Political strategist to share ideas to 'Unlock Congress' at Benedictine

The sources of congressional dysfunction and possible solutions for reform will be the topic of a lecture this month by former broadcast journalist, political campaign manager and strategist Michael Golden.

Golden will speak at noon Tuesday, Sept. 15, in the Tellabs Lecture Hall at Benedictine University in Lisle. Seating is limited at the free public event.

In his new book, "Unlock Congress: Reform the Rules - Restore the System," Golden lays out his interpretation of the problem in Washington, D.C., pointing to four major defects: the flood of money into politics, flawed election rules, two-year terms in the House of Representatives and the use of the filibuster.

He says those four flaws lead to poor productivity, a lack of negotiation and compromise, and the distortion of fair representation.

"Having read his important book over the summer, I know his talk will be of great value to our students, faculty, staff and the community at large," said Phil Hardy, assistant professor of political science and director of the Center for Civic Leadership at Benedictine.

Golden, a Chicago native, worked for NBC and CBS affiliates in Illinois, Iowa and California, and won accolades from the Associated Press, the Edward R. Murrow Awards and the Society of Professional Journalists for his investigative and public affairs reporting on politics, education, health care and criminal justice.

He went on to become a campaign manager and communications strategist on political races for the White House, U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives from 2000 to 2006. Golden also co-founded One Million Degrees, a nonprofit scholarship program for low-income community college students in Illinois, which has raised more than $10 million to empower hundreds of scholars to graduate and launch careers.

He currently serves on the boards of the Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law, the Anti-Defamation League and One Million Degrees, and as a voluntary member of the Illinois Commission on the Elimination of Poverty.

Golden was invited to speak as part of Benedictine's nonpartisan, nonprofit Center for Civic Leadership Speaker Series, which seeks to bring dynamic speakers to campus so that students and the larger community can fully engross themselves in multiple issues and topics of public concern. Established in 2005, the center aims to improve civic engagement, leadership and education in Illinois and helps to prepare students for leadership roles in public service and as world citizens.

For information about the lecture, visit ben.edu/ccl or contact Jen Zingg at (630) 829-6460 or jzingg@ben.edu.