POLITICAL ANALYST LARRY SABATO IS SPEAKER FOR FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY AUTHOR DINNER

Larry J. Sabato, dubbed "the Mark McGwire of political analysts" by The Washington Post, will be the guest speaker for the Friends of the Library Seventh Annual Author Dinner Tuesday, April 10, at Old Dominion University. Sabato, director of the University of Virginia's Center for Governmental Studies and one of the nation's most quoted college professors, will speak on "Politics Past, Present and Future."

In his remarks, Sabato will offer analysis and commentary on the 2000 presidential election, the Bush administration and Congress, the 2001 Virginia legislative session and the November Virginia elections.

The dinner program, to be held in the River Rooms of Webb University Center, also will feature the presentation of the annual Friends of the Library Outstanding Achievement Award to Carl Boyd, eminent scholar and Louis I. Jaff� Professor of History at Old Dominion.

Sabato is the author of several books, including "Peepshow: Media and Politics in an Age of Scandal" (Rowan & Littlefield, 2000), "Toward the Millennium: The Elections of 1996" (Allyn and Bacon, 1997) and "Dirty Little Secrets: The Persistence of Corruption in American Politics" (Random House/Times Books, 1996). His book "Feeding Frenzy: How Attack Journalism Has Transformed American Politics," published in 1991 and again in 1993 by the Free Press/Macmillan, received widespread attention nationally during the 1992 and 1996 presidential elections. An updated edition was published recently by Lanahan Press.

Boyd, an Old Dominion faculty member since 1975, is an expert in intelligence and strategic studies, naval and military history, and international relations. He is the author of "American Command of the Sea Through Carriers, Codes and the Silent Service: World War II and Beyond" (1995), "Hitler's Japanese Confidant: General Oshima Hiroshi and MAGIC Intelligence, 1941-1945" (1993) and "The Extraordinary Envoy: General Hiroshi Oshima and Diplomacy in the Third Reich, 1934-1939" (1980). He is co-author of "The Japanese Submarine Force and World War II" (1995). Boyd has been the recipient of numerous awards, including a Fulbright Fellowship for 1999-2000, and has served as a consultant for the National Geographic
Society, the U.S. Postal Service and the Mariners? Museum.

The evening will begin at 5:30 p.m. with a reception and book signing by Sabato and Boyd in the Elizabeth River Room of Webb Center, followed by the dinner program at 6 p.m. in the River Rooms and the lecture at 8 p.m. in Webb Center's North Cafeteria. The cost to attend the reception/book signing, dinner and lecture (with reserved front-row seating) is $20. Checks should be payable to Friends of the Old Dominion University Library and mailed to: Friends of the Library, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Va. 23529-0256. Early reservations are suggested for the reception and dinner, and will be taken on a first-come, first-served basis. Payment must accompany reservations, which are due by April 5.

There is no charge to attend only the lecture. Parking is available in the lot at the corner of 49th Street and Elkhorn Avenue.

For more information or to make a reservation call Fern McDougal at 683-4141.