The National Symposium : Schedule & Panelists : John Anderson

John Anderson

John Anderson has served as president of the Center for Voting and Democracy since 1996. Previously, he served as the chair of the Center's Advisory Board for four years. Between 1960 and 1980, Anderson served ten consecutive terms as U.S. Representative to Congress from the 16th District of Illinois. He also served as States Attorney in Winnebago County, Illinois for four years. Running as an independent candidate, Anderson won 6 million votes in the 1980 U.S. presidential election.

Anderson is an accomplished speaker, and his recent media appearances include the BBC, NPR and C-SPAN, among others. He is a frequent lecturer and expert commentator on issues of electoral reform, United Nations reform, foreign affairs, American politics, and independent candidacies. He also writes regularly on the role of Congress in both domestic and international affairs.

Anderson has taught political science as a visiting professor at numerous universities, including Bryn Mawr College, Brandeis University, Stanford University, Oregon State University, the University of Illinois, the Washington School of Law and Nova Southeastern University. He is president of the World Federalists Association.

During World War II, Mr. Anderson was a staff sergeant in the U.S. Field Artillery. While serving in the Foreign Service between 1952 and 1955, he was Economic Reporting Officer in the Eastern Affairs Division.

Anderson received an LL.M. degree from Harvard Law School in 1949, and has since been awarded honorary doctorates of law from Wheaton College and Trinity College.

(c) 2001, University of Virginia Center for Governmental Studies.