NONPARTISAN POLITICAL LEADERSHIP PROGRAM
WILL BE NAMED FOR THOMAS C. SORENSEN 

	CHARLOTTESVILLE , Va., Nov. 8 -- A $500,000 gift from a
longtime political analyst will provide a permanent endowment for a
nonpartisan educational program for prospective political candidates
at the University of Virginia.
	The University's Board of Visitors today approved naming the
Virginia Institute of Political Leadership in honor of benefactor
Thomas C. Sorensen of Charlottesville, whose love of politics and
career of close involvement with political trends has spanned nearly
50 years as a journalist, U.S. government official and investment
analyst. 
	Sorensen, a member of the privately funded institute's board
and strong advocate of its mission to enhance the quality of
government leadership, served for many years with the U.S.
Information Agency, specializing in the Middle East, and was deputy
director of the agency under Edward R. Murrow. Since 1980 he has
been associated with The Capital Group, one of the nation's largest
investment management firms. 
	A visiting lecturer in U.Va's department of government and
foreign affairs, he has been a frequent speaker on American and
international politics and is the author of the book, "The Word
War." 
	The three-year-old political leadership institute, to be
named the Thomas C. Sorensen Institute of Political Leadership at
the University of Virginia, conducts nonpartisan educational
programs in ethics, policy issues and campaigning for citizens who
have the potential to become leaders in state and local government.
William H. Wood is executive director of the institute, based in
U.Va.'s Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service.
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November 8, 1996

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