HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_029603

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HARVARD UNIVERSITY 
DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH 
Barker Center - 12 Quincy Street - Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138 
ELISA NEW 
Powell M. Cabot Professor of American Literature 
November 25, 2018 
Dear Ms. Williams: 
Tel: 
Fax: 
I am writing now to invite you to be a featured guest of Poetry in America 
(poetryinamerica.org). Poetry in America's first season's guests included Bill 
Clinton, Joe Biden, Cynthia Nixon, Shaquille O'Neal, Yo Yo Ma, Samantha 
Power, Herbie Hancock, John McCain, Nas, Angela Duckworth, Bono, Regina 
Spektor, Frank Gehry, Stuart Weitzman, E.O. Wilson and many others. Seasons 
Two and Three will feature just as distinguished a line up. The series airs on 
public television stations everywhere, streams via Amazon Prime and other 
streaming services, and it is now also airing on a variety of domestic and 
international airlines. 
The poem we'd read and interpret together is by Pulitzer Prize winner, Sharon 
Olds, and it's called "The Language of the Brag." It's a gutsy poem that 
compares feats of (male) athletic prowess-- and feats of poetic prowess-- to 
childbirth. You are the ideal reader for this poem. We would use what we 
filmed together in upcoming season of Poetry in America. I'll also use the 
content in an online course for medical professionals I am creating in 
partnership with Harvard Medical School. 
I thank you for considering this request. I would be very honored to work 
with you. 
Sincerely, 
Elisa New 
Director and Host of Poetry in America 
Powell M. Cabot Professor, Harvard 
HOUSE OVERSIGHT 029603 

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