From Richard E. Vatz, Ph.D.:


Home	Introduction	Szasz Materials	Debates	Links/Related Items

I was first introduced to the writings of Thomas Szasz in 1971, through a book of essays of his, by a revered Professor of Rhetoric (and arguably the brightest professor at the University of Pittsburgh), Dr. Trevor Melia. The book was IDEOLOGY AND INSANITY: Essays on the Psychiatric Dehumanization of Man, published in 1970, and it opened my mind to the best application of rhetoric that I had found. At the time, I had been working on an article which would express my philosphy of rhetoric: that rhetoric was the art of linguistically or symbolically creating and sustaining saliences and meanings. The dominant philosophy in rhetorical study at the time was that rhetoric reflected a process of "dis- covering the available means of persuasion." My argument was that the dominant metaphor in rhetoric should be "creativity," not "discovery." The piece was titled "The Myth of the Rhetorical Situation," and it was published in the Summer, 1973 issue of the pre-eminent journal of rhetoric, PHILOSOPHY AND RHETORIC. The new philosophy was conservative, implying the importance of agent and responsibility; the old philosophy was liberal, and implied the predominance of "scene" or environment.

Around the mid-70s, I became more and more enamored of Thomas Szasz's works, and with my colleague, Lee Weinberg, I wrote a satire called "A Szaszian View of Death" for THE JOURNAL OF HUMANISTIC PSYCHOLOGY. The article satirized -- lovingly -- Tom's views, and the editor suggested that we add to the title "With Apologies to Thomas Szasz." We rejected the advice, but the editor may have been right, for several people had inferred incorrectly that we were critical of Tom's ideas.

We met Tom for the first time when he debated Dr. Tom Detre at Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic at the University of Pittsburgh shortly thereafter. Tom knew Lee and me immediately by name, and he had indicated that he had laughed heartily at the satire.

For twenty years thereafter, Lee and I have written literally over 150 pieces on the Szaszian view of mental health, including a piece that he co-authored with us in the WASHINGTON POST. We have also met and interacted with other Szaszians and Szaszes, including his brother and his daughter, Suzy, a uniquely attractive young woman.

My friendship with Tom has been, along with my friendship with Trevor Melia, the most rewarding academic relationship I have had in my career. Tom is authentic, believing what he writes and living the philosophy he espouses. It is a genuinely rewarding experience to participate in the creation of a tributary Web Page to Tom Szasz.

Richard Vatz, Ph.D.
Towson University
rvatz@towson.edu

RICHARD E. VATZ
ACADEMIC BACKGROUND

Ph.D. University of Pittsburgh, Rhetoric and Communication, 1976
M.A. University of Pittsburgh, Rhetoric and Communication, 1970
B.A. University of Pittsburgh, Sociology, 1969 (MAGNA CUM LAUDE)

TEACHING EMPLOYMENT EXPERIENCE

Full Professor, Towson State University 1989-
Associate Professor, Towson State University 1982-1989
Assistant Professor, Towson State University 1974-1982
Instructor, North Carolina State University 1973-1974
Instructor, Penn State (McKeesport Campus) 1969-1973

HONORS AND AWARDS (selected)

Outstanding Teaching Grant (awarded to ten of approximately 500 full-time faculty each year 1976-1980) Towson State University, 1977;
Outstanding Teaching Grant, 1978;
Outstanding Teaching Grant, 1979;
Outstanding Teaching Grant, 1980

Appointed to Faculty of Honors College, Towson State University, 1982
University Merit Award May, 1984 (awarded to 30 faculty each year 1983-1990)
Sponsored national winner in Wadsworth Publishing Co. oratory contest, 1987
University Merit Award May, 1987
University Merit Award May, 1988
University Merit Award May, 1990
The Thomas Szasz Civil Liberties Award January, 1994

SCHOLARLY ACTIVITY

A. BOOKS

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg (eds.), THOMAS SZASZ: PRIMARY VALUES AND MAJOR CONTENTIONS (Buffalo: Prometheus Press, 1983)

B. JOURNAL ARTICLES AND BOOK CHAPTERS

Richard E. Vatz, "The Myth of the Rhetorical Situation," PHILOSOPHY AND RHETORIC (Summer, 1973)

Richard E. Vatz, "Rhetoric and Meaning in Grading" FLORIDA STATE COMMUNICATION JOURNAL (Summer, 1974)

Richard E. Vatz and Theodore O. Windt, "The Defeats of Judges Haynsworth and Carswell: Rejection of Supreme Court Nominees," QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF SPEECH (December, 1974)

