American University Experts Available for Analysis Before and After President Obama’s State of the Union Speech

Media Contact: American University Communications, 202-885-5950, [email protected]

WHO: American University experts

WHAT: President Obama’s State of the Union 2016 Speech

WHEN: January 5 - ongoing

WHERE: In–studio, on campus, via email, via telephone

BACKGROUND: President Obama’s State of the Union speech will set the tone for his last year in office. American University experts are available to discuss the speechmaking process; prominent domestic and foreign policy issues highlighted in the speech; and historical traditions underpinning the event.

Speech, Political Communication and Media ExpertsRobert Lehrman, public communication professor, is former chief speechwriter for Vice President Al Gore, author of the The Political Speechwriter's Companion (CQPress 2009) and Democratic Orators from JFK to Barack Obama(Palgrave Macmillan 2016), and one of America's leading experts on political and presidential speech. Lerhman can speak authoritatively about what Obama might say in this year's SOTU, what he's likely to achieve, and how his approach compares and contrasts with other presidents.

Leonard Steinhorn is a professor of Public Communication and History. Steinhorn specializes in politics, presidential elections, strategic communications, race relations, and recent American history. Since 2012 he has served as a political analyst for CBS Radio News and before that was a political analyst for the Washington, DC FOX affiliate. Before coming to American University, Steinhorn spent nearly fifteen years as a political consultant and speechwriter for various campaigns, nonprofit organizations, and members of Congress.

Jane Hall, journalism and media studies professor, specializes in media and politics, particularly issues of special interest to young people, and popular culture. She is moderator and executive producer for the long-running American Forum radio and TV series in Washington, D.C. She is also a regular commentator on media and politics on cable TV and in print. Hall can discuss the impact and role of the STOU, media analysis and coverage as well as how key messages resonated with the American public. Immigration Expert

Alan Kraut, professor of history, can discuss U.S. immigration issues. Kraut is a non-resident fellow of the Migration Policy Institute in Washington, D.C., chairs the Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island History Advisory Committee and is a consultant to the Lower East Side Tenement Museum. He is an historical consultant and the prize-winning author or editor of nine books and numerous scholarly articles.

Kraut said, “In his final State of the Union Address, President Barack Obama should remind Americans that this country is and always has been a nation of migrants and that our nation has been strongest and most economically productive when it is its most generous and inclusive. He should sound one last clarion call for comprehensive immigration reform that offers the unauthorized foreign-born in our midst a path to legalization. Also, he should remind Americans that admission and compassion toward refugees from the Middle East is less a risk than an investment likely to pay high dividends both domestically and abroad. Advocates of religious tests for refugee admission are neither patriots nor wise investors.”

Presidential History Experts

Allan Lichtman is Distinguished Professor of History and author of The Keys to the White House, (early 2016, Rowman & Littlefield). He is an expert on presidential and congressional campaigns and can discuss voting behavior, public opinion, party conventions, politics, and American political history. Lichtman is well known for his “13 Keys” system, which enables him to predict the outcome of the popular vote solely on historical factors. He has correctly predicted the outcomes of all U.S. presidential elections since 1984. Lichtman said, “The State of the Union is President Obama’s last big statement on his legacy and his first salvo into the presidential election of 2016.”

Anita McBride, executive in residence, most recently served as chief of staff to First Lady Laura Bush and served in the last three Republican administrations. McBride runs the First Ladies’ program and is a fellow in American University’s Center for Congressional and Presidential Studies. McBride said, "The President is ready to rumble-- especially with the Congress. As he enters his final year in office, he and the White House staff are determined to advance his agenda using executive action to accomplish his goals and ensure a legacy of an activist president."

Presidential Authority Expert

Chris Edelson, assistant professor of government in the School of Public Affairs, focuses his research on presidential power under the U.S. Constitution. Edelson, a leading expert on presidential authority, is the author of the forthcoming "Power without Constraint: The Post 9/11 Presidency and National Security." Edelson can discuss President Obama’s possible unilateral action to close Guantanamo Bay, the legality of military action against ISIS, and unilateral action on gun control – all of which could be discussed during President Obama’s speech.

