Abilene Christian University announces a new series designed to bring speakers of national significance to Abilene for engaging discussions on global issues. The inaugural Big Country Conversations event is scheduled for Nov. 14, and features Paul Begala and Karl Rove, who will offer their unique perspectives on the election’s outcomes and implications.
Begala and Rove, who are both Texans, will speak from 7-8:15 p.m. in ACU’s Boone Family Theatre on Thursday, Nov. 14, offering an in-depth look at the Nov. 5 presidential election and what’s next for the U.S. and Texas. Individual tickets and sponsorships are now available.
“This is an opportunity for thought-provoking dialogue that bridges our local community with national government and politics,” said Dr. Phil Schubert, ACU president. “ACU is committed to fostering intellectual discourse and connecting our students, as well as the Abilene community with influential thinkers and discussion around important topics.”
Begala is a political commentator, a professor of public policy, an author and a political strategist. He is a commentator for CNN, where he is part of the political team that has won both an Emmy Award and a Peabody Award. In addition to appearing on-air, Paul writes commentary for CNN, which is the world’s most-read news organization website.
Begala served in 1992 as a senior strategist for Bill Clinton’s presidential campaign and as counselor to the president in the White House, helping coordinate policy, politics and media. Before working for Clinton, Begala worked on Capitol Hill and advised campaigns across America. In 2012 he played a crucial role in the Obama-Biden re-election campaign. He has also done campaign work overseas, including in Israel, Europe, South America, the Caribbean and Africa.
Rove served as senior advisor to President George W. Bush from 2000-07 and deputy chief of staff from 2004-07. At the White House, he oversaw the offices of Strategic Initiatives, Political Affairs, Public Liaison and Intergovernmental Affairs and was deputy chief of staff for policy, coordinating the White House policy-making process.
Before Rove became known as “The Architect” of Bush’s 2000 and 2004 campaigns, he was president of Karl Rove + Company, an Austin-based public affairs firm that worked for over 75 Republican candidates for senator, governor and congressman, as well as non-partisan causes and nonprofit groups. Today, Rove writes a weekly op-ed for the Wall Street Journal and is a Fox News contributor. He is the author of two books – a critically acclaimed volume on the 1896 presidential election entitled The Triumph of William McKinley and the 2010 New York Times bestseller Courage and Consequence. He is now working on a book on presidential decision-making. He is the co-founder of the American Crossroads/Senate Leadership Fund super-PAC.
Big Country Conversations follows in the tradition of Dr. Gary McCaleb (‘64), former Abilene mayor and ACU vice president, who founded and led ACU’s Center for Building Community for more than 20 years. Dr. McCaleb’s speaker series regularly hosted internationally prominent leaders and influencers from all walks of life, including bestselling authors Alex Haley, James Michener and Ray Bradbury; UCLA basketball coaching guru John Wooden; PGA legend Byron Nelson; Texas Rangers pitcher Nolan Ryan; governor George W. Bush; United Kingdom prime minister Margaret Thatcher; and Pakistan prime minister Benazir Bhutto.
The second Big Country Conversations speaker event is planned for the spring of 2025.