to the fund-raiser.
“I think you can’t find two better people to come and address Michigan on issues that are facing this country,” he said. “The program itself has consistently brought in two high-caliber individuals.
“It has really turned into one of the premier political events in the state.”
The program has roughly 230 graduates who work on city councils, township boards, county commissions and in the state government.
“The MPLP is a program under the (Institute for Public Policy and Social Research),” said Carol Weissert, the director for the program in Public Policy and Administration and professor of political science at MSU. “It is a program that is embedded in an MSU institute. It is a terrific thing for MSU to be doing.”
