Nov. 8, 2018

Legendary journalists Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein will be the keynote speakers at the 23rd Boe Forum on Public Affairs on March 19 at Augustana University.

In the early 1970s, Woodward and Bernstein broke the Watergate story for The Washington Post, leading to the resignation of President Richard Nixon and setting the standard for modern investigative reporting, for which they and The Post were awarded the Pulitzer Prize. Throughout their respective award-winning careers, both journalists have authored numerous books and have provided commentary and reporting on government and politics.

Information on free tickets to the forum will be announced in early 2019.

The theme of the 2019 Boe Forum will address “Power, the Press and the Presidency.”

“Together and separately in their professional lives, Woodward and Bernstein have subjected every administration since the 1970s to rigorous analysis for the benefit of the American people,” said Harry Thompson, executive director of the Center for Western Studies at Augustana.

Thompson added that all presidential and political administrations experience an oppositional relationship with the press.

“This tension is an indication of a healthy democracy, and the community-university board of directors for the Center for Western Studies acknowledges this and have chosen to invite iconic and nonpartisan investigative journalists Woodward and Bernstein.”

Since its inception in 1995, the Boe Forum on Public Affairs has sought to provide access to individuals who can address events, issues or problems of worldwide or national concern and of broad public interest.

“During their careers, Woodward and Bernstein have demonstrated unprecedented civic responsibility through investigative journalism,” Augustana president Stephanie Herseth Sandlin said. “Both reporters have shaped the landscape of journalism – from uncovering Watergate, for which they earned a Pulitzer Prize, to their ongoing reporting of politics, presidential administrations and government. Their insight and perspective on journalism and democracy in the world today will no doubt be both highly engaging and thought-provoking.”