Huntsville, Ala. – Tickets are selling quickly for the upcoming Voices of Our Times speaker, John Dean.  John Dean’s presentation, Then and Now, will be held at the Museum on Thursday, November 2, 2017 at 7:00 p.m. and will include a talk, book signing and reception.

John Dean is the former Counsel to the President of the United States during the Nixon presidency, author and political analyst.  John recounted his days at the Nixon White House and Watergate in three books.  His most recent bestseller, The Nixon Defense: What He Knew and When He Knew It (2014) is currently being developed by Entertainment One and ABC Television into an eight or ten-hour miniseries entitled “Watergate.”  Currently, Dean is working on his twelfth book about Donald Trump’s presidency, while also providing commentary and analysis on the Trump presidency as a regular CNN News contributor.

Museum Executive Director, Christopher J. Madkour, established the Voices series a few months after his arrival in 2011 and it has since become a signature program at HMA.  He has brought many noted names to Huntsville, including: Gloria Vanderbilt, Ali MacGraw, David Sanger and Carl Bernstein to name a few. “Through my years living in Vermont, New York and Cairo, I have had the good fortune of creating friendships with a number of remarkable people whom have accepted my invitation to be part of the Voices of Our Times series,” said Madkour.

The Lead Sponsors for this event are Lana and Joe Ritch who are admirers of Mr. Dean.  “My wife and I are regular attendees of the Voices of Our Times series, including the one with Carl Bernstein shortly before the 2016 Presidential election,” said Mr. Ritch.  “Not long after that presentation, I saw Mr. Bernstein, along with John Dean, on a panel on CNN and suggested to Mr. Madkour that John Dean may be a good person for the series.   After a few months, Mr. Dean had been scheduled to come to the Huntsville Museum of Art,” continued Mr. Ritch.  “Little did we know how timely his presentation would be.”

Another notable name who will be attending the event and who is well-known in the art world, is the late Senator Barry Goldwater’s daughter, Joanne Goldwater, who will be returning to Huntsville to show her support of the Museum and her friend, Mr. Dean.  “I first met John when he was going to Staunton Military Academy in Virginia with my brother, Barry,” Ms. Goldwater remarked.  “I remember John coming to Dad’s house quite a few times, especially during the Watergate episode.  My brother was the best man in John’s wedding.  They actually wrote the book “Pure Goldwater” together,” Ms. Goldwater continued.  “I occasionally see John and his wife, Maureen, at different events, but I am truly looking forward to saying “Hi” and seeing him at the Museum.  He’s a lovely man and a very nice soul.”

Voices of Our Times is an annual series that brings people of note in the arts, academia, design, publishing and politics to the Huntsville Museum of Art for candid, in-depth discussions and presentations.  John Dean’s presentation will be the first installment of the 2017-2018 Voices series.  The next two speakers will be General Michael P.C. Carns, who will discuss cyber terrorism; and Carolyne Roehm, who is a well-known style icon and lifestyle maven.  For more information about the Voices of Our Times series and to purchase tickets, visit www.hsvmuseum.org or call 256-535-4350 ext. 201.

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Sponsors

The Voices of Our Times Series Sponsors are: PNC, Davidson Technologies, Colonial Printing and Packaging, and Donny’s Diamond Gallery.

Lead Sponsors – Lana and Joe Ritch; Exhibition Sponsors – Kathleen and Phil Dotts, Virginia and Parker Griffith, Ellin and Al Jimmerson, Nell and David Johnston, Shelbie King, Sirote, and Yolanda and Scott McLain; Media Sponsors – Alabama Media Group, Alabama Public Radio, and WBHP-FM; Additional Support – Frances Huffman.