Why presidents need poetry

Rita Dove served as Poet Laureate of the United States and Consultant to the Library of Congress from 1993-1995, as Poet Laureate of the Commonwealth of Virginia from 2004-2006, and in 1986 was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for her book, Thomas and Beulah. Dove is known for her eloquent writing and reflections on black life in America, among other themes. She currently holds the chair of Commonwealth Professor of English at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. Her latest book, Collected Poems 1974-2004, was released by W.W. Norton & Co. in May 2016; it was a finalist for the National Book Award and winner of the NAACP Image Award in Poetry.