Projects:Speaker's Millennium History

John Updike departs the House Chamber en route to the post-lecture reception.


Left to right: PHC board members Jeffrey Gordon and Randall Miller join author John Updike and PA Speaker of the House Dennis O'Brien at the 2007 Speaker's Millennium Lecture.

Frank McCourt's presentation on November 10, 2008 was the 7th Speaker's Millennium Lecture hosted by PHC, in partnership with the Speaker of the House. Since 2000, these events have sparked dialogue among Pennsylvanians about the ideas and people that have shaped our country. Past speakers have included:

• John Updike, on the legacy of President James Buchanan, the only Pennsylvanian to become president of the United States
  
  
• David McCullough, who spoke on the value of American history and its personal impact on him
  
  
• Anna Quindlen, who talked about how reading changed her life
  
  
• Henry Louis Gates, on integrating the African American experience into American history
  
  
• Studs Terkel, who explored national life from the Great Depression to the present and discussed the need to overcome historical amnesia
  
  
• James McPherson, who reflected on Abraham Lincoln's message for the new millennium