In 1997, Arkansas poet Miller Williams delivered the poem "Of  History and Hope" at the second inauguration of President Bill Clinton. In celebration of the 20th anniversary of that event, Dr. John DuVal will talk about that poem and others that highlight what made Williams a great poet. This event is the second in the newly launched Atkinson Speaker Series. DuVal will be speaking on Friday, October 6th at 6:00 p.m. at the Clinton House Museum. The event is free but RSVPs are requested. 

Learn more about Williams in AETN's series on Men & Women of Distinction: Miller Williams.

John DuVal is the James E. and Ellen Wadley Roper Professor of Creative Writing/ Translation at the University of Arkansas.  He has received two translation awards from the Academy of American Poets and a National Endowment for the Arts grant.  His two latest books are Interpreting a Continent:  Voices of Colonial America (with Kathleen DuVal) and  The Song of Roland, which was a finalist for the 2013 PEN-USA Translation Award.  He and his wife Kay have just returned from India, where they helped celebrate their son Niell's wedding and he gave a lecture, “The Moral Descent of Ganelon into Treason in The Song of Roland” at Christ University, Bangelore.  

The Richard B. Atkinson Speaker Series gives area residents an opportunity to learn more about Arkansas culture, history, and politics from experts in the field. This is an opportunity for the museum to extend its mission of promoting the legacy of the Clintons' commitment to public service and civic engagement. The series is named in honor of Richard (“Dick”) Atkinson, a beloved member of the University of Arkansas School of Law faculty. Dick originally came to Fayetteville at the urging of his Yale University law school friends, Bill Clinton and Hillary Rodham. He fell in love with Arkansas and its people and stayed for over 30 years until his death in 2005. Dick was known for his warmth, passion, sense of humor, and commitment to his community. 

This series is sponsored by Dr. Michael Hollomon and Dr. Eric Wailes. 

Photo credit to New York Times, 1997.

On August 16, 2017 at 6:00 Dr. Jay Barth will give a talk titled "The Future of Arkansas Politics." After a period of dramatic transformation in partisan politics and governmental institutions in Arkansas, it's time to think about the dynamics that will shape politics and government in the Natural State in the generation ahead. In this wide-ranging talk, Barth will overview his analysis of the "new normal" and additional changes to come in Arkansas's politics. This event has had a large response, so it will be held at the Fayetteville Town Center on the Fayetteville Square.

Barth's talk is the first of our newly launched Richard Atkinson Speaker Series, a program of the Clinton House Museum. 

On Thursday, June 29th the Clinton House Museum is hosting Bloom, a garden party fundraiser to support the First Ladies Garden.