Eureka College To Host ‘Reagan 101’ Course

Eureka College, a private liberal arts college in Eureka, Illinois, will be hosting a four-day “Reagan 101” course next week.

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich will be among the politicians, authors, and journalists taking part in the examination of the late former president’s life. Other guests will include author Peggy Noonan and MSNBC’s Joe Scarborough.

As Eureka’s first Visiting Reagan Scholar, Craig Shirley, best-selling author of two Reagan biographies, will focus on his presidential campaigns. Shirley will also meet individually with Eureka students, according to Provost Philip Cavalier.

Shirley said both liberal and conservative historians are “coming to judge him as one of the most consequential presidents in history.”

Eureka College President J. David Arnold said:

“Reagan 101 is the first college course of its kind offered by Craig Shirley, the leading author on Ronald Reagan’s presidential campaigns. Hosted on the historic campus of Eureka College, this is a once-in-a-lifetime educational experience for students and the general public. And, this course comes just in time to provide an educated look at not only all presidential elections, but the upcoming one as well.”

Initially, the fee for the course was set at $101, marking the fact that Reagan would have been 101 years old this past February. However, the Ronald Reagan Society of Eureka College provided sponsorship for the course so that it could be offered for free.

The Visiting Reagan School program is meant to bring in people who can do research at the college’s library, but is also meant to provide students with insights into Reagan and the presidency. Reagan graduated from the college in 1932, and would return there several times throughout his life.

“The Reagan legacy is an important part of the college,” Cavalier said.

“Reagan 101” will be taught from 6 to 8 pm, Monday, October 22 through Thursday, October 25. C-SPAN is planning to record the first class as part of its Lectures In History series, but an air date for the program has yet to be announced.

What do you think of the “Reagan 101” course? Should other colleges offer similar classes for other presidents?