Time for a new political party?
Wheaton College will welcome back alumna Christine Todd Whitman ’68 to talk about her efforts to establish a third political party for the Jay Goodman Political Series on April 16, at 7 p.m. A viewing of the virtual event will be held in Emerson Hall’s Faculty Dining Room.
The event will be facilitated as a conversation with Ted Nesi ’07, a WPRI-TV politics editor and Wheaton visiting professor of English. To attend virtually, register here.
A founding co-chair of the Forward Party, Whitman said on CBS News in August, “We need a third party because it’s clear the duopoly we have now is not responding to the people’s needs … more people are becoming independents or unaffiliated because they’re saying neither of you are working for me.”
The Forward Party aims to appeal to moderate voters focused on solving problems rather than backing a single platform. Party members sign a pledge which reads, “I agree to uphold the rule of law, respect the Constitution, work with anyone to solve problems, create a safe space to discuss controversial issues, and work to ensure that anyone who has a legal right to vote gets to vote.”
Whitman served as New Jersey’s governor from 1994 to 2001, then led the Environmental Protection Agency during the first term of President George W. Bush. She currently serves as president of Whitman Strategy Group, a consulting firm that specializes in energy and environmental issues.
The author of a New York Times best-selling book, It’s My Party Too (2005), Whitman has served on numerous boards and advisory boards and has lectured at colleges across the country through the Woodrow Wilson Visiting Scholars Program.
In 1995, she was the Wheaton College Commencement speaker and received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree.
The Jay Goodman Political Series honors the late professor of political science who served Wheaton for 50 years as an inspirational instructor and mentor.
This series is made possible by the Jay Goodman Endowed Fund for the Social Sciences, established to celebrate Professor Jay Goodman’s lasting impact. His dedication inspired generations of students to participate in civic life and pursue careers in politics, law and academia. Give today to help make more Jay Goodman Series events possible.