ADVISORY

ANN ARBOR—The University of Michigan, where former President John F. Kennedy first unveiled his campaign vision for the Peace Corps., has many resources for reporters covering Saturday’s 40th anniversary of JFK’s assassination. They include:

JFK’s role in shaping 20th century history • Matt Lassiter, a U-M associate history professor, specializes in 20th century history as well as urban/suburban differences, politics and popular culture. He can speak generally on JFK’s impact on history and American culture. He can be reached at (734) 647-4618 or e-mail him at mlassite@umich.edu For more on Lassiter, visit: http://www.lsa.umich.edu/history/facstaff/facultydetail.asp?ID=85 • Matthew Countryman, a U-M assistant professor of history and American Culture, is an expert on 20th century history, post-war liberalism, African American social movements and the American left. He can be reached at (734) 647-2434 or email him at mcountry@umich.edu For more on Countryman, visit: http://www.lsa.umich.edu/history/facstaff/facultydetail.asp?ID=54

Kennedy and the media • Susan Douglas, a communication studies professor who has done research on the history of radio and television broadcasting, can discuss the media coverage of the shooting, a four-day period when nearly all Americans seemed glued to their televisions. She can be reached at (734) 764-4020 or sdoug@umich.edu. For more on Douglas, visit: http://ipumich.temppublish.com/public/experts/ExpDisplay.php?ExpID=199

Kennedy’s impact on civil rights and race relations • Earl Lewis, dean of Rackham School of Graduate Studies and history professor, can discuss African American history after 1865, especially as it relates to Kennedy’s impact on civil rights and race relations. He can be contacted at (734) 764-4405 or earlewis@umich.edu. For more on Lewis, visit: http://ipumich.temppublish.com/public/experts/ExpDisplay.php?ExpID=465

JFK’s call for public service at U-M is still being heard today During his 1960 presidential campaign, Kennedy stood on the steps of the Michigan Union and called on students “to contribute part of your life to this country.” The idea he outlined was supported with petitions and grew into the Peace Corps in March 1961. Early volunteer training sessions for the group were held at U-M and a U-M graduate, Jack Hood Vaughn, was the Corps’ second director. Since that time, nearly 2,000 U-M graduates have served in the Peace Corps with few universities in the nation boasting more alumni as participants. For more on JFK’s trip to U-M: Bentley Historical Library – http://www.umich.edu/~bhl/bhl/myumich/umhist/jfkpcorp.htm For more on U-M’s relationship with the Peace Corps, visit: http://www.umich.edu/news/Releases/2003/Feb03/r021103.html

Original records of the Kennedy era available through U-M online U-M has a host of documents related to the JFK assassination online at: http://www.lib.umich.edu/govdocs/fedhis.html For more on JFK and the work done during his Presidency, the U-M library has several key documents available online. To find JFK’s executive orders, please visit: http://www.lib.umich.edu/govdocs/jfkeo.html

An Oswald connection to U-M Lee Harvey Oswald’s widow attended U-M’s English Language Institute in January 1965 to take an intensive eight-week course before returning to Dallas. For more details, visit: http://www.umich.edu/~newsinfo/MT/95/Oct95/mt14o95.html

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mlassite@umich.eduhttp://www.lsa.umich.edu/history/facstaff/facultydetail.asp?ID=85mcountry@umich.eduhttp://www.lsa.umich.edu/history/facstaff/facultydetail.asp?ID=54sdoug@umich.eduhttp://ipumich.temppublish.com/public/experts/ExpDisplay.php?ExpID=199earlewis@umich.edu