John and Elizabeth Edwards to speak at Salem State

SALEM-Seldom do both man and wife achieve celebrity status, but John and Elizabeth Edwards are among those rare pairs and they are scheduled to appear on stage Sept. 23 at Salem State College’s Speaker Series.For those who haven’t kept up with current events, he’s a former North Carolina senator and 2004 Democratic vice-presidential candidate. She’s a children’s advocate, attorney, best-selling author and two-time cancer survivor.A son of the South, where as a young man he worked beside his father in the textile mills, John Edwards developed a strong belief that all Americans deserve an equal opportunity to succeed and be heard. In 1998, he took his commitment to stand up for those without a voice into the political arena, defeating an incumbent senator to win a seat in the U.S. Senate, quickly emerging as a champion of American families and the issues that affect them.”The senator brought his message of change to the 2004 presidential primaries with a message that resonated with voters all across America. At the Democratic convention, presidential candidate John Kerry turned to Sen. Edwards as his vice-presidential running mate in the general election,” said college spokesman Margo Steiner.Earlier this year, John Edwards once again stepped forward on behalf of his country, launching an energetic and visionary campaign for the Democratic nomination for President, and continuing to advocate for change as a strong voice of the Democratic Party, she said.Elizabeth Edwards shares her husband’s deep commitment to improving America’s future, and has been his partner, advocate, and sounding board for 31 years. A passionate advocate for children and an accomplished attorney, she has been a tireless worker on behalf of important social causes.Diagnosed with breast cancer in 2004, Elizabeth Edwards authored “Saving Graces: Finding Solace and Strength from Friends and Strangers” in 2006, detailing how she dealt with the death of her oldest son and her own breast cancer, and of life on the campaign trail with her husband.Elizabeth Edwards was appointed a Senior Fellow of The Center for American Progress (CAP) in April 2008, where she works on healthcare issues and writes occasionally for the Wonk Room, the CAP Action Fund’s newly-launched, first-of-its-kind, policy rapid-response blog.The Speakers Series is currently in its 26th year. Tickets to the Edwards’ stage appearance go on sale July 15 at 10 a.m. and can be ordered by calling the box college office at 978-542-7555 on or after that date. Further information can be found on the Series Web site: www.salemstate.edu/series.Eastern Bank Charitable Foundation is the presenting sponsor for the joint appearance. Cranney Home Services and Giant Glass are the feature sponsors.