Richard E. Vatz and Ron Rabin, "Dan Rather at George Washington University Law Commencement: Stroking and Nothingness," EXETASIS (June, 1975)

Richard E. Vatz and Ron Rabin, "The Critic as Rhetor," EXETASIS (1975)

Lee S. Weinberg and Richard E. Vatz "Szasz and the Law: An Alternative View," JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY AND LAW, (Winter, 1976)

Richard E. Vatz et al.," The Vice-Presidential Debate and the Theories of Paul Rosenthal," EXETASIS, (November 2, 1976)

Richard E. Vatz, "Public Opinion and Presidential Ethos," WESTERN SPEECH COMMUNICATION (Summer, 1976)

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "A Szaszian View of Death," JOURNAL OF HUMANISTIC PSYCHOLOGY (Spring, 1977): Reprinted in THETA: A JOURNAL OF PSYCHICAL RESEARCH

Lee S. Weinberg and Richard E. Vatz, "Law, Language and Forensic Psychiatry," DUQUESNE LAW REVIEW (Summer, 1978)

Richard E. Vatz, "Rhetoric and the Law," in Lee S. Weinberg and Judith W. Weinberg, SOCIETY AND THE LAW: AN INTERDISCIPLINARY INTRODUCTION, (University Press of America, 1980)

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "Taking Law on Faith," AMERICAN LEGAL STUDIES ASSOCIATION FORUM (Spring, 1980)

Lee S. Weinberg and Richard E. Vatz, "The Mental Illness Debate: The Critical Faith Assumptions," THE JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY AND LAW (Fall, 1981)

Lee S. Weinberg and Richard E. Vatz, "The Insanity Defense: Szaszian Ethics and Epistemology," METAMEDICINE, (October, 1982)

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "From the Therapeutic State to the Lucifer State," essay on rhetoric in Trevor Melia and Nova Ryder, LUCIFER STATE (Kendall-Hunt: 1983)

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "Insanity Plea Proposals: Confusing, Contradictory, and Self-serving," USA TODAY MAGAZINE (September, 1983)

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "The Psychiatric Will," JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY AND LAW (Fall, 1983)

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "A Pulitzer Prize for Cheerleading," ST. LOUIS JOURNALISM REVIEW (October, 1985)

Richard E. Vatz, Lee S. Weinberg, and Thomas Szasz, "Psychiatry and Media: An Unhealthy Marriage," (adapted from WASHINGTON POST article on television and psychiatry) USA TODAY MAGAZINE (May: 1986)

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg "Politics and Psychiatry," USA TODAY MAGAZINE [B(July, 1987)

Richard E. Vatz and Theodore Otto Windt, "The Haynsworth and Carswell Nominations: Re[Bjection of Supreme Court Nominees," (reprinted from QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF SPEECH) in Theodore Otto Wind, ESSAYS IN PRESIDENTIAL RHETORIC, Kendall-Hunt, 1987

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "Is Compulsive Gambling Really a Disease?," POSTGRADUATE MEDICINE (October, 1987)

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "The Critic as Rhetor: Psychiatry and Fantasy Theme Analysis," Critique, JOURNAL OF COMMUNICATION (Autumn: 1987)

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "The Hyperactive Myth and Drugs in the Classroom," USA TODAY (September, 1988)

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "Media and Polling: Measuring and Creating the Salience of George Bush as 'Wimp'," MASS COMM REVIEW 1987 ( May, 1989)

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "Alcoholism and the 'Disease' Metaphor," USA TODAY MAGAZINE ( September, 1989)

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "The Arrogance of Predicting Dangerousness," USA TODAY MAGAZINE ( November, 1989)

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "The Case of Marion Barry: Political Persuasion and Self-Doubt," USA TODAY MAGAZINE ( September 1990)

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "The Conceptual Bind in Defining the Volitional Component of Alcoholism: Consequences for Public Policy and Scientific Research," JOURNAL OF MIND AND BEHAVIOR (Summer/Winter 1990)

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "Rhetoric, Biology and Power Seekers," POLITICS AND THE LIFE SCIENCES (August, 1991)

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "Psychiatric Excuses for Criminal Behavior: The Public is Losing Patience," USA TODAY MAGAZINE ( March, 1992)

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "The Ethics of Negative Political Political Advertising," in Peter Madsen and Jay Safritz, ESSENTIALS OF GOVERNMENT ETHICS (Penguin Books: 1992)

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "Is Mental Illness a Myth?" [Analysis of status and future of psychiatric orthodoxy], USA TODAY MAGAZINE ( July, 1993)

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "Refuting the Myths of Compulsive Gambling," USA TODAY MAGAZINE ( November, 1993)

