Center for the literary arts in New York State
SEEKING THE CENTER
Joe Manchin
7:30 p.m. Monday, March 23, 2026
Page Hall - University at Albany Downtown Campus
135 Western Avenue
Albany NY 12203 See map.
Joe Manchin, a steadfast, outspoken, and often controversial advocate of political centrism during a time of extraordinary polarization, served as U.S. Senator from West Virginia for 15 years (2010- 2025). He also served as West Virginia’s governor from 2005 to 2010.
His new book is Dead Center: In Defense of Common Sense (2025), a New York Times bestseller that presents his plan “to tame the anger, bitterness, intolerance, and tribalism that have infected our political system.” The book is replete with stories of his complicated relationships with two presidents: Trump and Biden. He writes, “I have watched the Democratic Party leave me and my state, and I have watched the Republican Party lose itself to one man.”
Since retiring from the Senate, he has shifted his focus to building Americans Together, an organization he founded with his daughter to develop support for centrist politicians and candidates.
From the publisher
Dead Center: It is where Senator Joe Manchin III has stood his entire life. For him, it’s where the real solutions lie, if we are ever going to tame the anger, bitterness, intolerance, and tribalism that have infected our political system.
Through 43 years in politics, and 15 years in the Senate, Joe Manchin has stayed close to his roots, basing his principles in when, where, and how he was raised. Treat people with respect. Find dignity in work. Put people first and country before party. Be fiscally responsible and socially compassionate. Only vote for what you understand and can explain to your constituents. That’s it.
Dead Center is more than Senator Manchin’s declaration of independence from the extremes on both sides. In this revealing and entertaining memoir, Senator Manchin combines eyebrow-raising, never-before-told stories from inside the Senate and the White House with insights into how government does — or doesn’t — work.
A memoir by one of America’s most recognized leaders, Dead Center offers a path forward from our polarized political gridlock to governance based on what our American founders practiced: Common Sense. Read more
