The Culture of celebrity in california politics

The second in a series of quarterly lectures will be presented at the History Center Museum on December 4, 2019. Since Jim Worthen, a thirty-year veteran of the Central Intelligence Agency, retired to San Luis Obispo County he has turned his skills preparing biographical studies of foreign leaders to American studies.

The author of three books on the relationship between personality and political behavior, Worthen will discuss personality and politics in 20th century California history. From James “Sunny Jim” Rolph, a Depression-era California Governor, to Richard Nixon, Worthen will explore how much a candidate’s likability influences the nominating process.

Rolph was an early example of how to market an expansive personality to win elections. Even though his constituents loved Rolph, he struggled to lead the state through turbulent economic times. “We will look briefly at several leading California politicians whose personalities either influenced their political behavior or were key to their success,” Worthen
says.
 
This lecture is free and open to the public.

Wednesday, Dec. 4, 5:30 p.m.
At the History Center, 696 Monterey Street