Richard E. Vatz, "Con" side in published deba[Bte on "Should Health Care Reform Include Parity for Behavioral Health Benefits?" OPEN MINDS (February: 1994)

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "A Windfall for the 'Worried Well,'" GOVERNING, (May: 1994)

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "TV on the Couch" (television's coverage of psychiatry), FORBES MEDIA CRITIC (Summer: 1994)

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "The Rhetorical Paradigm in Psychiatric History: Thomas[B Szasz and the Myth of Mental Illness," in Roy P[Borter and Mark Micale, DISCOVERING THE HISTORY OF PSYCHIATRY Oxford University Press (1994)

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "Psychobabble Revisited," FORBES MEDIA CRITIC (WINTER:1995)

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "Hyperactivity?" MOTHERING (Spring: 1995)

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "Overreacting to Attention Deficit Disorder," USA TODAY MAGAZINE (Winter: 1995)

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "Rhetoric and Psychiatry," in Theresa Enos, ENCYCLOPEDIA OF RHETORIC AND COMPOSITION (1996)

Richard E. Vatz, "Should We Destigmatize Mental Illness?," USA TODAY MAGAZINE May, 1996

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "Better Late Than Never," (analysis of media coverage of Attention-deficit Disorder," FORBES MEDIACRITIC ( Summer, 1996)

Richard E. Vatz, "The Myth of the Rhetorical Situation," anthologized in William A. Covino and David A. Joliffe, RHETORIC: Concepts, Definitions, Boundaries, Allyn and Bacon, 1995

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "Is Mental Illness a Myth?," anthologized in Joseph J. Palladino, ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY 96-97, Brown and Benchmark, 1996

Richard E. Vatz, "The Myth of the Rhetorical Situation," anthologized in John Lucai[Btes, CONTEMPORARY RHETORICAL THEORY: A Reader (in press)

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "PARITY: The New Buzzword in Mental Health," USA TODAY MAGAZINE (May, 1997)

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "Rhetorical Issues in Drug Legalization," in Jefferson Fish, THE LEGALIZATION OF DRUGS (in press)

C. REVIEW ESSAYS AND REVIEWS

Richard E. Vatz, Review, Marvin Karlins and Herbert BAbelson, PERSUASION, in THE SPEECH TEACHER (September, 1972)

Richard E. Vatz, Review, Murray Edelman, POLITICS AS SYMBOLIC ACTION, in QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF SPEECH (February, 1974)

Richard E. Vatz, Review, F.M. Kail, WHAT WASHINGTON SAID in TODAY'S SPEECH (Spring, 1974)

Richard E. Vatz and Trevor Melia, Bibliographic Book Review of Works of Thomas Szasz: HERESIES, IDEOLOGY AND INSANITY, THE SECOND SIN, THE MANUFACTURE OF MADNESS, THE MYTH OF MENTAL ILLNESS and CEREMONIAL CHEMISTRY in QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF SPEECH (February, 1977)

Lee S. Weinberg and Richard E. Vatz, Review Essay, on Thomas Szasz MYTH OF PSYCHOTHERAPY, "Psychotherapy and the Three R's: Rhetoric, Religion and Repression," in AMERICAN LEGAL STUDIES ASSOCIATION FORUM (May, 1978)

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, Book Review Essay (on Works of Thomas Szasz), in COMMUNICATION QUARTERLY (Spring, 1979)

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, Review, Thomas Szasz, THEOLOGY AND MEDICINE, in PHILOSOPHY AND RHETORIC (Winter, 1981)

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, Review of Thomas Szasz, SEX BY PRESCRIPTION, in The QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF SPEECH (February, 1982)

Lee S. Weinberg and Richard E. Vatz. Review of Raoul Berger, DEATH PENALTIES, in AMERICAN LEGAL STUDIES REVIEW (1983)

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, Review, E. Fuller Torrey, SCHIZOPHRENIA, in QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF SPEECH (May:1986)

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, Review, Ellen Plasil, THERAPIST, in PSYCHOTHERAPY (Fall: 1986)

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, Review of THE MEDIA ELITE, in QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF SPEECH (November: 1987)

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "Trivializing Anti-Psychiatry," Review-essay,Garth Wood, THE MYTH OF NEUROSIS in CRITICAL REVIEW (Fall: 1987)

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, Review of Peter Stoler, THE WAR AGAINST THE PRESS, in SOUTHERN SPEECH COMMUNICATION (Winter : 1988)

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, Review of Robert Denton and Dan Hahn, PRESIDENTIAL COMMUNICATION, in PRESIDENTIAL STUDIES QUARTERLY (Winter: 1988)

