National cable network will air 2015 Harding Symposium workshop live on Saturday, July 18th
Media from across the country descended on Marion, Ohio in 1920 to cover Warren G. Harding’s famed front porch campaign for President. History often repeats itself. 95 years later and just a few miles from the location of Harding’s front porch campaign, media will again draw their attention to this small Midwestern city. This time to bring attention to the contribution of our “Modern Day First Ladies” as part of the 2015 Warren G. Harding Symposium, hosted by The Ohio State University at Marion, July 17& 18.
C-SPAN 3, the network of American History TV, will visit the Marion campus Saturday, July 18th, broadcasting livefrom Morrill Hall Auditorium. The network will cover the 3 unique workshop sessions at this year’s symposium, which examine the dramatic variety of styles and approaches brought to the role of First Lady by exploring the lives of First Ladies from Florence Harding to Michelle Obama.
Workshop sessions will cover a wide variety of topics and feature a host of nationally respected authors, researchers and speakers, who will be focusing on the role of the Modern First Lady in America. The first session will be held from 1 to 2:25 p.m., and is a panel discussion entitled, Paving the Way. This session features Harding researcher and author, Sherry Hall; author of “Grace Coolidge, Sudden Star,” Cynthia Bittinger; and Hoover scholar and author, Annette Dunlap. Session 2, Bridging the Gap, will be presented from 2:30 to 3:45 p.m. by Patricia Krider, executive director of The National First Ladies Library. The final session of the day will be led by former White House Chief Usher, Gary Walters, presenting Portraits and Contrasts.
In addition to the Saturday workshop sessions, the two day symposium, slated for July 17 & 18, features a display of First Lady Inaugural Gowns courtesy of the National First Ladies Library, an opening reception at the Marion Country Club on Friday evening, tours of the Harding Home & Memorial, the official Presidential Wreath Laying Ceremony at the Harding Memorial on Saturday, and a gala dinner at Ohio State Marion’s Guthery Community Room, Maynard Hall featuring an address by former U.S. Chief of Protocol, Capricia Marshall on Saturday evening.
Marshall brings special insight to the topic of the modern day First Lady. From 1997 to 2001, Ms. Marshall served as Deputy Assistant to the President and White House Social Secretary. From 1993 to 1997, she was Special Assistant to the First Lady of the United States, Hillary Rodham Clinton. She also served as a senior advisor to the 2008 Clinton presidential campaign.
Online registration for the 2015 Warren G. Harding Symposium runs through July 10th. Those interested in learning more are asked to visit: go.osu.edu/harding for event information and online registration. Space is limited for the opening reception and gala dinner. Those interested in attending just the workshop sessions on Saturday, may call 740-725-6340 to inquire as to availability up to the date of the event.
The Warren G. Harding Symposium is an academic, social, and cultural exploration of the life and times of America's 29th president. The Symposium presents in-depth analysis and research by authors, historians, researchers and experts on the Harding Era and related areas of interest.
The 2015 Warren G. Harding Symposium is a collaboration between The Ohio State University at Marion, the Ohio History Connection, the National First Ladies Library, Marion Technical College, Harding Home & Memorial, and Marion Area Convention and Visitors Bureau.