Individuals attending the NAFSA Region VIII conference, held November 5-8, 2008, in Pittsburgh, PA, had the opportunity to preview a documentary on the life of Senator J. William Fulbright. Even better, participants had a chance to hear from Harriet Mayor Fulbright, wife of the late senator and president of the J. William & Harriet Fulbright Center.
Fulbright served in the U.S. Senate from 1945 through 1974; legislation establishing the Fulbright Program was signed into law in 1946. The documentary, titled Fulbright: The Man, The Mission, And The Message, explores the senator's role in the founding of the United Nations, highlights his opposition to the McCarthy investigations, and looks at his questioning of U.S. policy related to the Vietnam War.
In her keynote speech at the plenary luncheon, Mrs. Fulbright noted that the documentary is divided into distinct chapters so it can be used as a teaching tool for students at the high school and college level. The documentary can be purchased on the Fulbright Center Web site.
Region VIII’s 2009 conference will be held November 10-14, 2009, in Washington, DC.