Chris Matthews to speak at Churchill celebration



"We are very pleased that Mr. Matthews has accepted our invitation to join us for this momentous occasion,” said Rob Havers, executive director of the Churchill Memorial and Library. “His extensive experience in world affairs and his personal interest in Churchill should combine to make a fascinating presentation for our Saturday evening event.” Television Journalist Chris Matthews served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Swaziland in the 1960's.

Chris Matthews to speak at Churchill celebration

Chris Matthews to speak at Churchill celebration
By JON HETZEL
The Fulton Sun

Westminster College announced late on Monday that Chris Matthews, host of the MSNBC program “Hardball with Chris Matthews,” will be a keynote speaker during the 60th anniversary festivities of Sir Winston Churchill's “Iron Curtain” speech.

“We are very pleased that Mr. Matthews has accepted our invitation to join us for this momentous occasion,” said Rob Havers, executive director of the Churchill Memorial and Library. “His extensive experience in world affairs and his personal interest in Churchill should combine to make a fascinating presentation for our Saturday evening event.”

Matthews, also host of the NBC show, “The Chris Matthews Show,” will give a presentation during the Black Tie Gala Celebration Dinner on Saturday, March 4.

Rob Crouse, director of college relations, said the school was looking for a journalist with an international perspective, and the fact that Matthews covered the fall of the Berlin Wall pleased administrators.

“We wanted somebody with ties to Churchill if we could, and that left us with a pretty short list of people,” Crouse said.

Crouse also confirmed that Westminster officials remain in contact with the White House in an attempt to bring in a representative for a lecture on March 5.

“At this time, I do not believe the President's schedule will allow him to come,” he said.

Crouse could not confirm when the representative would be named.

With only a few weeks before the weekend celebration, Crouse said school officials were pleased to confirm Matthews - who is a “Churchill aficionado.”

Matthews, a television anchor has spent time as a broadcast journalist, newspaper bureau chief, presidential speechwriter and author. He has reported on world events, including political elections in South Africa and peace talks in Northern Ireland. The funeral of Pope John Paul II also was covered by the journalist.

He has received numerous awards, including the David Brinkley Award for Excellence in Broadcast Journalism in 2004.

“It will be a great privilege to welcome Chris Matthews to our campus,” said Fletcher Lamkin, president of Westminster College. “As someone who has covered and analyzed so many world events and known so many great world leaders, he is an excellent example of the speakers we want to bring to Westminster.”

When this story was posted in March 2006, this was on the front page of PCOL:




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