Spring ■ 2005 BULLETIN Sabato Pledges $1 Million to University Encourages all alumni to his love of the University, his belief in participate in capital campaign; the power of knowledge and his hopes fulfills 1974 promise to former for the future of humankind. In this lat- U.Va. President Edgar Shannon est act of generosity, Larry offers us all an example many of us aspire to follow.” “For over 35 years I have had the olitics professor and Center incomparable privilege to be associated PDirector Larry J. Sabato is giving with Thomas Jefferson’s proudest lega- the University a donation of $1 million cy,” Sabato said. “It is time to repay my in support of the University’s effort to beloved University - the best public “become a national leader in youth and University in the country - for giving adult civic education and participation.” me so many wonderful opportunities Sabato’s gift, the largest ever given by over the years. No one succeeds without an active faculty member to U.Va., ful- a lot of help, and U.Va. has always been fills a promise he made there for me.” thirty years ago to former Joined at the announcement by Bess, University President Edgar Eleanor, Susan, and Virginia Shannon, F. Shannon, Jr., who served daughters of former U.Va. President as president of the Shannon and Mrs. Eleanor Shannon, University from 1959 to Sabato said that his donation fulfills a 1974. promise he made to then - U.Va. “From his time as an President Shannon in 1974. It was Mr. undergraduate activist in Shannon who encouraged Sabato to the College during the apply for a Rhodes Scholarship - which 1970s to his years as a dis- he ultimately won - launching his aca- tinguished University pro- demic career. Sabato also served as U.Va. Larry J. Sabato fessor, Larry Sabato has Student Council President during enriched the University,” University Shannon’s last year as University President John T. Casteen said. “In his President, and the two formed a life- teaching, research and public service, long friendship. Larry has built the University’s intellec- “How lucky I was to have had such a tual capital. humane and brilliant mentor,” Sabato “With his financial gift, a great per- said. “Inspired by his example, I first sonal sacrifice, Larry has demonstrated promised him some thirty years ago an abiding devotion to the University, a that I would try to make a substantial devotion well known to all who know gift to the University, should life give me him. True to form, Larry’s gift is elo- the opportunity. I’m delighted to fulfill quent in what it signifies. It speaks of that promise. CONTINUED ■■ From his time as an undergraduate activist in the College during the 1970s to his years as a in this wonderfully diverse University. As part of the gift, the University distinguished University professor, Larry President Casteen seeks to raise over $3 will restore the historic Birdwood Sabato has enriched the University. In his billion to take the University to the next estate, located off U.S. 250 just west of teaching, research and public service, Larry level. It is vital that all of us who love Charlottesville, adjacent to the has built the University’s intellectual capital. the University step up to the plate.” University’s Birdwood golf course. John Casteen Sabato designated his gift to be used Built for William Garth in 1819 by as support for the University’s effort to many of the same craftsmen who President “become a national leader in youth and constructed Jefferson’s academical vil- University of Virginia adult civic education” by strengthening lage, the University purchased the U.Va. Center for Politics and provid- Birdwood in 1974 from the estate of ing it a permanent home at a restored its last private owner, Cornelius Birdwood Pavilion. Today more than Middleton. The structure has not been ■■“If a teacher can save and donate one million students and over 14,000 occupied since 1996. a large gift, thousands of other primary and secondary school teachers Sabato noted that the renovated University alumni can do the same, in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, estate will also serve as classroom and whether in life or by means of an estate U.S. Territories and Department of meeting space for University students bequest,” Sabato said. “Every University Defense Schools abroad participate in and faculty, and thus will represent “a alumnus has favorite causes. The capital the Center for Politics’ signature civic major, new extension of Mr. campaign gives each of us the opportu- education program, the national Youth Jefferson’s academical village for the nity to create a legacy somewhere with- Leadership Initiative. enjoyment and education of all.” ★ Facing America’s Political Challenges n the second round of the American Political Challenges series with Rowman and Littlefield pub- Ilishers, Larry J. Sabato and the Center for Politics tap leading political authors to write cogent diagnoses and prescriptions for improving both politics and government. The books are short, to the