RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, Dr. Milton J. Rosenberg, esteemed Professor Emeritus of Psychology at the University of Chicago, social psychologist, and the former host of WGN Radio's thought-provoking "Extension 720," a talk show and forum of ideas he conceived in 1973, passed away at the University of Chicago Hospital on January 9, 2018; and
WHEREAS, The Chicago City Council has been informed of his passing by Alderman Edward M. Burke; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Milton J. Rosenberg, the son of Jewish immigrants from Ukraine, was born in New York City and educated at Brooklyn College and the University of Wisconsin; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Milton J. Rosenberg attained a doctorate in psychology at the University of Michigan where he met his future wife, Marjorie Anne King; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Milton J. Rosenberg began his academic career as an Instructor in Psychology at the University of Michigan; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Milton J. Rosenberg taught at Yale University (1954-1961), Ohio State University (1961-1963), Dartmouth College (1963-1965) and at the Naval War College before joining the faculty of the University of Chicago; and
WHEREAS, During his tenure at the University of Chicago, Dr. Milton J. Rosenberg served as Director of the Doctoral Program in Social and Organizational Psychology; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Milton J. Rosenberg was the author, co-author and editor of many scholarly books including "Attitude Organization and Change; Domestic Sources of Foreign Policy; Beyond Conflict and Containment: Critical Studies of Military and Foreign Policy and Vietnam and the Silent Majority; and
WHEREAS, in 1973 Dr. Milton J. Rosenberg began an uninterrupted thirty-nine year tenure as host of "Extension 720;" and
WHEREAS, The two-hour talk show format aired five days a week unless otherwise preempted by the broadcast of professional sporting events; and
WHEREAS, Each night for thirty-nine years Dr. Milton J. Rosenberg engaged prominent guests from a broad spectrum of human endeavor in lively discussion, including world leaders, educators, authors, journalists, scientists, members of Congress, judges, and personalities from the world of show business, sports, music and stage and motion picture performance and the culinary arts; and
WHEREAS, on November 18, 2008 President George W. Bush awarded the prestigious National Humanities Medal to Dr. Milton J. Rosenberg in the East Room of the White House "for bringing the world of ideas to millions of listeners. Combining a scholar's understanding and a teacher's openness, he has made a home in radio for elevated conversation and profound thought;" and
WHEREAS, Dr. Milton J. Rosenberg served on the boards of many distinguished organizations, including the National Association of Scholars, the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, the Howard Center for Family and Religion and the National Great Books Curriculum; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Milton J. Rosenberg's beloved forum of intellectual thought and ideas reached a global audience of listeners streaming the internet; and
WHEREAS, A collection of memorable "Extension 720" interviews has been preserved for posterity in an audio archive on the internet; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Milton J. Rosenberg's final broadcast on WGN Radio aired December 29, 2012; and
WHEREAS, After launching an independent podcast website in May 2013, Dr. Milton J. Rosenberg briefly returned to the Chicagoland airwaves from April-November 2015 with a weekday afternoon program heard over WCGO-1590 in Evanston, Illinois, now; therefore
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and the members of the Chicago City Council assembled this seventeenth day of January 2018, express our sorrow and mourn the passing of Dr. Milton J. Rosenberg, respected and admired by thousands of people for his career accomplishments in academia and broadcast journalism where he faithfully served Chicagoland, the nation and the global community with honor and distinction; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a suitable copy ofthis resolution be presented to Dr. Milton J. Rosenberg's son Matthew Rosenberg.
tan Edward M. Burke Alderman, 14th Ward