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William Goldfarb '68, Paula Goldfarb '00, and Robert Goldfarb, in attendance at the Inaugural Lecture in the Goldfarb Lecture Series, which was delivered by Ambassador Dennis RossThe Goldfarb Lecture Series was established in 2000 through the generosity of the Goldfarb Family, including William H. Goldfarb '68 and Paula S. Goldfarb '00 (pictured left, with Robert Goldfarb). The Goldfarb Lectures bring nationally recognized practitioners and scholars to Colby to offer their views on major contemporary issues in politics and public policy.  The annual theme and the selection of speakers are determined by a committee composed of students and faculty in the Government Department.
 
Goldfarb Lectures and Government Department Dinners
The Government Department normally presents three major lectures related to the annual theme for the series, one to be delivered by a member of the faculty, and two to be offered by outside experts: 
  • The Faculty Lecture, typically held in the fall term, is preceded by a dinner to which all students in the department are invited
  • The fall Guest Lecture is  accompanied by a dinner to which all seniors are invited; we induct new senior members of Pi Sigma Alpha at that time. 
  • The spring Guest Lecture is preceded by a dinner to which selected juniors, all seniors, and alumni are invited. We normally induct juniors into membership of Pi Sigma Alpha at that time.
 
2007-2008: Governmental Power and Terrorism in America

 
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Richard Clarke, Chief Counter Terrorism Advisor under President Clinton and Senior Executive Advisor under President Bush until 2003
"America's Response to Terrorists' Threats"
September 23, 2007

Richard Pious '64, Professor of American Studies and Political Science at Barnard College
"The War on Terrorism and Presidential Power"
October 4, 2007

Richard J. Powell
, Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Maine
"Term Limits in Maine: Thoughts on the Upcoming Referendum"
October 10, 2007

 
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Ronald B. Rapaport, John Marshall Professor of Government at William and Mary and Co-Author of the book "Three's A Crowd: The Dynamic of Third Parties, Ross Perot, and Republican Resurgence"
"
Third Parties in Presidential Elections"
November 29, 2007

Jim VandeHei, Co-founder and Executive Editor of Politico.com.
“The 2008 Presidential Campagin: How did We Get to Where We Are Now — and What’s Next?”
April 13, 2008
 
2006-2007: Perspectives on American Politics and Policy
Robert O. Keohane Goldfarb Lecture; photo by G. Calvin MackenzieKeohane Goldfarb lecture with audience; photo by G. Calvin Mackenzie
Professor Robert O. Keohane
, Professor of International Affairs, Princeton University, "Anti-Americanisms in World Politics."
September 19, 2006
 
2005-2006: The Ascent of China
Professor G. Calvin Mackenzie, Goldfarb Family Distinguished Professor of Government, "Beyond Ideology: America, China, and the Realities of the 21st Century"
November 14, 2005

The Honorable Su Ge, Minister Counselor, People's Republic of China, "China's New Agendas and Sino-American Relations."
November 10, 2005

The Honorable James Lilley, former United States Ambassador to the Republic of Korea and the People's Republic of China, "The United States and China: Realities and Fantasies in our Most Important Bilateral Relationship"
February 23, 2006
 
2004-2005: The 2004 Elections in Perspective
Professor Mark Brewer, "The 2004 Election: What Should we Be Watching?"
September 2004

Thomas Mann, The Brookings Institution, "Countdown 2004: What Will Washington Be Like in the Years Ahead?"
October 2004

Peter Hart '64, Stu Rothenberg '70, and Amy Walter '91, "Election Post-Script: Implications for the Future"
April 17, 2005
 
2003-2004: Human Rights
Professor Kenneth A. Rodman, William R. Cotter Distinguished Teaching Professor of Government, "Compromising Justice: The United States' Opposition to the International Criminal Court"
September 29, 2003

Geoffrey Bindman, English Human Rights Advocate, Enforcing Human Rights in the Modern Context: the Lessons of Pinochet"
October 26, 2003

Aryeh Neier, Open Society Institute, "The Human Rights Movement as a Force in International Affairs"
April 18, 2004
 
2002-2003: The Value of Public Service
Governor Angus King, Governor of Maine, 1995-2003, "Reflections on my Years in Public Service"
November 18, 2002

E.J. Dionne,
The Washington Post and the Brookings Institution, "American Civil Society: Community, Religion, and National Service"
April 6, 2003
 
2001-2002: Catastrophic Terrorism and the American Response
Professor L. Sandy Maisel, William R. Kenan Jr. Professor of Government, "Terrorism at Home: The Challenge to American Principles and Patience"
November 6, 2001

Ambassador Robert Gelbard, United States Ambassador to Bolivia, "Terrorists Strike the United States: The View from Abroad"
November 27, 2001

The Honorable John Deutsch, former Director of Central Intelligence, "Catastropic Terrorism"
April 14, 2002.
 
2000-2001: Inaugural Year
Ambassador Dennis Ross, Special Middle East Coordinator for President Clinton, "The Politics of the Middle East"
May 1, 2001