Referred to as “a man who knows more about the presidency than just about any human being alive,” CNN presidential historian, Rice University professor, bestselling author, outspoken conservationist, and Perrysburg native Douglas Brinkley will headline the Country Garden Club of Perrysburg conservation lecture series on April 24 at 7 p.m. at the Owens Community College Center for Performing Arts.

Brinkley, a Vanity Fair contributor and frequent commentator on CNN and CBS, will address the importance of the role of the presidency in defining different eras of the United States, and how we can learn from successes and failures. In his 2022 book, Silent Spring, Brinkley chronicled the rise of environmental activism during the eras of John F. Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson, and Richard Nixon and the roles each played in the Great Environmental Awakening of the 1960s and early 1970s.

“There is really no better way to study the United States than by looking at presidents including what has worked and what hasn’t worked,” Brinkley said. “The most important thing is that we deal with fact-based history; what really transpired to build this incredible country and how we can make it better in the 21st century. Once you can get people hooked on history, they will absorb it into their lives and it makes for a better citizenry.”
Tickets for “An Evening with David Brinkley” are $20 in advance or $25 at the door. They can be purchased at https://www.cgcperrysburg.com/lecture-series.html.

For 92 years, Perrysburg Country Garden Club has been at the forefront of area conservation and beautification efforts, said Ann Worden, co-chair of the conservation lecture series. “Our mission is to promote knowledge of horticulture and conservation and to enhance our community’s natural environment. From our first funded project in 1934 until now, we have raised more than $850,000 for community projects throughout the region.”
“As the only area garden club that is a member of the prestigious Garden Club of America (GCA), Country Garden Club is aligned with GCA’s efforts to raise awareness and pursue initiatives that address climate change and other environmental issues,” added lecture series co-chair MaryLouise Bowe.

For more information on Douglas Brinkley, visit https://douglasbrinkley.com/about/.