History and Political Science
Ralph Nurnberger, Ph.D., is a widely acclaimed speaker who brings humor, current political insights, and historical background to his presentations. In addition to giving talks nationally and at The Smithsonian Institute, Professor Nurnberger has appeared as an analyst on television and radio programs. He has also spoken internationally and on a number of cruises. He has given presentations on a wide range of historical and political topics at Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at FAU. Professor Nurnberger taught at Georgetown University for 38 years and was named Professor of the Year by the Graduate School of Liberal Studies in 2003.
Media Story
Some movie extras added something extra to films shot in Washington - by John Kelly, columnist (September 2, 2020)
Being an extra in a movie seems like the easiest job in the world: Just stand around and try not to look at the camera. But some extras need to have a little .?.?. extra.
In 1972, Ralph Nurnberger was a graduate student at Georgetown University competing in the finals of an intramural tennis championship. The casting director for “The Exorcist” happened to be walking by one day, scouting for people who looked as if they belonged on the campus.
Ralph was hired on the spot as a “skilled extra.” His task was to play tennis on the courts next to Lauinger Library while Lee Jay Cobb and Jason Miller walked by discussing the strange goings on in the Georgetown community, including the death of a priest. (The courts have since been replaced by dorms.)
“One of the players on the next court was Linda Tuero, who was an internationally ranked player,” wrote Ralph, of Arlington, Va. “Later, she married William Peter Blatty, who had written the novel that was the basis for the film.”
Ralph later taught at the university. “For many years, I invited my Georgetown students to have dinner at our home — so that we could have an off-campus discussion,” he wrote. “I usually also showed them my ‘30 seconds of fame.’?”
News Articles
Special Lecture: Post-Election Analysis
Live Zoom Class
Only days after the election is completed, Ralph Nurnberger will discuss the results of the Presidential and Congressional elections. This presentation will provide an up to the minute analysis of the status of the 2020 elections. But, even nine days after the polls have closed, it is possible that we may not know the winner of the Presidential and Congressional elections. The final results may not be known for days, and even weeks, after November 3; likely leading to protests and court challenges. In four previous presidential elections the electoral college results remained inconclusive for many weeks, leading to periods of unrest before final decisions were reached.
Live Zoom link will be in class' lecture notes when made available. Click here to learn how to access lecture notes for registered classes.
Register Early! There is a $5 charge for registering on the day of a one-time lecture or event.
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| Course # F1RB — One Time Event
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| Place: | Auditorium, Lifelong Learning Complex, Jupiter Campus |
| Dates: | Thursday, November 12 2020 |
| Time: | 3 - 4:30 PM |
| Fee: | $30 / member; $35 / non-member |
| Class Closed |
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Special Lecture: The Vice Presidency: Is It Relevant?
Live Zoom Class
Ralph Nurnberger, will focus on two issues regarding the Vice Presidency. First, he will discuss the historic and substantive role of the Vice President. The nation’s first Vice President, John Adams, wrote: “My country has in its wisdom contrived the most insignificant office that ever the invention of man contrived, or his imagination conceived.” How has this office developed over the course of American history? The second topic deals with the role of Vice-Presidential candidates on national tickets. He will provide details on how the candidates are chosen and whether it matters who is selected to run for Vice President. A recent nominee for Vice President stated: “Remember, no one decides who they are going to vote for based on the Vice President.” Is this the case?
Live Zoom link will be in class' lecture notes when made available. Click here to learn how to access lecture notes for registered classes.
Register Early! There is a $5 charge for registering on the day of a one-time lecture or event.
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| Course # F1RA — One Time Event
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| Place: | Auditorium, Lifelong Learning Complex, Jupiter Campus |
| Dates: | Thursday, October 15 2020 |
| Time: | 2 - 3:30 PM |
| Fee: | $30 / member; $35 / non-member |
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Special Lecture: Israel-UAE Agreement — Implications for Peace
Live Zoom Class
Israel and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) agreed to a peace agreement on August 13, 2020. The official signing ceremony was arranged to take place at the White House on September 15. As a result, the UAE will be the third Arab country, after Egypt in 1979 and Jordan in 1994, to formally normalize relations with Israel. This will include business relations, tourism, direct flights, scientific cooperation, and full diplomatic ties. While the agreement is popular in Israel, the Israeli security establishment worries that it might also involve massive American arms sales to the UAE. Supporters of President Trump have concluded that the agreement should serve as the basis for him to receive a Nobel Peace Prize, while others question this assessment.
Ralph Nurnberger will discuss the “behind the scenes” activities to explain how the agreement was achieved. He will discuss secrete negotiations and meetings that helped set the stage for the agreement. He will outline the “winners” and “losers” in order to better understand what this pact truly means for “peace”.
Live Zoom link will be in class' lecture notes when made available. Click here to learn how to access lecture notes for registered classes.
Register Early! There is a $5 charge for registering on the day of a one-time lecture or event.
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| Course # F1R0 — One Time Event
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| Place: | Auditorium, Lifelong Learning Complex, Jupiter Campus |
| Dates: | Thursday, September 24 2020 |
| Time: | 2 - 3:30 PM |
| Fee: | $30 / member; $35 / non-member |
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Nicholas Winton and the Improbable, Yet True, Kindertransport from Prague
How a British Stockbroker was Able to Rescue 669 Children from the Nazis
Nicholas Winton was a young British stockbroker who visited Prague during the winter of 1938–39. During the three weeks he spent there, he began a unique rescue mission of children who otherwise would have been victims of Nazis. For the next nine months he worked tirelessly to save endangered children from the onslaught of Nazi invaders in Czechoslovakia.
Ultimately, he arranged for 669 children to be transported from Prague to Britain, where they were placed in the homes of British families. It is estimated that approximately 6,000 people are alive today because of the actions of Nicholas Winton. Remarkably, for almost 50 years virtually no one knew what Nicholas Winton had achieved. His wife and their children did not know, but neither did any of the nearly 700 “children” whose lives Winton had saved.
Dr. Ralph Nurnberger will seek to answer what motivated Nicholas Winton to take on such a monumental task. He will discuss how Winton was able to accomplish this, despite the fact that he was not a diplomat; he had no organization to back him; he did not even speak Czech. To answer these and other questions, Dr. Nurnberger will discuss the remarkable life and contributions of Nicholas Winton, including the incredibly moving manner in which this story first became public. This presentation will be an uplifting account of how one individual can make an impactful difference in the lives of many others.
Please note that this is a Live Zoom Class and will also be available for OLLI on Demand.
Register early! Seating for this class is limited.
Register Early! There is a $5 charge for registering on the day of a one-time lecture or event.
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| Course # F1M4 — One Time Event
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| Place: | Auditorium, Lifelong Learning Complex, Jupiter Campus |
| Dates: | Monday, December 7 2020 |
| Time: | 9:30 - 11 AM |
| Fee: | $30 / member; $35 / non-member |
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