HWS News
26 October 2022 • Faculty Gearan Launches Voices of Democracy Podcast
A new podcast hosted by President Mark D. Gearan invites leading voices in politics and the media to HWS to help make sense of the political challenges facing the country. Voices of Democracy launches this fall with a conversation between former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and political commentator and strategist James Carville LL.D. ’13, P’17.
The political veterans, who were on campus as guests for the Stern Family Forum, sat down to discuss the state of U.S. politics ahead of the 2022 midterm elections, as well as their own journeys in the political arena, challenges to pillars of democracy and enthusiasm among young voters.
While in Geneva during Hobart’s Bicentennial celebration, Christie and Carville met with students, faculty and members of the HWS community ahead of the Stern Family Forum, moderated by Emmy Award-winning 60 Minutes Correspondent and HWS Trustee Bill Whitaker ’73, L.H.D.’97.
Christie served two terms as the 55th governor of New Jersey. A former U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey, he ran for president in 2016 and chaired Donald Trump’s transition to the White House. He has chaired the Republican Governors Association and President Trump’s Opioid and Drug Abuse Commission. Since leaving office, he’s been a regular commentator on ABC News. He is the author of Let Me Finish, a political autobiography, and Republican Rescue, about the party’s future. He serves on the board of directors for the New York Mets.
Carville is a prominent Democratic consultant and political commentator. Often referred to as the “Ragin’ Cajun,” he was the lead strategist for the successful election in 1992 of Bill Clinton as the 42nd president of the United States. Carville is the former co-host of CNN’s Crossfire and has provided consultation to campaigns in more than 20 countries. He teaches political science at Tulane University. A former U.S. Marine, he received his undergraduate and law degrees from Louisiana State University. In 2013, Carville delivered the Hobart and William Smith Commencement address and was awarded an honorary degree.
