NEW KENSINGTON, Pa. — Penn State New Kensington will host a virtual presentation by 2020-21 Penn State Laureate David Witwer at 12:10 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 25. Witwer's discussion, "Searching for Jimmy Hoffa," will delve into his research related to the life and disappearance of James R. Hoffa, who was president of the largest union in America, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, from 1957-1971.
The event, which will be delivered via Zoom, is free and open to the public. Attendees can access the live event at https://tinyurl.com/NKLaureate2020.
"This project centers on the history of a public figure whose name has become synonymous with corruption," said Witwer, professor of American studies in Penn State Harrisburg's School of Humanities.
The lecture and presentation will shed light on Hoffa, the subject of a series of criminal prosecutions, a 1964 conviction on federal charges, involvement with organized crime and his eventual, mysterious disappearance in 1975.
"In 'Searching for Jimmy Hoffa,' I trace the history of what we know about Hoffa’s disappearance, his involvement with organized crime and what his career reveals about working-class attitudes towards corruption," explained Witwer. "My project thus draws on the mystery of Hoffa’s disappearance to address questions that are fundamental to the role of the humanities."