Noted historian to speak in Cd'A

Prize-winning historian Douglas Brinkley will be the speaker at the Idaho Humanities Council's 10th Annual Distinguished Humanities Lecture and Dinner on Oct. 3 at 7 p.m. at The Coeur d'Alene Resort.

Author of numerous books, Brinkley will speak in Coeur d'Alene about his latest work, "Cronkite," about CBS News anchor Walter Cronkite, who was the face of CBS Evening News from 1962 to 1981, and was known by the American public as "the most trusted man in America."

Tickets are on sale now for dinner and lecture, sponsored in part by Idaho Forest Group, The Press, Idaho Public Television and the Hagadone Corporation.

Brinkley is a professor of history at Rice University and one of the most distinguished historians of our time. He is the author, co-author and editor of more than two dozen books exploring American history and literature, the American presidency, and contemporary culture and events. His books range from biographies of Presidents Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter and histories of World War II, to the compilation of letters and unpublished manuscripts of contemporary literary icons Jack Kerouac and Hunter S. Thompson. He is the official historian for CBS news, contributes to CNN, NBC and PBS news productions, and is a frequent contributor to the New York Times, Boston Globe, Vanity Fair and Rolling Stone.

Tickets can be purchased online at www.idahohumanities.org under "IHC Events," or by calling the IHC at (888) 345-5346. General tickets are $45. Benefactor tickets are $100, offering an invitation to a private pre-dinner reception with Brinkley in a beautiful home and preferred seating at the dinner and lecture. The main event will begin with a no-host reception at 6 p.m. at The Coeur d'Alene Resort. Dinner will begin at 7 p.m., with Brinkley's talk to follow. Brinkley's books will be available onsite and he'll be available for signing afterward. IHC always recommends reserving tickets early as the event often sells out.

The Idaho Humanities Council is a nonprofit organization serving as the state-based affiliate of National Endowment for the Humanities. The IHC's mission is to "deepen understanding of human experience by connecting people with ideas," and promotes greater public awareness, appreciation and understanding of literature, history, law and other humanities disciplines. The council awards grants to organizations statewide, tours Smithsonian exhibits throughout the state, hosts annual weeklong summer institutes in the humanities for Idaho K-12 teachers, operates a Humanities Speakers Bureau, sponsors library reading-discussion programs and many other educational activities.