It'll be just like the Lincoln-Douglas Debates — except this time Lincoln is a crotchety hard-liner who keeps even his ideological allies walking on eggshells, and Douglas aspires to out-gripe Andy Rooney. A "point-counterpoint" discussion March 30 between former U.S. presidential candidate Ralph Nader and former 20/20 co-anchor John Stossel opens Vanderbilt's annual Impact Symposium, organized this year around the theme "The Future of Capitalism."
Nader and Stossel will trade salvos over the theme "Business or the Consumer First?" starting 8 p.m. at Vanderbilt's Langford Auditorium. They will find common ground on the topic of book promotion, though, at least long enough to sign their respective books at the Vanderbilt Bookstore that afternoon at 3:30 p.m.
The following day brings another former presidential contender, ex-Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, for a talk on "American Capitalism in the World." Romney will give away copies of his latest book, No Apology: The Case for American Greatness, to anyone who attends his book signing 3:30 p.m. March 31 at the Vanderbilt Bookstore or his talk 7 p.m. that evening at Langford Auditorium.
UPDATE: Tickets for the events are $10 to the general public, $5 to non-Vanderbilt students with college or university ID cards, available from Ticketmaster or the Sarratt box office.
