Glassboro, N.J.—Leon Zimmerman, PIA of New Jersey’s former long-time legislative lobbyist, was the featured speaker June 20, 2023, at a special Rowan University Commemoration of the historic USA-Soviet Summit Conference he covered 56 years ago as a journalist.
The global summit, which took place June 23-25, 1967, at Hollybush on the campus of what was then Glassboro State College, brought the leaders of the world’s most powerful nations, U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson and Soviet Premier Alexei N. Kosygin, together to discuss issues of international impact.
Zimmerman was then Trenton correspondent for The Record in Hackensack, Bergen County, one of the biggest daily newspapers in New Jersey. He shared his reflections on his experience reporting on the summit. He also donated his White House press credentials badge to the University’s Summit memorabilia collection.
The commemoration was part of Rowan University’s Centennial Anniversary celebration this year. Sanford Tweedie, dean of the Edelman College of Communication & Creative Arts, presented Zimmerman with a special Rowan University “All Access Media” badge in recognition of professional journalism and communication services, “particularly for his exemplary reporting on the 1967 US-Soviet Summit.”
The American Political Science Association honored Zimmerman in 1969 for “Distinguished Reporting of Public Affairs.” He was with the newspaper 12-and-a-half years, resigning in 1972 to establish his own public relations and governmental affairs firm.
Zimmerman, who served as the PIA New Jersey lobbyist from 1974 to 2016, was honored three times by the association with its New Jersey Legislative Award in 1990, and the Distinguished Insurance Service Award in 1998 and again in 2016, when he retired.
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