American historian
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When did the American conservative movement begin? Who were its chief protagonists? What were their main motivations? Is the conservative movement a social movement, like any other, or is it something different? Should scholars have "sympathy" for their conservative subjects in order to study them? And are there important distinctions to be drawn between "conservative," "the right," and "the far right?" These are the sorts of questions historians ask each other and themselves. The changing ways they answer them — and the reasons their answers change — is the subject of today's episode. In other words: we're discussing the historiography of the American right. (Fun!)In a highly influential 1994 essay, historian Alan Brinkley referred to conservatism as "something of an orphan in historical scholarship." By 2011, when our brilliant guest, Kim Phillips-Fein, surveyed the historical literature on conservatism, she found a dynamic, prolific, even "trendy" field, but one with many unsettled methodological debates. In 2017, friend of the pod Rick Perlstein wrote that historians, himself included, had made a mistake, privileging the more respectable and intellectual dimensions of conservatism over the more irrational, rank, and racist. "If Donald Trump is the latest chapter of conservatism's story," Perlstein mused, "might historians have been telling that story wrong?" Since then, several studies and popular books have emerged which correct the record, and take up Perlstein's call to study "conservative history's political surrealists and intellectual embarrassments, its con artists and tribunes of white rage." To start off the year — an election year, no less — we're taking up these questions again. What is the state of the field of conservative studies now? Have historians, popular writers, and/or podcasters over-corrected, in the Trump era, for the mistakes Perlstein cites? What might we be missing this time? We're so very lucky to have long-time friend of the show Kim Phillips-Fein, the Robert Gardiner-Kenneth T. Jackson Professor of History at Columbia University, as our guide. Let's get big picture and take stock. 2024, here we go. Further Reading:Alan Brinkley, "The Problem of American Conservatism," The American Historical Review, Apr 1994. Kim Phillips Fein, "Conservatism: A State of the Field," The Journal of American History, Dec 2011. — Invisible Hands: The Businessmen's Crusade Against the New Deal (2010)— Fear City: New York's Fiscal Crisis and the Rise of Austerity Politics (2017)Rick Perlstein, "I Thought I Understood the American Right. Trump Proved Me Wrong." New York Times, Apr 11, 2017. Richard Hofstadter, "The Pseudo-Conservative Revolt," The American Scholar, Winter, 1954. Willmoore Kendall, The Conservative Affirmation (Regnery Publishing, 1963)John Huntington, Far-Right Vanguard: The Radical Roots of Modern Conservatism (2021)...and don't forget to subscribe to Know Your Enemy on Patreon for access to all of our bonus episodes!
Military Historians are People, Too! A Podcast with Brian & Bill
Our guest today is Andrew J. Huebner, who clearly didn't think through the idea of recording live in the Odysea Waterfront Lounge at the Hilton Bayfront in San Diego, in the middle of the Annual Meeting of the Society for Military History! Thankfully, most military historians avoid bars, pubs, etc. (NOT!). But we had a great chat and the sound turned out ok, so thanks for your patience with the sound quality on this one! Andrew is Professor of History at the University of Alabama. He earned his undergraduate degree from Northwestern University and his PhD from Brown University. Andrew was a visiting professor at Brown from 2004-2006 and a lecturer in History and English at Harvard during the same span. Since 2017, he has been an Organization of American Historians Distinguished Lecturer. He is the author of Love and Death in the Great War (Oxford), which won the President's Book Prize from the Society for Historians of the Gilded Age and Progressive Era, and The Warrior Image: Soldiers in American Culture from the Second World War to the Vietnam Era (UNC), a Nota Bene selection of Chronicle of Higher Education. He is co-editor with John Giggie of Dixie's Great War (Alabama), and forthcoming titles The Cambridge History of War and Society in America (with Jennifer Keene), and Race and Gender at War (Alabama) with Friend-of-the-Pod Lesley Gordon. Andrew is also the co-author with Alan Brinkley and John Giggey of a popular American history textbook, The Unfinished Nation: A Concise History of the American People. In addition, his work has appeared in the Journal of American History, Film and History, The Sixties, American Studies, and Journalism