Alumni Association of Boston presents "McGill on the Move: Lecture with Gil Troy "
“It’s the answer that led those who have been told for so
long by so many to be cynical, and fearful, and doubtful of what we
can achieve to put their hands on the arc of history and bend it
once more toward the hope of a better day.” – from Barack
Obama’s election-night speech
Just four short years ago, Barack Obama was an obscure politician
in the Illinois state legislature. Today, after running what has
been called a “near-flawless” campaign, he is preparing to become
the 44th president of the United States. Everyone seems to have an
opinion about why he was successful, but what really put him over
the top?
McGill historian Gil Troy, author of the recently released book
Leading from the Center: Why Moderates Make the Best
Presidents, will give his take on how Obama achieved his
remarkable win. From “Yes, we can” to a juggernaut fundraising
machine, he will explore where Obama’s approach resembled past
campaigns and where he rewrote political history as we know it.
And, more importantly, Professor Troy will explore whether
President Obama can deliver on his promise to transcend partisan
rancour and meet the daunting challenges that lie ahead.
A native of Queens, New York, Gil Troy is a Professor of History at
McGill and a Visiting Scholar at the Bipartisan Policy Center in
Washington, D.C. He is the author of several books, including
Morning in America: How Ronald Reagan Invented the 1980s
and Hillary Rodham Clinton: Polarizing First Lady. He
comments frequently about the American presidency on television and
radio, and has published articles in the Wall Street
Journal, New York Times, Washington Post,
Boston Globe and USA Weekend.