Show Notes
What Did Frederick Douglass Really Think of Abraham Lincoln? Discover the complex relationship between two of America's most influential figures in this revealing conversation about a groundbreaking new book. Historians John White and Lucas Morel unveil previously unknown letters and documents that transform our understanding of how Frederick Douglass viewed Abraham Lincoln—from harsh critic to reluctant admirer. Featured Guests: Dr. John White, Professor of American Studies at Christopher Newport University and co-winner of the 2023 Gilder Lehrman Lincoln Prize Dr. Lucas Morel, Professor of Politics at Washington and Lee University and trustee of the Supreme Court Historical Society What You'll Learn: Why Douglass initially called Lincoln "the South's greatest slave hound" and "abolitionism's worst enemy" The surprising letters revealing Douglass believed Andrew Johnson would be a better Reconstruction president than Lincoln How three private meetings between Douglass and Lincoln changed the abolitionist's perspective Douglass's "rail-splitting" philosophy explaining Lincoln's strategic approach to black voting rights Why Douglass spent the rest of his life honoring Lincoln's legacy despite early criticisms The newly discovered correspondence with British abolitionists that historians hadn't seen in over 150 years White and Morel's book "Measuring the Man: The Writings of Frederick Douglass on Abraham Lincoln" compiles every known statement Douglass made about Lincoln, including a dozen previously unknown documents uncovered through digital archives and London newspaper microfilm. This episode explores themes of emancipation, political strategy, black suffrage, Civil War leadership, and the tension between radical abolitionism and practical statesmanship during America's most defining era. Get the book: https://a.co/d/1axh4FL Host: Jeff Sikkenga Executive Producer: Jeremy Gypton Subscribe: https://linktr.ee/theamericanidea
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Typical civics and American Government courses teach that the Supreme Court has the final say in interpreting the Constitution - that is, determining its meaning and limits. Judicial Review, and other accepted powers of the court, are also taught as if the Founders built them that way. But what if that’s not the case? What if the court’s powers and norms are the current state of a centuries-long evolution, one that isn’t necessarily, or supposed to ever be, complete? Constitutional scholar Matthew Franck joins Jeff to discuss the evolution of the court’s powers, particularly that of judicial review, and how the view that they are a settled issue may not serve our republic well. Read Federalist 78, mentioned in the episode: https://teachingamericanhistory.org/document/federalist-78/ Read Federalist 81: https://teachingamericanhistory.org/document/federalist-no-81/ Find Matt’s articles at the Public Discourse: https://www.thepublicdiscourse.com/ Host: Jeff Sikkenga Executive Producer: Jeremy Gypton Subscribe: https://linktr.ee/theamericanidea Homepage: https://ashbrook.org/the-american-idea-podcast/ Thank you for being part of The American Idea community. Follow on Twitter https://x.com/amideapodcast Follow on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ashbrookcenter/
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