Discussing Nixon

What:     

Cal State Fullerton and the Richard M. Nixon Presidential Library and Museum host the first student research conference on “Richard Nixon and His Era” April 27 at the Yorba Linda museum. The free, public event features a keynote address by a U.S.-China relations expert and panel discussions by students from Cal State Fullerton; Whittier College, Nixon’s alma mater; and other universities and colleges.

Minxin Pei will deliver the keynote address at the Nixon Conference.

When:     

Friday, April 27
10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Where:     

Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum
18001 Yorba Linda Blvd., Yorba Linda 92886

Schedule Highlights:

10-11:15 a.m. “Influences on the Nixon Presidency: From Outside and Inside the White House” panel discussion. Undergraduate student panelists are: Rio Bauce of Pitzer College presenting “Richard M. Nixon: JFK as ‘Cool Friend’ in Public, Scapegoat in Private”; Hayden Dingman of Chapman University discussing “Tin Soldiers and Nixon Coming”; Yusuf Pirzada of Cal State Fullerton presenting “Economic Policymaking in the Nixon and Reagan Presidencies”; and Michael Amarilla of Whittier College on “Recognition Deserved: The Native American Occupation of Alcatraz, 1969 – 1971.”

11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. “The Nixon Administration and Foreign Affairs” undergraduate panel discussion with Laura Barron-Lopez of CSUF presenting “A Study of Prerogative Powers Utilized by the Presidency of Richard M. Nixon,” Andrew Brown of CSUF delivering “Be Mighty With the Missile: An Investigation Into the Nuclear Strategies of the Reagan and Nixon Administrations” and Mattias Fibiger of UC Santa Barbara discussing “Redeeming the Ship of State: The Mayaguez Incident of 1975.”

1:45-3:15 p.m. “Politics and Policymaking in the Nixon Administration” graduate student panel discussion with Michael Wood, CSUF political science major, discussing “Nixon’s Inevitable Road to Watergate”; Wesley Willison, CSUF history major, delivering “Nixon ’72 – Commercials, Politics and Spies: The Co-opting of a Campaign”; Kathleen Gronnerud, CSUF history major, on “Nixon the Environment and the Crafting of Presidential Power”; and Kevin Sitz, UC Riverside political science doctoral candidate, presenting “Nixon and the Immigration Mosaic.”

3:30-5 p.m. Keynote address, “Managing US-China Strategic Competition,” by Minxin Pei, director of the Keck Center for International and Strategic Studies at Claremont McKenna College.

Why:

“This is the first annual student research conference at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum,” said Scott J. Spitzer, CSUF assistant professor of political science and event organizer. “It represents a major step forward in forging a stronger bond between Cal State Fullerton and this unique federal research institution, only a few miles from our campus. We have 11 different students presenting research, representing six different universities and colleges from throughout Southern California. In addition, Dr. Minxin Pei, an internationally recognized expert on U.S.-China relations, will give the keynote address. We look forward to expanding the participating universities for next year's conference and are excited that we are able to launch this important opportunity for students throughout the area to make use of this important federal research institution.”

Sponsor:     

Cal State Fullerton’s Division of Politics, Administration and Justice

More Information:     

Visit http://hsswebdev.fullerton.edu/conference/ or contact Scott J. Spitzer at 657-278-3771 or sspitzer@fullerton.edu.

Media Contact:           

Mimi Ko Cruz, 657-278-7586, mkocruz@fullerton.edu