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "Metaphor and Law," a Review of Milner Ball's LYING DOWN TOGETHER: LAW, METAPHOR AND THEOLOGY, in LAW AND SOCIETY REVIEW (volume 21, #5: 1988)

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, Review of William Rusher, THE COMING BATTLE FOR THE MEDIA, in QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF SPEECH (November, 1990)

Richard E. Vatz, Review of Richard Berendzen (with Laura Palmer), COME HERE: A MAN OVERCOMES THE TRAGIC AFTERMATH OF CHILDHOOD SEXUAL ABUSE, in PSYCHOTHERAPY (Spring:1994)

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "Dershowitz's Muddled Arguments Make Sorry Case for Book," THE SUNDAY SUN November, 1994

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, Review, Alan Dershowitz, THE ABUSE EXCUSE," QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF SPEECH August, 1996

CORRESPONDENCE

Richard E. Vatz, rejoinder to article by Scott Consigny crit[Biquing my article, "Myth of the Rhetorical Situation in PHILOSOPHY AND RHETORIC (Winter, 1975)

Lee. S. Weinberg and Richard E. Vatz, "Political Philosophy," A letter-essay concerning Alexander Bickel's MORALITY OF CONSENT, COMMENTARY (June, 1976)

Richard E. Vatz, "More on the Rhetorical Situation," in Forum Section, QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF SPEECH (February, 1981)

Richard E. Vatz and Kenneth A. Vatz, letter-essay on medical care in COMMENTARY (June, 1983)

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "Challenging the Challengers of Szasz's Psychiatric Will," Correspondence Section of HASTINGS CENTER REPORT (December, 1983)

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "Correspondence" piece on Alcoholism, THE NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE ( July 21, 1988)

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "Psychosophistry' on the Homeless," "Free For All", THE WASHINGTON POST (January 7, 1989)

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "The Scholars Have Their Say," "Free For All" THE WASHINGTON POST ( April 7, 1990)

Richard E. Vatz, "Dangers of Ritalin," THE NEW YORK TIMES ( August 4, 1990)

Richard E. Vatz, "The Insanity Defense," THE WASHINGTON POST ( August 26, 1990)

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "Anti-psychiatry and Homelessness," COMMENTARY (September, 1991)

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "Battling for Mental Health Benefits," Heath section in THE WASHINGTON POST ( March 31, 1992)

Richard E. Vatz, "The Low State of Higher Ed." THE WASHINGTON POST ( September 14, 1992)

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, refereed letter, "Treatment of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder," JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION (May 12, 1993)

Richard E. Vatz, Edith Effron and Psychoanalysis of Bill Clinton, REASON ( March, 1995)

Richard E. Vatz, ,"Not All Mental Woes Are Severe Illnesses," THE BALTIMORE SUN (answer to attack on my earlier article in WALL STREET JOURNAL," August 19, 1996.

E. EDITORIALS

Richard E. Vatz, "No Mere Rhetoric," THE BALTIMORE SUN (July 15, 1980)

Richard E. Vatz, "Conventional Eloquence," THE BALTIMORE SUN (August, 1980)

Richard E. Vatz, "Which Past for President Reagan," THE BALTIMORE SUN (January 20, 1980)

Richard E. Vatz, "The Inaugural Speech: Reagan Warmed Over?" THE BALTIMORE SUN (January 27, 1981)

Lee S. Weinberg and Richard E. Vatz, "Nixon in 1980," THE WASHINGTON POST (January 16, 1980)

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "Reaganspeak and the New Imperial Presidency," THE BALTIMORE SUN (August 20, 1981)

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "Who's Crazy? Forensic Psychiatry and the Courts," THE BALTIMORE SUN (June 2, 1982)

Richard E. Vatz, "The Tylenol Trial," THE BALTIMORE SUN, (July 14, 1982)

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "Some Say Mental Illness is a Myth,"in Perspective Section of THE BALTIMORE SUN (August 22, 1982)

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "Calling Behaviors 'Illness' deflects responsibility," THE LOS ANGELES TIMES ( June 20, 1983)

Richard E. Vatz, "The Illness Copout," THE BALTIMORE SUN ( August 17, 1983 )

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "Why Not Sue a Psychiatrist?," THE WASHINGTON POST ( August 29, 1983)

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "Reasoned Debate," THE BALTIMORE SUN (September 7, 1983)

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "The Big Hang-Up (campaign phone advertising)," PITTSBURGH PRESS ( November 15, 1983)

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, Ducking the Issue on the Insanity Plea, Perspective section of THE BALTIMORE SUN ( January 22, 1984)