point, and easy to understand. They take a stand while showing how to overcome obstacles to change in the American political system. Freedom is Not Enough: Black Voters, Black Candidates, and American Presidential Politics RONALD W. WALTERS Professor of Afro-American Studies and Government and Politics, and Senior Fellow at the Academy of Leadership, University of Maryland, College Park In Freedom is Not Enough, Ron Walters traces the history of the Black vote since 1965, celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2005, and shows why passing a law is not the same as ensuring its enforcement, legitimacy, and opportunity. Attack the Messenger CRAIG CRAWFORD Political analyst and frequent media commentator Politicians and the media are natural enemies, but in recent times, the relationship has exploded into all-out war. Without a free press, there is no democracy. When politicians turn the public against the media, everyone loses—at the peril of unbiased and courageous news reporting. That, says Craig Crawford, is where we find ourselves today: if you don’t like the news, attack the messenger. Spring ■ 2005 ■ p2 (from left to right): Carl Cameron, Fox News; Eleanor Clift, Newsweek; Chris LaCivita, Republican Strategist; Mike McCurry, Kerry Campaign; Jack Oliver, Bush Campaign; Susan Page, USA Today; Larry Sabato, Center for Politics American Democracy Conference A House Divided? Polarized America — saw the ads as fair game in the blood and the 2004 Election sport that politics has become, others — The purpose of the American such as senior Kerry strategist Mike Democracy Conference “is to bring McCurry — were apt to call them “the together the nation’s top political ith an all-star lineup of journal- most dishonorable thing I have seen in Wists and political operatives from my career in politics.” minds to reconstruct the year’s polit- both sides of the aisle, the seventh To explain the media’s role, Hotline ical cycle and then deconstruct the annual American Democracy Editor Vaughn Ververs assembled a results.” Conference sponsored by the Center for panel of experienced journalists — Joshua Scott Politics took aim at the good, bad — and including Mike Allen of the Washington Director of Programs yes, the sometimes ugly — moments of Post, and Dotty Lynch of CBS News — Center for Politics the 2004 election season last November. and peppered in their midst a staffer The conference, titled “A House from each of the presidential campaigns. Divided? Polarized America and the The result was a comprehensive look at the party’s appeal to southern and rural 2004 Election,” was the seventh joint the feeding frenzies that dominated voters, instead of focusing on the “left” venture between the Center and The campaign 2004: Howard Dean’s “scream” and east coasts. Hotline, the National Journal Group’s after his loss in the Iowa caucuses, the According to Joshua Scott, director of daily political briefing. Each of the three bulge in the back of George W. Bush’s programs for the Center for Politics, the panels aimed to deconstruct the candi- suit during his first presidential debate, purpose of the American Democracy dates and the voters in an attempt to and allegations of an affair between Conference “is to bring together the further explain the ideological divisions Senator Kerry and one of his campaign nation’s top political minds to recon- in the electorate. staffers. struct the year’s political cycle and then Moderated by Center for Politics The final panel took aim at the deconstruct the results.” Director Larry J. Sabato, the first panel future of the Democratic Party. Hotline “While the majority of our registrants focused on the ins and outs of the elec- Editor-in-Chief Chuck Todd assembled a for this conference were Beltway insid- tion. After giving each panelist an familiar cast of Democratic standard- ers, we had tremendous turnout among opportunity to assess the strengths and bearers: Donna Brazile, Al Gore’s presi- community members who love to dis- weaknesses of the Bush and Kerry cam- dential campaign manager; Rep. Brad cuss politics,” said Scott. “The success of paigns, Sabato encouraged a lively dis- Carson (D-OK), candidate for an open ‘A House Divided?’ was not just its abili- cussion of the Swift Boat Veterans for Senate seat in Oklahoma; and Jim ty to give us insight into this election Truth advertising campaign aimed at Jordan, former Kerry campaign manager year and beyond. It also showed us how Democratic presidential nominee John and current head of America Coming the Center’s events have been able to Kerry’s military service in Vietnam. Together, a Democratic 527 group. While attract more and more people to the While many — including Chris LaCivita, each panelist had their own vision of political process, helping them to find the Swift Boat Veterans’ political adviser the party, each saw the need to expand their own voice in government.” ★ p3 ■ 2005 ■ Spring National Mock Election a Success The Youth Leaderhip Initiative rises to have had they not participated.