From the Lansing, Michigan newspaper, John Thune staffer Jon Lauck is getting some love this morning:
The center will host a free, public conference Thursday and Friday, bringing more than 30 presenters and 300 participants together to discuss the history, economy, culture and future of the nation’s geographical heart.
“The Midwest has been overlooked in scholarly studies and popular literature for a number of decades,” Whitney said. “There is a growing sense that the Midwest also has a rich history of innovation, producing statesmen, leaders and the values that helped define the United States and make it a great country.”
Whitney defines the Midwest as the area that ranges from the Rocky Mountains in the west to the Appalachian Mountains in the east and from the Ohio River north to Canada.
Among conference presenters is Jon Lauck, who is affiliated with the University of Iowa’s Public Policy Center and is an advisor to Sen. John Thune, R-South Dakota. His books include: “The Lost Region: Toward a Revival of Midwestern History.” One reviewer called it “the definitive manifesto for a new midwestern historiography.”
‘He is leading a very small band of troubadors singing the praises of the Midwest,” Whitney said