Pulitzer Prize and two-time Emmy winner Hedrick Smith will speak at Pugh Hall today.
At 6 p.m., Smith will talk about his new best-selling book, “Who Stole the American Dream,” and the decline of the middle class.
“It’s a timely topic, the erosion of the middle class and state,” said Gail Sasnett, the assistant director for public programs at the Bob Graham Center for Public Service.
In 1974, Smith won a Pulitzer Prize for his collection of articles, “The Pentagon Papers,” which exposed the truth about the Vietnam War.
Smith will be signing and speaking about his book, which covers electoral politics and the widening gap between the poor and wealthy. Copies of his book will be available for purchase at the event.
The hourlong event, sponsored by the College of Journalism and Communications and the Bob Graham Center for Public Service, will include a Q-and-A session so the audience can interact with Smith individually.
Students can live-stream Smith’s speech or access it later on the website. A bonus interview with Smith will also be posted on the website for students to view.
Dani Buchheister, a management and psychology senior, said the talk is important for UF students.
“I enjoy discussion on our country and how it’s not the dream that everybody makes it out to be,” the 22-year-old said, “because I think it’s an important thing to realize if we’re going to change.”
