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 (The courts have since been replaced by dorms.)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
The Prime Ministers Who Shaped Israel
In many ways, the story of four giants of Israeli history and politics — David Ben Gurion, Golda Meir, Menachem Begin, and Yitzhak Rabin — is the story of Israel’s birth, trials, tribulations and triumphs. Each faced major challenges in the years before Israeli independence was declared in May, 1948. As prime ministers, they had significant, yet completely different, roles in the formulation and development of the state. While they shared some goals and objectives, they were not always in agreement on what policies to pursue. In this four-part series, Professor Nurnberger will explore these leaders’ stories and their historical impact.
Four Lectures
- David Ben Gurion - David Ben Gurion, Israel’s first Prime Minister, bore the brunt of the early days of independence. As the new country repelled military attacks from neighbors and absorbed thousands of WWII refugees, he was responsible for building the infrastructure of the new nation.
- Golda Meir - Golda had to deal with the attacks on Israeli athletes in the Munich Olympics in 1972 and then faced her biggest challenge one year later, when Egypt and Syria simultaneously attacked the country on Yom Kippur.
- Menachem Begin - Menachem Begin strongly backed expansion of Israel and was ideologically opposed to territorial compromises, yet he sat down with Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and President Jimmy Carter at Camp David to work out a deal that ceded land for peace.
- Yitzhak Rabin - During the first of two non-consecutive terms as Prime Minister, Yitzhak Rabin, the renowned general of the 1967 Six Day War, coordinated the rescue at the Entebbe Airport in Uganda in 1976. On September 13, 1993, Rabin shook hands with President Bill Clinton and PLO leader Yasser Arafat, setting the stage for negotiations and ultimately leading to his assassination in 1995.
|
| Course # W4T2 — First 4 Weeks
|
|
| Place: | Auditorium, Lifelong Learning Complex, Jupiter Campus |
| Dates: | Tuesdays, January 14, 21, 28; February 4 2020 |
| Time: | 12 - 1:30 PM |
| Fee: | $50 / member; $65 / non-member |
|
|
Register Now
Does “Hamilton” Get Hamilton Right?
“Hamilton fever” has swept America. The show’s detailed presentation of the founding period’s complicated politics with Lin-Manuel Miranda’s dazzling rap lyrics appeals to audiences of all ages. Remarkably, it has led many grandparents to appreciate rap, while their grandchildren have developed an interest in history. It depicts the concerns of the 18th century in terms that mirror similar contemporary issues in a way that helps theatergoers to better understand the past as well as the present. The show focuses on incredibly volatile partisan politics and such issues as race, gender, multiculturalism, immigration and the foundations of our government. It succeeds because it emphasizes the human side of history by portraying characters as multifaceted as well as flawed. Although Miranda makes absolutely no claim for this show to be a work of scholarly history, he still wrote, “I want historians to take this seriously. I felt an enormous responsibility to be as historically accurate as possible, while still telling the most dramatic story possible.” This presentation will analyze the accuracy of the musical as well as how it deals with past and contemporary issues, in an effort to determine if “Hamilton” gets Hamilton right.
Register Early! There is a $5 charge for registering on the day of a one-time lecture or event.
|
| Course # W1R3 — One Time Event
|
|
| Place: | Auditorium, Lifelong Learning Complex, Jupiter Campus |
| Dates: | Thursday, January 16 2020 |
| Time: | 7 - 8:30 PM |
| Fee: | $30 / member; $35 / non-member |
|
|
Register Now
