Political Pundits To Join Big "I" Staff In Debate

N/A Washington political pundits—Bill Kristol and Chris Matthews—will join the <%=company%> (IIAA) in-house political experts for a free-for-all debate of political and legislative issues during the Association's annual convention next month.

Themed "Independents for Change," the annual IIAA convention will be held at the Marriott Copley Place and Hynes Convention Center in Boston, September 25-29 and will feature technology workshops, innovative continuing education classes, new Best Practices opportunities, a series of prominent speakers and a record-size exhibit hall.

In addition to Kristol and Matthews, the Big "I" convention and trade show will feature appearances by 1996 Republican vice presidential nominee Jack Kemp, CNN Financial News Anchor Stuart Varney, former U.S. Ambassador to Spain Richard Capen, Alma Powell, wife of former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Colin Powell, and several other leading business and insurance industry figures.

Joining Kristol and Matthews for the great political debate will be IIAA's resident political operatives—Chief Executive Officer Paul A. Equale and Executive Vice President Robert A. Rusbuldt. The great debate, which annually is one of the most-anticipated events at the IIAA convention, will occur on September 26.

Kristol is editor and publisher of the influential conservative political magazine, The Weekly Standard. Widely recognized as a leading political analyst and commentator, he is a regular panelist on ABC-TV's This Week and also appears often on Good Morning America, The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer and The Charlie Rose Show. Recently, Washingtonian Magazine called him "the hottest pundit in town."

Previously, Kristol was chairman of the Project for the Republican Future, where he helped shape the strategy that produced the 1994 Republican congressional victory. Prior to that, he served as chief of staff to Vice President Dan Quayle during the Bush Administration.

Matthews is Washington bureau chief for The San Francisco Examiner and the host of Hardball with Chris Matthews on CNBC. He is the author of Kennedy & Nixon, a new book that chronicles the early friendship and historical rivalry between the two political giants.

Matthews honed his political skills as an aide to Sen. Edmund Muskie (D-ME), speechwriter for President Jimmy Carter and as an assistant and spokesman for Speaker of the House Thomas P. "Tip" O'Neill, Jr. (D-MA). Also, he wrote the best-selling Hardball, a primer of the world of inside politics that has become assigned reading at colleges and high schools across the country.

To obtain a registration form for the convention, contact IIAA's convention department at 800-221-7917.