Ron Pynn:
Interpreter of politics

Click for Ron Pynn's tribute page
Fellow TAA members and leaders thanking Pynn for his dedication to TAA.

Ron Pynn: Politics author He writes for intellectual stimulation. "It's challenging trying to craft ideas into a meaningful package. "I like to take complex ideas and put them into an easy to read format." Books Watergate and the American Political Process, 1974 American Politics: Changing Expectations, 1980 History and Contents of the Constitution of the United States, with Lloyd Omdahl and Phil Harmeson, 1986 Political Economy, with Denise Markovich, 1987 The Election of 1994, 1995 Education Ph.D., University of Michigan, 1970 M.A., University of Michigan, 1965 B.S., Wisconsin State University - Eau Claire, 1964

Ron Pynn has always been interested in government and politics but doesn't think he'd ever run for office: "I'm more of an interpreter than a shaper or participant." He retired as professor of political science at the University of North Dakota in 1999. While in North Dakota, he was regularly called on to anaylze political issues on Grand Forks television and appeared on ABC's Nightline with Ted Koppel for the 1986 North Dakota elections.

He's a Democrat but didn't support Bill Clinton, who he says was "a superb campaigner but a mediocre president." He saw Clinton as hesitant and fitfull -- someone who didn't take on too much. "He said the right things," Pynn said. "He was good with people and thought on his feet, but that didn't make him a good president." Still, Pynn is a firm Democrat. "Historically Democrats have supported the disadvantaged and civil rights," he said.

Pynn wrote about the Republican shift in power in his book The Election of 1994, in which he spends a lot of time talking about the revolution of 1994, when the Republicans took control. The book, a supplement to his 1993 text American Politics: Changing Expectations. The Election of 1994, filled the gap between the 1994 Republican takeover and the 1996 presidential election. The takeover was so different, so dramatic Pynn said, that "nothing written thus far covered it."

The shift in power, Pynn said, means more responsiblity being placed on individual citizens. "With less government financing for individuals, and less welfare," he said, "people will have to work, and the market will have to sustain them." In the first three years after the shift, he saw a more stable economy and a reduced deficit, but he also saw the rich-poor gap widenening. "The rich get richer, and the poor get poorer, and no one appears to give a damn," Pynn said.

He has written four other books: History and Contents of the Constitution of the United States, in 1986, with co-authors Lloyd Omdahl and Phil Harmeson; Political Economy, 1987, with co-author Denise Markovich; American Politics: Changing Expectations, 1980; in its fourth edition in 1998; and Watergate and the American Political Process, 1974.

When Pynn finishes a textbook, all he feels is relief. "The book dominates my life," he said. "I get preoccupied with it and it tends to be constantly on my mind. So when I finish a text, I feel relief. It's done, now I can go on to other things." Then why does he do it? "For the intellectual stimulation," he said. "It's challenging trying to craft ideas into a meaningful package. I like to take complex ideas and put them into an easy to read format."

His American Politics: Changing Expectations, in its fourth edition in 1998, his best-selling text, is known for a teachable and readable format. "Students have found it clear and lucid," Pynn said. "They tell me it makes things understandable and interesting." Its chapter-opening vignettes feature James Madison and Clarence Gideon among others.

Pynn started writing textbooks because he wasn't happy with the books he was using and thought he could do a better job. "I just jumped into it," he said. "I find it more time-consuming than I thought it would be." The entire project takes about two years: one year to write, he said, and one year to do the galleys, proofs and updates. He writes in front of the televison -- noise doesn't distract him -- and although he can write anytime, he finds it easier to write in blocks of time. He is now retired from writing.

He received a bachelor's degree from Wisconsin State University-Eau Claire in 1964, a master's from the University of Michigan in 1965 and then a doctorate from Michigan in 1970.

Pynn found teaching a natural route. He'd always liked education. "I was an overachiever," he said. "In my freshman year in high school I had an honor pass, so I could leave school early." Where did he go? The library. "It excited me to walk in and know I could find information there, " he said.

He credits two professors for his success: Robert Gibbon, at Wisconsin-Eau Claire, and Frank Grace, at Michigan. "They were very good teachers who took a personal interest in me and helped me both intellectually and academically," Pynn said. "I certainly hope I'm that type of teacher to my students." His students have honored him with four awards over the years:

• Outstanding Teaching Award in 1975
• Outstanding Faculty Award, from the Order of Omega in 1989
• Outstanding Teaching Award, from the Division of Continuing Education in 1992
• Outstanding Teaching Award, from the American Political Science Association and Pi Sigma Alpha (the National Political Science Honor Society) in 1999

He has taught many students who went on to successful political careers, like Earl Pomeroy, who represents North Dakota in Congress, and still holds his days at UND in high regard. "He came back to the university recently to take me out to lunch," Pynn said. Other successful students include Heidi Heitkamp, who served as the attorney general of North Dakota from 1993-2001; Angela Hovland, a lobbyist in Boston for the O'Neill family; and Canadian football player "Dr. Death," Dave Fennell, who Pynn helped out when he didn't think he'd be able to keep up with football and his studies. "I like students," Pynn said. "I like interacting with them, watching them grow intellectually and get turned on to ideas. Many of my students keep in touch with me today."

Pynn taught at the University of North Dakota for 30 years, working his way up to full professor and even serving a term as the assistant academic vice president from 1992 to 1994. Although he taught a variety of courses, his favorite was political theory. "I like ideas and I like talking about ideas," he said. After retiring from the University of North Dakota, he moved to St. Petersburg, Florida to work half-time as TAA's first paid Executive Director, a position he had worked previously as volunteer. He served as Executive Director of TAA from 1995 to 2005. When he left his position as Executive Director of TAA, he moved to Vermont, where he volunteers on the board of directors for JUMP (Joint Urban Ministry Project) which provides assistance to low income families, people in stress, and the homeless. He also serves as the chair for JUMP's Finance Committee. He has served as TAA Council Secretary since 2005.

— reported by Kim Pawlak, 1997. Updated 2007.