The Paramount Theatre and Castleton University are proud to announce that the powerhouse duo of James Carville and Mary Matalin: pundits, political advisers, authors and cultural/political experts will be the Keynote Speakers in the Project 240 Series on Sunday September 18th at 7:30 PM. Bruce Bouchard, Executive Director of The Paramount Theatre commented, “From the conception stage of this project, two years ago, it was our programming dream to land these political icons as our Keynote Speakers. This booking involved two trips to Newport, RI, many months of variables and the involvement of a long-time political operative to land an available date for our landmark series.”
The evening will feature counter-point commentary from this married couple about this unprecedented 16-month National Election cycle and a lengthy question and answer session with the audience following their presentation. James Carville is one of the standard bearers in the Democratic Party and Mary Matalin, one of America’s most sought-after conservative voices, has existed for decades as an important political operative and advisor to presidents in the Republican Party. She has recently changed her affiliation to The Libertarian Party. Bouchard added, “Given that their appearance as part of Project 240 will occur just 8 days prior to the most anticipated presidential debates (all four of which will all be broadcast at the theatre) in a generation, we can fully expect bi-partisan fireworks. We sincerely hope that the greater community responds to this amazing opportunity.
ABOUT JAMES CARVILLE
James “The Ragin’ Cajun” Carville is America’s best-known political consultant. His long list of electoral successes evidences a knack for steering overlooked campaigns to unexpected landslide victories and for re-making political underdogs into upset winners.
His winning streak began in 1986, when he managed the gubernatorial victory of Robert Casey in Pennsylvania. In 1987, Carville helped guide Wallace Wilkinson to the governor’s seat in Kentucky. Carville continued his winning streak in New Jersey when he helped Frank Lautenberg get elected to the U.S. Senate. He next managed the successful 1990 gubernatorial campaign of Georgia’s Lieutenant Governor Zell Miller, including a tough primary win over Atlanta mayor Andrew Young. Then, in 1991, Carville—who had already become prominent in political circles—drew national attention when he led Senator Harris Wofford from forty points behind in the polls to an upset landslide victory over former Pennsylvania Governor and U.S. Attorney General Richard Thornburgh. But, his most prominent victory was in 1992 when he helped William Jefferson Clinton win the Presidency.
In recent years, Carville has focused his strategic thinking on guiding international campaigns—reaching more than 23 countries around the globe. James Carville is also a best-selling author, actor, producer, talk-show host and speaker. His titles include It’s The Middle Class Stupid!; All’s Fair: Love, War, and Running for President (with wife Mary Matalin); We’re Right, They’re Wrong: A Handbook for Spirited Progressives; And the Horse He Rode In On: The People vs. Kenneth Starr; Buck Up, Suck Up... and Come Back When You Foul Up; Had Enough? A Handbook for Fighting Back; Stickin’: The Case for Loyalty; his children’s book, Lu and the Swamp Ghost; and 2006’s Take it Back, 40 More Years: How the Democrats will Rule the Next Generation. His most recent book with wife Mary Matalin, Love & War: Twenty Years, Three Presidents, Two Daughters and One Louisiana Home, was released in 2014. Carville is currently working on his 10th yet to be titled tome with a late summer 2016 release date.
Along with pollster Stanley Greenberg, Carville founded Democracy Corps, an independent, non-profit polling organization dedicated to making government more responsive to the American people. Carville returned to his home state of Louisiana in 2008, where he is now a prominent advocate for the city of New Orleans and has added Professor of Practice in Political Science at Tulane University to his long list of titles.
ABOUT MARY MATALIN
Mary Matalin is one of the most celebrated and popular conservative voices in America. As an author, television and radio host, and widely sought after political contributor, pundit and public speaker, she has become noted for her straightforward manner and insightful political repartee. Among her many roles and accomplishments, she has served under President Ronald Reagan, made her mark as George H.W. Bush's Campaign director and most recently as assistant to President George W. Bush, and as assistant and counselor to Vice President Dick Cheney, making her the first White House official to hold that double title.
Since that time, Matalin has made frequent television appearances as a political commentator, securing a career in conservative media advocacy following decades of work in the GOP political trenches. She has recently changed her party affiliation the The Libertarian Party. Today, she co-hosts the nationally-syndicated radio program Both Sides Now, which is currently broadcast on over 100 radio stations across the country.
ABOUT PROJECT 240
Project 240 is the culmination of nine months of planning and is the latest step in the ongoing collaboration between the Paramount Theatre and Castleton University. The collaborative effort is designed to elevate public discourse around the 2016 general election, while bringing the community together for a series of impactful events in celebration of the 240th year of our republic.
The series of 19 events at the Paramount Theatre spans 14 months and exists at the intersection of civic engagement, education, and entertainment. All except three of the events are free, and those who attend can expect a range of programming featuring nationally prominent participants, public discourse, patriotic music, satirical theatre, and more.
For more information please contact Executive Director of the Paramount Bruce Bouchard at [email protected] or Castleton Director of the Fine Arts Center Rich Cowden at [email protected].
“Project 240 – Celebrating the American Experience”
Keynote Speakers: “An Evening with JAMES CARVILLE and MARY MATALIN”
Sunday, September 18th, 2016 – 7:30 PM
Tickets: $55, $45
Box Office: 775-0903 – Thursday and Friday, 11-6 and Saturdays 10-2
United States