Edelson says, “Statutory law prohibits the transfer of prisoners from Guantanamo to the United States, and it is difficult to see a legal argument that would permit the president to bypass the statute. Regarding ISIS, the U.S. has been at war with ISIS for more than a year, but Congress has not authorized this action. Under the Constitution, Congress must act. On gun control, the President may be on stronger legal ground when it comes to recently proposed executive action, but it will be important to see how he justifies plans to broaden background checks for gun buyers."

Domestic Policy/Politics Experts

James Thurber, Director, Center for Congressional and Presidential Studies and Distinguished University Professor at American University, is an expert on campaigns and conduct. He is also an expert in congressional-presidential relations, interest groups and lobbying, and campaigns and elections. Thurber is a co-editor and author of the new book American Gridlock. Jennifer Lawless is School of Public Affairs Professor of Government and Director of the Women & Politics Institute. Lawless focuses on political ambition, and she is the co-author of three recent books: "Running from Office: Why Young Americans Are Turned Off to Politics," "It Still Takes a Candidate: Why Women Don’t Run for Office" and "Becoming a Candidate: Political Ambition and the Decision to Run for Office." She is also a nationally recognized expert on women and politics.

Richard Benedetto is a professor of professor of journalism. Benedetto can talk about President Obama's accelerated drive in the face of a Republican Congress to avoid being labeled a “lame duck” in his final two years in office. Benedetto says, “Ever since the election he has assumed a more aggressive stance and believes he can still beat the Republicans at their own game by staying on the offensive. Look for that theme to permeate the State of the Union, as it already has in his outings since returning from vacation. The President is very determined to stick to his game plan.”

Foreign Policy Experts

James Goldgeier, School of International Service dean, is an expertise on contemporary international relations, American foreign policy, U.S.-Russia relations, the European Union, transatlantic security and NATO. Goldgeier is available to discuss Russia and Ukraine among other U.S. foreign policy issues that President Obama may mention in the SOTU.

Joe Young, School of International Service and School of Public Affairs associate professor, is an expert in cross-national causes and consequences of political violence and extremism. Young is available to discuss ISIS; threat of domestic extremism; domestic surveillance and homeland security.

Economy Experts

Mary Hansen is an associate professor of economics who researches in the fields of child welfare policy and economic history. Hansen can discuss domestic economic policy and the impacts of the Fed’s decision to raise interest rates; the continuing trend of states and localities increasing their minimum wage rates; and the likelihood (or not) of the unemployment rate staying stable.

Don Williamson, executive director of the Kogod Tax Policy Center and director of American University’s M.S. Taxation Program, is an expert in tax issues facing small businesses, entrepreneurs, and middle-income Americans. Williamson can discuss broad-based tax reform, or business-only tax reform, tax extenders and subsidies.

Environment Experts

Dan Fiorino, director of the Center for Environmental Policy is available to discuss President Obama’s environmental record. Fiorino says, “President Obama has moved the United States from being a global laggard on climate change to being--if not yet an indisputable leader--an active and constructive participant in problem-solving.”

Alexander Golub teaches in the environmental science department. Golub has a Ph.D. in mathematical economics and 20 years of experience in energy and climate change with particular focus on climate economics and environmental finance, application of instruments for risk analysis, and innovative financial tools for building global environmental markets.

Political Behavior Expert

Jan Leighley, government professor, focuses her research on American political behavior, voter turnout, media and politics, and racial/ethnic political behavior. She is co-author of the critically acclaimed book, "Who Votes Now?: Demographics, Issues, Inequality, and Turnout in the United States," which identifies the trend of the rich consistently voting more than the poor for the past four decades, and that voters are substantially more conservative in their economic views.