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Edward Larson's Newest Book Enjoys Presidential Commendation

Pepperdine University professor Edward J. Larson, a Pulitzer Prize-winning author, recently met with President George W. Bush to discuss his newest book, A Magnificent Catastrophe: The Tumultuous Election of 1800. The commander in chief welcomed Larson to a private meeting in the Oval Office to discuss the book.

A Magnificent Catastrophe tells of the nation's closest-ever presidential election, which gave birth to our two-party system and profoundly shaped American politics. The book has had many favorable reviews. The New York Times calls Larson "a master storyteller" and opines that the book is a dramatic tale offering "fascinating modern parallels as President Adams struggles with unpopular military excursions overseas and backlashes against his heavy-handed approach to dissent at home."

Larson has authored or co-authored nearly a dozen books, including his 1998 Pulitzer Prize-winning book, Summer For the Gods. He holds the Hugh and Hazel Darling Chair in Law at the School of Law. Prior to joining the Pepperdine faculty, Larson was the Russell Professor of History and Talmadge Professor of Law at the University of Georgia. Larson also served as associate counsel for the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Education and Labor (1983-89) and as an attorney with Davis, Wright &Tremaine in Seattle (1979-83).