Andrew K. Benton, Pepperdine University’s president and chairman of the American Council on Education, is traveling the length of Route 66 on July 14-22 “to connect with people and invite them to speak about their values, hopes, and dreams,” according to a press release today from the university.
His stops on the Mother Road include Joliet, Funks Grove and Springfield in Illinois; Rolla and Joplin in Missouri; Riverton in Kansas; Miami, Oklahoma City and Weatherford in Oklahoma; Shamrock and Amarillo in Texas; Santa Fe and Grants in New Mexico; and Flagstaff and Williams in Arizona.
Benton plans to meet with educators, parents, business people, and church and civic leaders along a road that is more of an outdoor museum than the vital transportation artery it once was. Nevertheless Route 66 occupies a special place in America’s history and for many people driving the road from its beginning in Chicago to its end-point in Santa Monica, Calif. is a quest, one that President Benton fulfilled in 2007.
“My first trip in the summer of 2007 – made alone, with no particular agenda – convinced me I needed to do it again the following year, and have conversations with people along the timeless route about things that are timeless to them,” said Benton.
And thus begins the election season in earnest.
Sure, Benton isn’t strictly a politician, but he does work for a group based in Washington. So politicking undoubtedly is part of the game.
And since this is his second Route 66 trip in two years, Benton undoubtedly has become a roadie.
I’ve noticed in my time on Route 66 that a number of people and media do “take the pulse of the nation” trips on Route 66 during a big election year. I wouldn’t be surprised at all if Sen. Obama or Sen. McCain eventually do their own scaled-down trips on the Mother Road to meet with the American people.
If that’s what they want, give ’em an earful. After all, it’s a free country. But make sure they have fun doing it, too.
UPDATE: A Web site for Benton’s Route 66 trip is here. It’s called Route 66 Dialogues.