In conjunction with the November 2014 elections and an ongoing exhibition on campus, “Citizen Sinclair: Upton Sinclair–American Provocateur,” the University Library at California State University, Dominguez Hills presents author and journalist Greg Mitchell discussing muckraker Upton Sinclair’s 1934 run for Governor of California and the evolution of the modern political campaign.
WHAT: Guest lecture with author Greg Mitchell: “Upton Sinclair’s 1934 run for Governor and the birth of the modern political campaign”
WHEN: 6 p.m., Thursday, October 30
WHERE: University Library, fifth floor, South Wing, CSUDH, 1000 E. Victoria St., Carson
Viewed as a radical by conservatives and a hero to the liberal wing, Sinclair, author of The Jungle, was a polarizing figure who encouraged grassroots activism from his followers and a full-scale response to defeat him–the likes that had never been seen before–from his critics, which included Hollywood moguls, industry groups, the Hearst Newspapers and the L.A. Times. This year marks the 80th anniversary of this raucous campaign.
Mitchell is author of more than a dozen books on the media, politics and culture, including the award-winning account of Sinclair’s run, The Campaign of the Century: Upton Sinclair’s E.P.I.C. Race for Governor of California and the Birth of Media Politics (1992, reissued in 2011). He has written for The Nation, where he covered the Wikileaks scandal, Huffington Post, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Los Angeles Times, TV Guide, Mother Jones, and is the former editor of Editor & Publisher.
The talk is free and open to the public.
For more information about this event, call (310) 243-3895.