American History (Audio)

Conversations host Harry Kreisler welcomes historian, critic, and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Garry Wills for a discussion his new book, “Bomb Power.” Wills recalls his formative influences including his Catholic faith and education; William Buckley and the editors of The National Review; the Vietnam War protests; and the Civil Rights movement. He compares Obama to past presidents and explains why his support turned to criticism. He analyzes the impact of the atomic bomb on the U.S. constitutional system arguing that its development created a national security state characterized by an enlargement of Presidential power at the expense of other branches of government. Series: "Conversations with History" [Public Affairs] [Humanities] [Show ID: 18336]

Ronald C. White. Jr., a leading Lincoln scholar, explores Lincoln’s religious ideas and their role in policy making in this Burke Lecture from UC San Diego. Series: "Burke Lectureship on Religion and Society" [Humanities] [Show ID: 16399]

Conversations host Harry Kreisler welcomes Stewart Patrick, Director of the Program on International Institutions and Global Governance at the Council on Foreign Relations. Focusing on Patrick's new book, “The Best Laid Plans, The Origins of American Multilateralism and the Dawn of the Cold War.” Topics discussed include: the causes of America's commitment to multilateralism in the period 1940-1950, the implications of this history for analyzing and understanding the global response to the present economic crisis and, looking to the future, the likely evolution of multilateral institutions in a multipolar world under stress. Series: "Conversations with History" [Public Affairs] [Humanities] [Show ID: 16456]

Harry Kreisler welcomes Pulitzer Prize winning historian David M. Kennedy to discuss what can be learned from The Great Depression. Professor Kennedy analyzes the genius of Roosevelt's leadership, the tragedy of Herbert Hoover, the relationship between FDR's short term goals to deal with the economy and his long term goals to establish a new political coalition and create institutions to stabilize American capitalism and more equitably distribute its resources. Kennedy draws parallels with the current global economic crisis and the lessons that the Obama administration could learn from the New Deal. Series: "Conversations with History" [Public Affairs] [Humanities] [Show ID: 16083]