Meet the Author: Robert Caughlan talks about his book Surfer in the White House – and other Salty Yarns

At the San Mateo Library:

Rob Caughlan’s book, Surfer in the White House – and other Salty Yarns is a chronicle of his life as a surfer and political activist.

Caughlan is a powerful and entertaining speaker, alternating between inspiring and illuminating accounts of environmental problems and victories and funny and sometimes poignant stories about the all too human actors on all sides.

As a result of his career of successful advocacy, Caughlan has a multitude of anecdotes which he uses to bring his speeches to life for audiences. He worked in the White House and Environmental Protection Agency for President Jimmy Carter. He founded the Sam Ervin fan club during the Watergate hearings, led the Surfrider Foundation to victory in what was according to Newsweek magazine the second largest clean water enforcement action in the nation’s history. He served as Administrative Assistant to Congressman Leo Ryan (who was assassinated in the Jonestown tragedy). He writes chapters about his many experiences as an assistant and friend of Congressman Pete McCloskey. Friends of the River was born as an organization in his living room.

He initiated and assembled the resources to begin the production of a ten-part television series for Turner Broadcasting on global environmental issues called Voice of the Planet starring William Shatner and Faye Dunaway. Over the years, Caughlan has also worked with such Hollywood notables as Robert Redford and Paul Newman to promote environmental causes. People Magazine, covering his struggle on behalf of ocean protection, called him a “righteous dude”.