Penn State Shenango to present ‘Searching for Jimmy Hoffa’ | Penn State Laureate David Witwer will delve into the life of America’s largest labor union president and explain why his disappearance is still a cultural phenomenon.
Penn State Shenango will present “Searching for Jimmy Hoffa: The Disappearance of America’s Most Notorious Labor Leader and Why It Still Matters Today,” at 12:15 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 12.
In this virtual program, 2020-21 Penn State Laureate David Witwer will delve into the life of America’s largest labor union president, and explain why his disappearance is still a cultural phenomenon.
The presentation is free and open to the public, via Zoom. Contact Melissa Fowler in Academic Affairs at 724-983-2825 or mj****@ps*.edu for connection assistance or other inquiries.
“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,” said Witwer, professor of American studies in Penn State Harrisburg’s School of Humanities.
Hoffa’s disappearance continues to enthrall the public, finding its way into popular culture in many ways, from films such as Sylvester Stallone’s “F.I.S.T.” or Martin Scorsese’s “The Irishman,” to made-for-television dramas like “Blood Feud,” the animated series “The Simpsons,” and a series of true crime books, most recently, James Neff’s “Vendetta.”
“In these various media iterations, Hoffa is a blue-collar hero who makes a Faustian bargain with an all-powerful Mafia; he serves as a potent symbol in American culture, tied to our understanding of working-class power, corruption, and the role of organized crime,” said Witwer.
Before coming to Penn State, Witwer worked for the New York County District Attorney’s Office as an investigative analyst on assignment with the New York State Organized Crime Task Force, looking into the mob’s role in the construction industry. Later, he drew on that investigative work when he served with the U.S. Attorney of the Southern District of New York and worked with Office of Investigations in the Teamsters Union.
Established in 2008, the Penn State Laureate program brings greater visibility to the arts and humanities as scholars share their work across the commonwealth.
Penn State encourages persons with disabilities to participate in its programs and activities. If you anticipate needing any type of accommodation or have questions about the physical access provided, contact Jammie Clark at jl***@ps*.edu or call 724-983-2838 at least two weeks prior to the start of the program to allow sufficient time to effectively meet your access needs.
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