 Veteran political strategist Bob Shrum, who most recently advised John Kerry during his failed bid for the presidency, will join the NYU Wagner School of Public Service as a senior fellow on Feb. 1. Shrum said his move to academia was not motivated by his candidate's loss to George W. Bush. "I would have been inclined to do it if Kerry had won, because I had no desire to go the White House," said Shrum, 61. "I would never lobby."
Right.| "If nominated, I would not run. If elected...like hell I would!" |
This spring Shrum will focus on doing research on modern politics and preparing his classes, which will include a graduate course for Wagner students and a freshman honors seminar. He will not start teaching until fall 2005. Lifelong friend and now boss NYU president John Sexton...call[ed] Shrum "a wonderful thinker, a truly gifted writer, and a good man," Sexton said he was "particularly struck by his eagerness -- insistence, really -- on teaching undergraduates each year." | "Especially the pretty ones." |
Shrum should have ample material for his classes. At the age of 9, he volunteered for presidential candidate Adlai Stevenson's campaign. Although his primary tasks included general office work, he was not allowed to answer the phone because he sounded too young.
obligatory tee hee |