There are few periods in American history that offered more hope than Reconstruction. There are also few periods that left behind such devastation. On this episode, we talk with University of Maryland Distinguished Professor Dr. Robert Levine about his book, "The Failed Promise: Reconstruction, Frederick Douglass and the Impeachment of Andrew Johnson." He explains how Andrew Johnson went from a figure of hope to a villain of America's attempt at a rebirth. Dr. Levine explains how his roots as a poor southern racist - who happened to speak out against slavery - led him to become Abraham Lincoln's successor. Johnson quickly disappointed advocates for Black enfranchisement like Frederick Douglass, which helped leave behind over a century of racial discord. Combined with white supremacist terrorism, we discuss how America again failed to deliver on its founding promise, that "All men are created equal."

Dr. Levine's website can be found at blog.umd.edu/robert-s-levine/

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