KENT -- The Kent Democratic and Republican Town Committees will join the Kent Memorial Library in co-sponsoring the upcoming series, The American Presidency: An Examination of the Office, Its History and Its Occupants, it was announced today by Ken Cooper, president of the Kent Library Association.

The timely lectures will focus on the office of the presidency and the current challenges facing the new holder of the office. They will also examine his choices within a historical context: how did his predecessors meet their own set of unique challenges when they sat in the oval office. The talks will feature these headliners: renowned author of presidential biographies Edmund Morris; presidential historian Dr. Douglas Brinkley; official White House photographer Pete Souza, and TIME Magazine Editor-at-large Nancy Gibbs. They will speak on May 3, May 31, June 7 and July 12, respectively. Reservations for the lectures will be offered first to members of the Kent Library Association from February 17 - March 16. After that registration will be open to the general public.

In making the announcement, Mr. Cooper said, "One of the roles of a library in a community is to bring people and organizations together. It is fitting and appropriate to have the Kent Democratic and Republican Town Committees be our partners in this bipartisan project, which we hope will be beneficial to all who attend."

"With the historic election of Barack Obama to the White House, the American Presidency has become a topic of almost unparalleled interest and enthusiasm both at home and abroad. The Democratic Town Committee is delighted to join with our Republican friends in sponsoring this timely series of lectures," said Tod Jones, Chairman, KDTC. Tony DiPentima, Chairman, KRTC, commented, "The Republican Town Committee is proud to participate in the American Presidency series. Learning about the institution of the American presidency benefits all and reminds us of our duty as citizens to be knowledgeable of our form of government."