Carville, Matalin Take on Commencement

April 4, 2008

New Wave Staff
newwave@tulane.edu

National political commentators James Carville and Mary Matalin, soon to be the newest celebrity residents of New Orleans, will take the stage at the Louisiana Superdome on May 17 to address the Tulane Class of 2008 at University Commencement.

The ceremony marks a return to the Superdome for the annual event, which draws more than 12,000 family, friends and members of the university community to celebrate commencement and diploma ceremonies for more than 1,200 graduates.

Often referred to as the country’s political odd couple, Carville is the Louisiana-born CNN commentator who served as manager for President Bill Clinton’s 1992 campaign. Matalin is the former host of CNN’s “Crossfire” who held senior positions in President George H. W. Bush’s 1988 campaign and also served as assistant to President George W. Bush and counselor to Vice President Dick Cheney.

The New Orleans Times-Picayune recently reported that Carville and Matalin, along with their two daughters, have purchased a home in the university area of uptown New Orleans.

As keynote speakers for University Commencement, the politically involved couple will join a distinguished group of national leaders who have addressed Tulane graduates over the years. Past speakers have included NBC news anchor Brian Williams (2007) and presidents George H. W. Bush and Clinton (2006).

Carville and Matalin share a great sense of humor, sharp wits and political insight.

Carville is America’s best-known political consultant. His long list of electoral successes evidences a knack for steering overlooked campaigns to unexpected landslide victories and for remaking political underdogs into upset winners.

Carville guided William Jefferson Clinton to the presidency in 1992. He also was the focus, along with George Stephanopoulos, of a feature-length Academy Award–nominated documentary, The War Room.

After the Clinton victory, Carville focused on foreign consulting. In 1999, he led Ehud Barak to victory in his campaign to become Prime Minister of Israel. He also is an author, actor, producer, talk-show host, speaker and restaurateur.

He and Matalin wrote the best-seller All’s Fair: Love, War, and Running for President. Most recently, Carville is hosting XM radio’s “60/20” weekly sports show.

Matalin’s experience in politics, public affairs, crisis management and media spans three decades and multiple venues. Matalin is the former founding co-host of the Washington-based CNBC political weeknight talk show, “Equal Time.” She has made frequent television appearances as a political commentator, and has written for various publications including Newsweek and the Los Angeles Times.

Her most recent book, Letters to My Daughters, was named to several best-seller lists. Currently, Matalin is editor-in-chief of Threshold Editions, a conservative imprint at Simon & Schuster.