After 30 years as a Republican Congressman from Iowa, Representative Leach broke party ranks and endorsed Democrat Barack Obama for the presidency. Now this moderate Republican gives his reading of the state of American politics, the new president, and the future of the Republican Party.

Each year the Center will name a Matsui Lecturer, a distinguished former public official who will spend one week in residence at the campus. The Robert T. Matsui Center for Politics and Public Service is pleased to have Congressman James A. Leach as our inaugural Matsui Lecturer. Congressman Leach served 15 terms representing Iowa's 1st and 2nd districts from 1976-2007.

As the Matsui Lecturer Congressman Leach will also be lecturing to political science classes, meeting with the Matsui interns, and participating in the intellectual life of the campus.