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "Measuring and Shaping Public Opinion," PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE ( February 4, 1984)

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "The Debates," THE BALTIMORE SUN ( June 6, 1984)

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "Sexual Addiction," THE BALTIMORE SUN ( June 27, 1984)

Richard E. Vatz, "Campaign Polling," THE BALTIMORE SUN ( July 27, 1984 )

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "Presidential Debates," THE BALTIMORE SUN (September 27, 1984)

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "Getting Ahead" (on political campaigns and polling),THE BALTIMORE SUN ( October 18, 1984)

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "Inaugurals Past," THE BALTIMORE SUN ( January 21, 1985)

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "Freud Reanalyzed," THE SUNDAY SUN" (February 17, 1985)

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "The 'Meaning' of the Hostage Crisis,'" Lead article in PERSPECTIVE section of THE SUNDAY SUN ( June 30, 1985)

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "Alcoholism as Disease-The Indulgence Epidemic," THE LOS ANGELES TIMES (August 11, 1985)

Richard E. Vatz, Lee S. Weinberg, and Thomas Szasz, "Television and Psychiatry?" Outlook section of THE WASHINGTON POST (September 15, 1985)

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "Psychiatry: Science or Politics?", Lead article in Perspective Section of THE SUNDAY SUN (January 26, 1986)

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "Word Traps," THE BALTIMORE SUN ( March 19, 1986)B

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "Is Gambling a Disease?", THE WASHINGTON POST ( April 2, 1986) [B Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "Great and Not-So-Great Debates," Lead article in Perspective section of THE SUNDAY SUN (June 1, 1986)

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "What Lies Ahead for Polygraphers," LOS ANGELES TIMES (June 22, 1986)

Richard E. Vatz, "Not-so-great Debate," THE EVENING SUN ( July 15, 1986)

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "Disputing Reality of Gamblers' Illness," THE BALTIMORE SUN ( July 23, 1986)

Richard E. Vatz, "Senate Debate Turned Into Minor Chaos," THE EVENING SUN ( July 28, 1986)

Richard E. Vatz, "Tests of Voting," THE BALTIMORE SUN ( July 29, 1986)

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "Women, Politics and Psychiatry," LOS ANGELES HERALD EXAMINER" (August 15, 1986)

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "The Grandiose Claims of the 'New Psychiatry,'" NEWSDAY (October 3, 1986)

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "The Myth of Tobacco Addiction," THE WASHINGTON POST ( October 7, 1986) (adaptation published in CHICAGO TRIBUNE November 3, 1986)

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg "Reagan Should Not Testify," THE BALTIMORE EVENING SUN ( December 17, 1986)

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "The Riddle of Colonel North: A Crazy-Brave Among Phony-Toughs," THE WASHINGTON POST ( January 26, 1987)

Richard E. Vatz, "A Prescription for Disaster," (Analysis on Gubernatorial Commission on Higher Education), THE BALTIMORE SUN (February 17, 1987)

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "Yet Another 'Most-Crucial' Reagan Test," THE BALTIMORE SUN ( March 21, 1987 )

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "Science and Advocacy in the Courtroom," THE BALTIMORE SUN ( April 18, 1987)

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "Selling the Myth of the Pathological Gambler," THE EVENING SUN ( June 22, 1987)

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "The President's Speech: Great Expectations, Small Substance," The Perspective Section in THE SUNDAY SUN ( August 16, 1987)

Richard E. Vatz, "A Debate That Wasn't," THE BALTIMORE SUN, September 1, 1987

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "Polls: Was the Big Schmoke Lead Created or Discovered?", Perspective section of THE SUNDAY SUN ( September 27, 1987)

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "Making Opinion Instead of Measuring It: The Perils of Asking if Bush is a Wimp," Perspective section of THE SUNDAY SUN (October 18, 1987)

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "Some Reflections on New Hampshire's Vote," THE EVENING SUN (February 18, 1988)

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "Dole's Big Victory: It was in the Air," Perspective section in THE SUNDAY SUN (February 21, 1988)

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "What is Alcoholism?", Lead article in Perspective section in THE SUNDAY SUN (January 24, 1988). Reprinted in The LOS ANGELES DAILY RECORD (January 1988)

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "When to Release Criminally Insane?" THE BALTIMORE SUN (March 10, 1988)

Richard E. Vatz, "Notes on the Summit," THE EVENING SUN (June 3, 1988)

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "The Rather Tense Nature of Bush Interviews," Perspective Section of THE BALTIMORE SUNDAY SUN ( June 12, 1988)

