Kathryn Jacob, Ph.D.

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Kathryn Jacob, Ph.D. grew up near the Gettysburg battlefields and has been interested in the era of the American Civil War for as long as she can remember.  A social and cultural historian and a curator at Harvard, Jacob has written for the Washington Post, Smithsonian Magazine and American Heritage, spoken on NPR and WAMU, among many other radio interviews, appeared in series on America’s great houses and the grand tour on the A & E network and the History channel on the Lizzie Borden ax murders, the first known sex survey of American women, memory and monuments, high society in the Gilded Age, the history of lobbying, and the King of the Lobby (Sam Ward).  In addition she has traveled extensively to talk about her three books; done several dozen radio interviews and pod casts; and, on the subject of her most recent book, contributed to a dozen blogs.

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About the book:

THE KING OF THE LOBBY
(Johns Hopkins University Press, 2010)

The King of the Lobby details the life and times of Sam Ward, an extremely influential lobbyist during the late nineteenth century. This Gilded Age figure came from a wealthy well-respected family and worked in a time when the press heavily criticized lobbyists, claiming that special interests would cause the fall of democracy. Still, Ward worked tirelessly to influence the votes of congressmen, earning the nickname of King of the Lobby in 1870. By combining wine, food and the art of conversation, Ward was able to become an important member of the government without ever serving a term. He pioneered a style of lobbying that is survived today by expensive golf outings, vacations, and dinners. Jacob’s engaging account details how Ward became “King” and created a questionable profession in a city that even then rested on power and influence.

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Speaking Topics:

  • Lobbying in the Era of Good Stealings
  • Sam Ward, “King of the Lobby”
  • The Civil War in American Memory & Monuments
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