Projects:Speaker's Millennium Lecture

John Updike will present the next Speaker's Millennium Lecture on April 23, 2007. Photo credit: Frank Capri

Talks for the New Century

"One of the great patriarchs of modern American fiction."
The UK Times

The Pulitzer Prize-winning writer John Updike was featured at the 6th annual Speaker's Millennium Lecture on April 23, 2007 in Harrisburg's Hall of the House of Representatives. Updike spoke extensively about President James Buchanan. In the 1970s Updike became interested in James Buchanan, the only Pennsylvanian to become president of the United States. Updike talked about his interest in Buchanan's legacy, and what he uncovered while trying to write historical fiction about a figure considered by many historians to be one of the nation's worst leaders.

Born in Shillington (near Reading), Updike has become one of America's most successful writers. His oeuvre has been large, consisting of novels, collections of poems, short stories, and essays. He is internationally known for his Rabbit series of novels. His most recent work, Terrorist, reports on the idea of "home grown terror."

The 2007 lecture was generously sponsored by Sunoco, with additional funds from Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania and PECO. Other supporters include Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC, the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry, Waste Management, Wolf Block Governmental Relations LP, and the Friends of the PHC.

History of the Lecture
Since 2000, the PHC has partnered with the Speaker's Office of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives to host the Millennium Lecture, sparking a dialogue among Pennsylvanians about the ideas and history that have shaped our country.

Each year, an audience of 600 assembles in the Hall of the House in Harrisburg for this event. The lecture is also broadcast live on Pennsylvania Cable Network, reaching thousands of homes statewide.

Past speakers have included:

• David McCullough
• Anna Quindlen
• Henry Louis Gates, Jr.
• Studs Terkel
• James McPherson