History. His current project, Buffalo Soldiers and the Making of the United States Empire, s under contract with Liveright/W.W. Norton. Andrew has given talks all over the United States, is a frequent guest on history podcasts, and contributor and advisor to public history projects. He's a busy guy, but one of the most humble and enjoyable historians you'll come across. Join us for our chat with Andrew, as we discuss New Jersey, gender theory (or not), Modest Mouse, and even presidential aspirations, all while Andrew multi-tasks talking with us, enjoying a beer, AND watching the Alabama-San Diego State Sweet 16 match-up over our shoulders on the big bar TV (spoiler - the game didn't end well for Andrew)! As always, thanks for listening, please subscribe on whatever podcast service you use to Military Historians are People, Too, and all podcasts you enjoy, and don't forget to check out our Swag Store on Zazzle! Rec.: 03/24/2023
NBA Draft - childhood teammates meet again. Dan's Tonys rant. Bagels: exceedingly old, exceedingly small. Art Forgeries and The Bomb. Remembering Molly O'Neill, Alan Brinkley and Charles Reich. Summer Reads. Credits: Talent: Tamsen Granger and Dan Abuhoff Engineer: Ellie Suttmeier Art: Zeke Abuhoff
In this episode, Niki, Neil, and Natalia discuss the recent passing of two major figures: political historian Alan Brinkley and socialite fashion designer Gloria Vanderbilt, and the historical significance of a viral Buzzfeed essay about attending a lesbian cruise. Support Past Present on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pastpresentpodcast Here are some links and references mentioned during this week’s show: Columbia political historian Alan Brinkley – a Ph.D. advisor to Neil and Niki and favorite undergraduate professor of Natalia – has died. Niki recommended Alan Brinkley: A Life in History, a collection of essays by some of his students, including Niki. Neil discussed Brinkley’s influential 1994 article in the American Historical Review, “The Problem of American Conservatism.” Natalia recommended David Greenberg’s reflection in TIME on Brinkley’s legacy. Heiress and fashion trailblazer Gloria Vanderbilt has died. Niki referred to this Washington Post article about the custody trial that defined Vanderbilt as a “poor little rich girl.” Natalia noted how trailblazing the commercials for her jeans Shannon Keating’s Buzzfeed essay about her experience on a lesbian cruise operated by Olivia Travel has gone viral. Natalia cited David K. Johnson’s book Buying Gay. In our regular closing feature, What’s Making History: Natalia recommended a new documentary, The Lavender Scare. Neil discussed the Orlando Sentinel’s editorial, “Our Orlando Sentinel Endorsement for 2020: Not Donald Trump.” Niki shared P.R. Lockhart’s Vox article, “Writer Ta-Nehisi Coates Gives Mitch McConnell a Thorough History Lesson on Reparations.”
John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum Forum series
Alan Brinkley, the Allan Nevins Professor of American History at Columbia University, discussed his new biography in The American Presidents Series, John F. Kennedy: The 35th President, 1961-1963, with historian Ellen Fitzpatrick.
The distinguished historian Alan Brinkley will examine the political legacies of the New Deal in shaping the tenets of economic and social liberalism that would underpin Democratic Party ascendancy in US politics in the post-World War II quarter-...
The distinguished historian Alan Brinkley will examine the political legacies of the New Deal in shaping the tenets of economic and social liberalism that would underpin Democratic Party ascendancy in US politics in the post-World War II quarter-cent...
Author and historian Alan Brinkley shares his thoughts on the alchemy of luck and chance in the Oval Office.
Today we examine "How Do Presidents Succeed-and Fail?" The topic is part of an upcoming symposium at Colonial Williamsburg this week. Allan Nevins Professor of American History at Columbia University, Dr. Alan Brinkley will join us to talk about presidential power, how presidents use it, and how much they rely on principles and how much they rely on contingencies. We'll also be joined by Dr. John Gilmour, Professor of Government and Associate Director of the Thomas Jefferson Program in Public Policy at the College of William & Mary.
Listen to noted historian Alan Brinkley discuss Eleanor Roosevelt and her relationship with her husband, Franklin.
James Neal, VP for Information Services University Librarian; Alan Brinkley, University Provost Opening Remarks
James Neal, VP for Information Services University Librarian; Alan Brinkley, University Provost Opening Remarks
James Neal, VP for Information Services University Librarian; Alan Brinkley, University Provost Opening Remarks