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NEWS RELEASE

09-17-03

Contacts:
Dianne Bystrom, Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics,
(515) 294-4185
Margaret Talbert, Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics,
(515) 294-3181
Kevin Brown, News Service, (515) 294-8986

POLITICAL JOURNALIST ELEANOR CLIFT TO VISIT ISU OCT. 1

AMES, Iowa -- Eleanor Clift, a contributing editor for "Newsweek" magazine and a political analyst for both Public Broadcasting Service's "The McLaughlin Group" and Fox News Network, will discuss political glass ceilings during a talk at Iowa State University.

Clift, the fall 2003 Mary Louise Smith Chair in Women and Politics, will speak on "Madam President: Shattering the Last Glass Ceiling/2004 Campaign Preview," at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 1, in the Sun Room of the Memorial Union. The event is free and open to the public.

Following the lecture, Clift will answer questions and attend a reception. The reception is free and open to the public.

Clift will also meet with Iowa State University students at 3 p.m. that day in 302 Catt Hall. Members of the Catt Center's learning community and students from a political science and journalism class have been invited.

"With the Iowa caucuses approaching in January 2004, and presidential campaign attention focusing on the state, we were very interested in hosting a nationally known political journalist as fall 2003 Mary Louise Smith Chair in Women and Politics," said Dianne Bystrom, director of the Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics. "Eleanor Clift is not only a well respected political analyst and commentator on presidential politics, but she also has an interest and expertise in women's political campaigns and prospects."

Clift's work for "Newsweek" includes serving as the magazine's White House correspondent, congressional and political correspondent, and deputy Washington Bureau chief. In 2000, she co-published with her husband a book based on her "Newsweek" coverage of the 2000 presidential campaign called "Madam President: Shattering the Last Glass Ceiling." The couple also co-authored "War Without Bloodshed: The Art of Politics," published in 1996.

Clift is the ninth prominent woman leader to serve as Smith Chair.

The Smith Chair is sponsored by Iowa State's Catt Center for Women and Politics. It was created in 1995 to honor Smith, an Iowa native and longtime political and civic leader. Smith was the first and only woman to chair the Republican National Party. The honor brings nationally renowned political leaders, scholars and activists to Iowa State.

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