Richard E. Vatz, "Rating the [Democrats'] Speechifying," THE BALTIMORE SUN ( July 23, 1988)

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, re Dukakis psychiatric rumors "A Problem, or is it a Sickness?" THE BALTIMORE EVENING SUN ( August 11, 1988)

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "Rating the [Republicans'] Rhetoric," THE BALTIMORE SUN (August 20, 1988)

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "Quayle Failed. Does it Matter?," THE BALTIMORE EVENING SUN ( October 7, 1988)

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "We Can't Tell Who'll Be Violent if Released," NEWSDAY, January 8, 1989

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "In Defense of the Motivation of Therapists," Perspective page, THE BALTIMORE SUNDAY SUN, February 26, 1989

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "Tower's No-Drink Pledge Makes No Sense." THE LOS ANGELES HERALD EXAMINER, March 2, 1989

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "There's a New Skepticism Toward Alcohol as a Disease," Health Section, THE WASHINGTON POST ( March 7, 1989)

Richard E. Vatz, "After the Wilding, the World asks, 'Why?'," THE BALTIMORE EVENING SUN ( May 8, 1989)

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "Can Gambling Be Excused as a Disease?" THE BALTIMORE SUNDAY SUN ( JULY 2, 1989)

Richard E. Vatz, "Going Hunting for Quayle Again," THE BALTIMORE SUNDAY SUN (July 23, 1989)

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "The Problem with 'Admitting the Problem'[Critique of self-help groups "Twelve Steps"]," Perspective section of THE SUNDAY SUN ( November 19, 1989); published as "When an Admission Becomes a No-fault Claim," CLEVELAND PLAIN DEALER ( January 15, 1990)

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "Guess-timates About Gambling" (Critique of pathological gambling surveys), THE BALTIMORE SUN ( January 24, 1990 ) Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "A Perspective on Letters to Newspapers," THE PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE ( March 6, 1990)

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "Those Who Can Teach" (on the effect of the Civil Rights Act of 1990 on college and university hiring), THE BALTIMORE SUN (March 31, 1990)

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "The Walters Interview: No Guts and Much Glory," THE BALTIMORE EVENING SUN ( April 10, 1990)

Richard E. Vatz, "Public Apologies," THE BALTIMORE SUN (August 7, 1990)

Richard E. Vatz, "MADD's Gentle Art of Persuasion," THE BALTIMORE EVENING SUN (August 7, 1990)

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "The President Escalates the Rhetoric in Baltimore Speech [in Persian Gulf Crisis]," THE SUNDAY SUN ( August 26, 1990)

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "Teaching us Values and Calling it 'Science'" [critique of the 1990 Kinsey Institute Survey on Americans' Sexual Knowledge], THE BALTIMORE SUN (September 15, 1990)

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "State of Mind" [on conviction of man having sex with person with "multiple personality disorder], THE BALTIMORE SUN (November 13, 1990)

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "The Expense of the Death Penalty," THE PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE (January 12, 1991)

Richard E. Vatz, "Compulsive Gambling as a Phony Excuse," THE WALL STREET JOURNAL ( July 3, 1991)

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "The Smith Case: End to Rape Shield Laws?" THE WASHINGTON POST ( September 3, 1991)

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "Mental Illness and Insurance," THE BALTIMORE SUN ( January 11, 1992)

Richard E. Vatz, "New Study Provides Evidence Hyperactivity Overdiagnosed," THE SUNDAY SUN ( September 13, 1992)

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "Presidential Debates Seldom Shake Solid Support," THE SUNDAY SUN ( October 11, 1992)

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "Keno Krazy: Why 'Compulsive Gambling Really Isn't," "Outlook" Editorial, THE WASHINGTON POST (January 10, 1993)

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "Incoming Presidents Labor with 'an Inferior Art Form" [inaugural address], THE SUNDAY SUN (January 17, 1993)

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "Blanket Mental Health Coverage -- Crazy," THE WALL STREET JOURNAL (April 14, 1993)

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "[Mental Health Insurance] Coverage Only for the Most Severe Conditions, THE BALTIMORE SUN (June 8, 1993)

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "Media Make [Health] Risks Sensational," THE SUNDAY SUN ( June 27, 1993)

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "Mental Health Myopia" (Media coverage of psychiatry and public policy), THE WASHINGTON TIMES (August 17, 1993)

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "The Insanity of the Ron Price Case," THE BALTIMORE SUN (August 18, 1993)

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "Not a 'Victim' to His Victim," (op-ed interview with victim of American University President Richard Berendzen), THE WASHINGTON TIMES (September 19, 1993)

Richard E. Vatz, "Mental Health: A Phony Crisis," USA TODAY (December 2, 1993)

