The Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library is proud to announce that Adam M. Saunders has been chosen as the 2008 winner of the Gerald R. Ford Scholar Award in Honor of Robert M. Teeter. Mr. Saunders is a doctoral student in Comparative Social Policy at Trinity College, University of Oxford and is completing his doctoral dissertation: Power and the Welfare State: The Political Economy of American and British Unemployment Insurance Reform, 1964-1986. He is examining the role of government, business and unions in the reform of earnings-related unemployment insurance in the United States and Britain. He explores why earnings-related benefits were introduced at the beginning of this period, why they were fundamentally changed by its end, and why contradictory measures in policy were undertaken in both countries.
This annual award of $5000 is given to a doctoral student conducting dissertation research and writing on an aspect of the United States political process during the latter part of the 20th century. It was established in 2005 to honor the life and work of Robert Teeter. Mr. Teeter spent over thirty years as a leader in public opinion analysis and campaign strategy, including the 1976 campaign of President Gerald R. Ford. The majority of written materials from Mr. Teeter’s career are part of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library collection. This award has been made possible by the generous support of the Teeter family and friends, and his colleagues on the United Parcel Service Board of Directors.
The application deadline for next year’s award is May 1, 2009. For more information, please visit the Ford Library’s website or contact Stacy Davis at (734) 205-0563 or at stacy.davis@nara.gov.