The Burton K. Wheeler Center at Montana State University is set to host a public lecture and book discussion focused on political corruption and accountability. The event will take place on Tuesday, Sept. 23, at 7 p.m. in the Procrastinator Theatre of the Strand Union Building.
Admission is free for students, while members of the public can attend for $10. Registration is required, and tickets are available online.
The Wheeler Center operates as a non-partisan, nonprofit organization that encourages Montanans to engage in discussions about important issues from various perspectives and aims to promote informed public policy. The center is named after Burton K. Wheeler, who represented Montana in the U.S. Senate from 1923 to 1947.
Titled “When Does Justice Become a Tool of Injustice?,” the event will feature author and historian Nathan Masters discussing his 2023 book “Crooked: The Roaring ’20s Tale of a Corrupt Attorney General, A Crusading Senator, and the Birth of the American Political Scandal.” Masters will be joined by Marc Johnson, a political historian and biographer of Burton K. Wheeler, for an audience Q&A session.
Masters’ book examines Senator Wheeler’s investigation into corruption involving then-U.S. Attorney General Harry Daugherty during 1923-24 and details how this inquiry led to Daugherty’s resignation from office. According to Masters, these events influenced future approaches to political accountability in the United States and set precedents for later Senate investigations such as Watergate.
“Together, we’ll dissect this fascinating historical period to understand how it can help us navigate the political climate today,” said Mikey Gray, program manager at the Wheeler Center.
Attendees will have access to light snacks and beverages during the event. A book signing with Nathan Masters will follow; copies of his book will be available for purchase through Country Bookshelf.
For more information about the event or registration details, contact info@wheelercenter.org or visit www.wheelercenter.org.
