SALEM — Former presidential candidate John Edwards and his wife, Elizabeth, will be the speakers at the final program in the Salem State College Series on Sept. 23.
The former North Carolina senator, who was the 2004 vice presidential candidate and running mate of Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry, is the latest in a long line of national political figures who have been part of the college's speaker series.
Edwards was a strong contender for the presidential nomination this year, and his exit turned the race into a two-way contest between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. He will appear at Salem State just weeks before the November presidential election.
In recent years, former presidents Bill Clinton and George H.W. Bush have spoken at Salem State.
Elizabeth Edwards, a two-time cancer survivor, is the best-selling author of "Saving Graces: Finding Solace and Strength From Friends and Strangers." The book chronicles how she coped with the death of her oldest son, her own battle with cancer and life on the campaign trail.
A lawyer like her husband, she was appointed a senior fellow at The Center for American Progress, where she works on health care issues.
The series kicked off in April with a sold-out appearance by New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick.
Tickets for John and Elizabeth Edwards go on sale to the public on Tuesday at 10 a.m. and can be ordered by calling the box office at 978-542-7555. For more information, see the series Web site at www.salemstate.edu/series.
