The John F. Kennedy Hyannis Museum will host renowned presidential historian and author Douglas Brinkley at 4 p.m., Monday, Aug. 14, for a discussion of his new book about how the rise of environmental activism during the 1960s influenced President Kennedy’s policies and actions to help save the natural world.
In “Silent Spring Revolution,” Brinkley pays tribute to those who combated the mauling of the natural world in the Long Sixties (1960-1973): Rachel Carson (a marine biologist and author), David Brower (director of the Sierra Club), Barry Commoner (an environmental justice advocate), Coretta Scott King (an antinuclear activist), Stewart Udall (the Secretary of the Interior), William O. Douglas (Supreme Court justice), Cesar Chavez (a labor organizer), and other crusaders are profiled in the book as well as the presidents who succeeded Kennedy.
“Cape Cod’s connection to Rachel Carson who spent time in Woods Hole’s science community and President Kennedy, whose family still calls Hyannis Port home, was an interesting connection that we have not heard a lot about,” said Wendy Northcross, director of the JFK Hyannis Museum. “We are thrilled Mr. Brinkley accepted our invitation to talk more about his extensive research and help raise awareness of the key groups working to address environmental issues here on Cape Cod.”
Partners in sharing the invitation to this event include several of Cape Cod’s preeminent organizations working to protect and restore critical ecosystems here including the Association to Preserve Cape Cod, the Barnstable Land Trust, the Cape Cod Climate Change Collaborative, and the Center for Coastal Studies.
A book signing reception will follow the discussion. Seating is limited in the Scudder Family Center for Civic Engagement and reservations are required. To register, visit https://jfkhyannismuseum.org/event/douglas-brinkley/.
