David Nichols, former academic dean at Southwestern College, will give a free lecture about his latest book on Monday, April 4, at 7:30 p.m. in the McNeish Lecture Hall in Beech Science Center.

Nichols’s book, “Eisenhower 1956: The President’s Year of Crisis—Suez and the Brink of War,” shows how Eisenhower, after two life-threatening illnesses – a heart attack and abdominal surgery – and in the throes of a presidential election campaign, masterfully exercised the levers of power to force the British, French, and Israelis to withdraw and prevent Soviet intervention. Nichols uses newly available accounts of secret meetings to enable the reader to look over Ike’s shoulder and follow him day-by-day, hour-by-hour, as he grapples with the crisis.

Nichols is a recognized expert on the presidency of Dwight D. Eisenhower, which he has spoken about in the media – including “Tavis Smiley,” National Public Radio, and C-SPAN – and across the nation.  He is the author of “A Matter of Justice: Eisenhower and the Beginning of the Civil Rights Revolution” and “Lincoln and the Indians.”  He holds a Ph.D. in history from the College of William and Mary. Prior to the lecture, there will be an informal reception and book signing in the Beech Science Center lobby at 7 p.m.  Copies of the book will be available for purchase. There is no admission charge to attend the lecture or the reception.