In 64 B.C., Marcus Tullius Cicero, the greatest orator in ancient Rome, was running for consul, the highest office in the land. Cicero was a brilliant man and a gifted speaker, but he lacked the campaign skills needed in the cutthroat world of Roman politics. So his worldlier brother Quintus wrote for him a down-and-dirty guide to winning an election.
On October 27, classicist Philip Freeman will discuss Quintus’ “little-known pamphlet" and the advice it contains, which include some gems that will be all too familiar to modern voters: promise everything to everybody, exploit the weaknesses of your opponents, and give voters hope.
About Philip Freeman
Philip Freeman earned his Ph.D. at Harvard University and has taught at Boston University in Massachusetts and Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. Currently he holds the Qualley Chair of Classical Languages at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. He has been a visiting scholar at the American Academy in Rome and the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton. Freeman is the author of a dozen books, including biographies of Julius Caesar and Alexander the Great. In 2012 Freeman published his translation of Quintus Cicero’s letter to Marcus Cicero entitled How to Win an Election: An Ancient Guide for Modern Politicians (Princeton University Press).
How to Win an Election: An Ancient Guide for Modern Politicians will take place on Saturday, October 27 from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. in the Getty Villa Auditorium. Tickets are free but a reservation is required. Parking is $15. To reserve tickets call (310) 440-7300 or visit: www.getty.edu/museum/programs/lectures/how_to_win_an_election_lecture.html