John Seigenthaler

Vanderbilt University and the Freedom Forum will expand their longstanding relationship, and the John Seigenthaler Center on the university’s campus will serve as the physical home of the Dialogue Vanderbilt initiative—including The Vanderbilt Project on Unity and American Democracy, The Future of Free Speech Project and the Open Dialogue Visiting Fellows Program. Read More

John Seigenthaler died July 11 at the age of 86 after a life that saw him serve as special assistant to U.S. Attorney General Robert Kennedy; suffer a brutal beating by segregationists while attempting to aid 1960s Freedom Riders; become a founding editor of what is now one of the nation’s largest newspapers, USA Today; and win the respect and admiration of generations. Read More

John Seigenthaler, then-administrative assistant to Attorney General Robert Kennedy, recalls his meeting with Alabama Gov. John Patterson during the Freedom Rides in 1961. Read More

Authors Dan Balz, Lynn Vavreck and John Sides discuss the 2012 presidential election with David Lauter of the Los Angeles Times and John Seignethaler of the First Amendment Center. The “Perspectives on Election 2012” event was held Sept. 24, 2013, at the First Amendment Center on the Vanderbilt campus.To learn… Read More

The Rev. James E. Lawson Jr. and John Seigenthaler, two legends of the Civil Rights era who viewed non-violent demonstrations in Nashville from very different seats in the 1960s, sat side-by-side Tuesday at a packed lunchtime conversation in Light Hall about the essentials of developing moral leadership. Read More

Watch video of the panel discussion with U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander about his early swearing-in as Tennessee’s 45th governor. The event was hosted by Vanderbilt University’s Heard Libraries  and Law School on April 9. The panel was part of special programming scheduled in conjunction with the exhibit “Come on… Read More

Watch video of John Seigenthaler, Founder, First Amendment Center, speaking at the Osher Lifelong Learning class, “Protests and Social Change: Civil Rights of the 60’s”. Today, protests seem to be a way of life. Have you ever wondered if protests really accomplish anything? During the past 150 years, protests have… Read More

The First Amendment Center marks 20 years of supporting our nation’s basic freedoms First Amendment Center President and CEO Ken Paulson narrates a performance of “Freedom Sings,” accompanied by Bill Lloyd, Don Henry and Ashley Cleveland. (Susan Urmy/Vanderbilt) Protesters camp out in front of a government building and are… Read More

Watch video of a forum discussing a new nominating process for 2012 presidential election. Americans Elect is providing voters the opportunity to directly nominate a presidential candidate outside the two-party system for the 2012 presidential election. Through AmericansElect.org, every registered voter can sign up to become a delegate and participate. Read More

Watch video of John Seigenthaler of the First Amendment Center at Vanderbilt speaking during a celebration of the 220th anniversary of the Bill of Rights. Seigenthaler, founder of the First Amendment Center and chairman emeritus at The Tennessean, spoke Nov. 28. The Bill of Rights was ratified on Dec. 15,… Read More

Watch video of John Seigenthaler, a nationally recognized advocate for the First Amendment also known for his criticism of Internet vandals who post false information on user-created sites like Wikipedia, speaking Oct. 21 at Vanderbilt’s Central Library. Seigenthaler is the founder of the First Amendment Center, former president of the… Read More

In 2007, Vanderbilt students, faculty and staff retraced the 1961 Freedom Rides with some of the original Freedom Riders as they traveled to Montgomery and Birmingham, Ala. Among the participants was Congressman John Lewis, Diane Nash, Bernard Lafayette, the Rev. C.T. Vivian, Jim Zwerg, John Seigenthaler and the Rev. James… Read More

Eric Etheridge, Charles Euchner and Alex Heard – three Vanderbilt University alumni who have written important books about the early years of the Civil Rights Movement – returned to their alma mater for a discussion and book signing on April 21. Watch video of “From Jim Crow to the… Read More

Watch video of Dan Balz and Haynes Johnson, two of the nation’s most experienced political reporters, engaging in an evening of political discussion. Read More