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "Separate 'Mentally Ill' from 'Worried Well," (relates to Clinton Health Security Act), THE LOS ANGELES TIMES (December 13, 1993)

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "Making Maryland 'The Therapeutic State'" THE SUNDAY SUN ( February 13, 1994)

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "How We Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Nixon -- Well, Sort of," THE SUNDAY SUN ( May 1, 1994)

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "Attention Deficit Delirium," THE WALL STREET JOURNAL ( July 27, 1994)

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "Shapiro for the Defense," THE BALTIMORE SUN (September 2, 1994)

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "To Clinton's 'Shrinks:' Heal Thyselves," THE BALTIMORE EVENING SUN ( November 22, 1994)

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "The Strange Case of Denver's Lenore Walker," THE DENVER POST ( February 4, 1995)

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "Gambling is not Pathological," "Rejoinder," THE BALTIMORE SUN (October, 1995)

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "Good Reasons for Caution on Mental Health Coverage," THE WALL STREET JOURNAL (June 13, 1996)

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, " My Fellow Americans...(and all that)" (critique of inaugural addresses) THE PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE (January 20, 1997); also published in THE NEW JERSEY STANDARD

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "Muddled Concepts of Mental Disability," THE WASHINGTON TIMES (May 21, 1997)

F. Conference Papers and Presentations

Richard E. Vatz, "Presidential Ethos: The Rhetoric of Apotheosis," at Eastern States Communication Convention, 1973

Lee S. Weinberg and Richard E. Vatz, "Psychiatry and Crime," Academy of Criminal Justice annual meeting, New Orleans, 1978

Richard E. Vatz, Chair, "Thomas Szasz's Rhetorical and Communication Theories and Their Applications," Eastern Communication Association annual meeting, 1979

Richard E. Vatz, "Rhetoric and Social Science," American Legal Studies Association annual meeting, 1979

Richard E. Vatz, "The Rhetorical Creation of Detente," Speech Communication Association annual meeting, 1980

Lee S. Weinberg and Richard E. Vatz, "The Insanity of the Insanity Defense," Northeastern Political Science Association annual meeting, November, 1981

Richard E. Vatz, Chair of Panel on Political Rhetoric at Eastern States Communication Association annual meeting, April, 1984

Richard E. Vatz, Chair and Coordinator of SCA Seminar Series , "Psychiatry and Psychology as Rhetoric," 1987 SCA annual convention

Richard E. Vatz, Chair, "Symbols of Threat and Reassurance: Case Studies in Political Communication," panel at 1987 SCA annual convention

Richard E. Vatz, Chair and Coordinator, "Language and Alcoholism: Alcohol and the 'Disease' Metaphor/Model," 1988 Speech Communication Association annual convention

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "Media and Polling: Measuring and Creating the Salience of George Bush as 'Wimp,'" 1988 Speech Communication Association annual convention

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "Alcohol and the Disease Metaphor: The Veterans Administration Supreme Court Decision," 1988 Speech Communication Association annual convention

Richard E. Vatz, Chair and Coordinator of panel, THE LANGUAGE AND PERSUASION OF HYPERACTIVITY" Eastern Communication Association annual meeting, May, 1989

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "Hyperactivity and the Disease Metaphor," Eastern Communication Association annual meeting, May, 1989

Richard E. Vatz, coordinator and participant in debate on considering alcoholism as a disease, Speech Communication Association annual convention, 1990

Richard E. Vatz, paper presenter and Panel participant on "Public Opinion and Presidential Elections," Speech Communication Association annual convention, 1990

Richard E. Vatz, coordination and paper presenter on "Predicting Policy from Presidential Rhetoric," Eastern Communication Association annual meeting, 1991

Richard E. Vatz, "Rhetoric and Mental Illness: The Case of Multiple Personality Disorder," International Communication Association annual meeting, 1991

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "The Conceptual Bind in Defining the Volitional Component of Alcoholism: Consequences for Public Policy and Scientific Research," Speech Communication Association annual meeting, November, 1991

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "Mental Illness and Criminal Law: From Shield to Sword," Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences Annual Meeting, March, 1992

Richard E. Vatz, chair, "Stress, Social Support and Cogency of Specialized Appeals," Speech Communication Association annual convention, 1992

Richard E. Vatz, "The Rhetorical Paradigm in Psychiatry," Speech Communication Association annual convention, 1993

Richard E. Vatz, "Media Coverage of Psychiatry," Popular Culture Annual Meeting, 1994

Richard E. Vatz, Leader of Roundtable Conference on Psychiatry and Rhetoric, Speech Communication Association annual convention, 1994

