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In November, veteran political journalist and author Lou Cannon opened a new series of political science lectures by prominent speakers. The political science and communication studies departments and the provost’s and executive vice president’s offices, sponsored the talk. The series continues next semester.

One week after the fall elections, Cannon compared the presidencies of Nixon, Reagan, and Clinton, and discussed how scandals revealed facets of their personalities and characters and affected their ability to govern. 

Cannon has worked as a reporter and Los Angeles bureau chief with The Washington Post since 1972, and wrote a syndicated column for 14 years. During his tenure with the Post, he covered the Nixon White House during the Watergate scandal, and Ronald Reagan’s entire political career beginning with his tenure as governor of California in the 1960s.

Cannon’s third book on Reagan, “Ronald Reagan: The Role of a Lifetime,” (1991) is considered the definitive biography of the former president. His most recent book, “Official Negligence: How Rodney King and the Riots Changed Los Angeles and the LAPD,” was published last year to rave reviews.

In 1995, Cannon was Raznick Distinguished Lecturer at UCSB’s College of Arts and Sciences, lecturing on the presidency and California politics.