HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_029592
This document is a letter from Elisa New, Powell M. Cabot Professor of American Literature at Harvard University, inviting Ms. Williams to be a featured guest on her public television series, *Poetry in America*.
The letter, dated November 25, 2018, outlines the premise of *Poetry in America*, which brings together diverse figures to interpret American poems. It mentions prominent past guests like Bill Clinton, Joe Biden, and Yo-Yo Ma, and proposes that Ms. Williams co-interpret Sharon Olds' poem "The Language of the Brag." The series airs on public television, streams on Amazon Prime, and is available on airlines. The content would also be used in an online course for medical professionals in partnership with Harvard Medical School.
Key Highlights
- •Elisa New invites Ms. Williams to participate in her *Poetry in America* series.
- •*Poetry in America* has featured guests like Bill Clinton, Joe Biden, and Shaquille O'Neal.
- •The show streams on Amazon Prime and airs on public television and airlines.
- •The episode would involve interpreting Sharon Olds' poem "The Language of the Brag."
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HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_029592
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House Oversight Committee
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HARVARD UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH Barker Center - 12 Quincy Street - Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138 Tel: Fax: ELISA NEW Powell M. Cabot Professor of American Literature November 25, 2018 Dear Ms. Williams: I am writing now to invite you to be a featured guest on my public television series, Poetry in America (poetryinamerica.org). Poetry in America's first season's guests included Bill Clinton, Joe Biden, Cynthia Nixon, Shaquille O'Neal, Yo Yo Ma, Samantha Power, Herbie Hancock, John McCain, Nas, Angela Duckworth, Bono, Regina Spektor, Frank Gehry, Stuart Weitzman, E.O. Wilson and many others. In Seasons Two and Three we will have just as distinguished a line up. The series airs on public television stations everywhere, streams via Amazon Prime and other streaming services, and it is now also airing on a variety of domestic and international airlines. The poem I'd like to read and interpret with you is by Pulitzer Prize winner, Sharon Olds, and it's called "The Language of the Brag." It's a gutsy poem that compares feats of (male) athletic prowess-- and feats of poetic prowess-- to childbirth. You are the ideal reader for this poem: indeed, I picked it for the season in hopes you would be my co-interpreter. If you agree to film with me, I'll use what we capture in an upcoming season of Poetry in America. I'll also use the content in an online course for medical professionals I am creating in partnership with Harvard Medical School. I thank you for considering this request. I would be very honored to work with you. Sincerely, Elisa New HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_029592
Entities Mentioned
Angela Duckworth
PERSON
American psychologist awarded MacArthur Fellowship
Bill Clinton
PERSON • 2 mentions
President of the United States from 1993 to 2001 (born 1946)
Cynthia Nixon
PERSON • 2 mentions
American actress and politician
E.
E.O.
PERSON
E.O. Wilson
PERSON
American biologist, naturalist, and writer (1929–2021)
Elisa New
PERSON • 3 mentions
American academic
Frank Gehry
PERSON • 2 mentions
Canadian and American architect (1929–2025)
Joe Biden
PERSON • 2 mentions
46th President of the United States (2021–2025)
John McCain
PERSON • 2 mentions
American politician, military officer, and presidential candidate (1936–2018)
O'
O'Neal
PERSON
Regina Spektor
PERSON
American musician
Richard Nixon
PERSON
President of the United States from 1969 to 1974 (1913–1994)
Samantha Power
PERSON
Irish-American academic, author and diplomat
Shaquille
PERSON
Sharon Olds
PERSON
American poet
Stuart Weitzman
PERSON
American fashion designer
Yo-Yo Ma
PERSON
American cellist (born 1955)
Amazon Prime
ORGANIZATION
Harvard Medical School
ORGANIZATION
Medical school in Boston, Massachusetts
Statistics
Pages:1
Entities:19
Avg. OCR:95.2%
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