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, "Critiques of Szaszian Criticism of Psychiatry," Top Three Papers in Health CommunCication, Eastern Communication Association, annual meeting, 1996

Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, SCA Semi[Cnar in Rhetoric and Psychology, Speech Communication Association annual convention, Fall, 1996

Richard E. Vatz, "The Diatribe and Ezra Pound," Eastern Communication Association, March 1997

G. SELECTED REVIEWING

Articles and books reviewed for:

QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF SPEECH

SPEECH MONOGRAPHS JOURNAL OF COMMUNICATION PRESIDENTIAL STUDIES QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF APPLIED COMMUNICATION SOUTHERN COMMUNICATION JOURNAL Johns Hopkins University Press

H. EDITORSHIPS:

Associate Editor of USA TODAY MAGAZINE 1987-

Currently Editorial Board for SOUTHERN COMMUNICATION JOURNAL I. SERVICE (1982-)

Professional Association:

Elected (1992-1995) to Legislative Council, Speech Communication Association

SELECTED UNIVERSITY COMMITTEES

University Senate 1980- (current) University Task Force on Structure and Governance Committee to evaluate BA/BS degree requirements Served on Masters in Writing committee Served on GUR Evaluation subcommittee of University Curriculum Committee Served on Search Committee for Dean of Minority Affairs College Promotion and Tenure Committee (current) President's Strategic Resources Review Committee on Budget President's Faculty AD HOC Budgetary Committee University Honors Board (current) University RetCrenchment Appeals Committee (current, inactive) AAUP Committee "A" on Scholarly Freedom (current) Fair Practices Committee (current)

DEBATES AND SPEAKERSHIPS

Arranged with Student Government Association:

George McGovern vs. William F. Buckley Sen. Patrick Moynihan vs. Sen. S. I. Hayakawa Eleanor Smeal vs. Judith Lindahl Columnist Richard Cohen Thomas S. Szasz vs. E. Fuller Torrey

CONSULTING

I have served as a consultant in the areas of executive communication and issues of communication and psychiatry. My clients have included some of the major law firms in Baltimore and Washington, banking institutions, charitable institutions and individuals. I have spoken to a variety of groups, including the Capitol Hill Club in Washington and a number of banking and other business groups.

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIPS

Speech Communication Association Eastern Communication Association

SELECTED MEDIA WORK

CBS Radio: Presidential and Vice-Presidential Debates, 1992; 1993 Inaugural; 1996 Presidential and Vice-Presidential Debates; 1997 Presidential Inaugural Commentary

Once-a-week commentary on WBAL Radio -- 1994

Periodic Guest Analyst on Political Rhetoric and Issues in Psychiatric Persuasion:

WBAL-TV WMAR-TV WJZ-TV WBAL RADIO WJHU Radio

Roundtable Discussions:

WMAR-TV 1996-1997

Further Election and Political Commentary:

Paid Political Consultant for 1984 Presidential Election (WBAL radio) Paid Consultant-Commentator on 1984 Presidential Debates (WMAR-TV) Consultant-Commentator on 1988 Presidential Campaign (WMAR-TV) Regular Debate Commentary, WJZ-TV, 1992 Interview, Bias in Media, WJHU, Wiley Hall, 1996 Interview, Political Rhetoric, Marc Steiner, 1996, 1997

Expertise in Rhetoric (recent)

1996: WASHINGTON POST, Knight- Ridder 1995: BALTIMORE SUN, Knight Ridder

Guest Expert on Rhetoric and Mental Illness (selected):

Interviews:

Guest on William F. Buckley's Firing Line on PBS; Topic "Critiques of Psychiatry" -- 1985

Consulting for "Nightline" on President Reagan's visit to Maryland for the 1986 elections, November, 1986

Financial News Network (FNN) hour guest shots on "Focus" -- 1988, 1989

Cable News Network (CNN) guest on "Crossfire" -- 1988, 1989, 1990, 1992

Interviewed for background on compulsive gambling ABC's "This Week with David Brinkley," 1989

Interviewed on CNN's "Larry King Live" on Drug Use and Social Policy, 1990

Guest on "Donahue" on critiquing the Kinsey Institute Report, 1990 Guest on CNN's "Sonya Live," 1993

Guest on Pat Buchanan nationally syndicated radio show, 1994: Insanity

Interviewed for NEWSWEEK piece on Compulsive Gambling, 1995

Guest on Minnesota's KSTP Jason Lewis Show on topic of Rhetoric and Attention Deficit Disorder, 1995, 1996

Thomas S. Szasz Cybercenter for Liberty and Responsibility:
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