My guest this week is the distinguished journalist Mr. Milton Hoffman. Our discussion this afternoon will revolve around the recent national political conventions, and Mr. Hoffman’s impressions of how they have changed over the past decades. Mr. Hoffman covered seven Republican and Democratic Conventions from 1976 through 1988.

Mr. Hoffman was a journalist with the Westchester daily newspapers for 50 years until retiring 6 1-2 years ago as senior editor with The Journal News. During his career, he covered Westchester County government, state government and politics, and attended seven national presidential nominating conventions for the Gannett Westchester Newspapers. His political column, Tales of Hoffman, appeared for more than 30 years.   

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His writings as a reporter, columnist and editorial page editor helped fashion public opinion that led to the creation of a Board of Legislators to replace the Board of Supervisors as the county's legislative arm, the state takeover of the dangerous Westchester Parkway System so that it could be rebuilt to modern standards, and the erection of a modern terminal at Westchester County Airport. He also championed the building of affordable housing and the adoption of a handgun re-registration law. Currently, he is a member of the Westchester County Fair Campaign Practices Committee, a board member of the Greenburgh Historic and Landmarks Preservation Board, a board member of the Westchester Historical Society, a board member of the Collegium program for senior adults at Westchester Community College, and a member of a state-appointed citizens committee dealing with the possible replacement of the Tappan Zee Bridge.  A Navy veteran, he is a graduate of White Plains High School and the former Champlain College of SUNY, and has been a resident of the Town of Greenburgh for 52 years. Below are some of the questions and thoughts Milt Hoffman will address:

• How conventions have changed?
• Have they lost their meaning?
• How has coverage changed over the decades?
• His experiences as a reporter

By accessing The Advocates website Milt Hoffman can be heard on the August 2, 2007, program talking with County Legislator Martin Rogowsky on How Politics Has Changed in Westchester. He can also be heard on the May 5, 2008 program talking about the 75th Anniversary of FDR’s First Inaugural on March 4, 1933.