Podcast appearances and mentions of patrick spero

Every American knows Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence, but was he really its sole architect? In this revisited episode, we sit down with three scholars to pull back the curtain on how the Declaration came to be written. Danielle Allen of Harvard University, Patrick Spero of the American Philosophical Society, and Peter Onuf of the University of Virginia reveal that the Declaration was never one man's work. Together, they show how John Adams — not Jefferson — was the intellectual architect behind "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." How Benjamin Franklin changed the Declaration with just four or five surgical edits. And what the Second Continental Congress cut from Jefferson's original draft, including his striking grievance blaming King George III for the international slave trade. Originally recorded in 2017 as part of Ben Franklin's World's Doing History to the Revolution series, this episode pairs with Episode 446 and Episode 447 to mark the Declaration's 250th anniversary. Danielle's Website | Book Patrick's Website | BookPeter's Website | BookShow Notes: https://www.benfranklinsworld.com/141 RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODES

LEXINGTON, Ky. (July 2, 2026) – As the United States marks the 250th anniversary of its founding, the University of Kentucky Department of History is helping the campus and broader community think more deeply about 1776 — not only as a moment of celebration, but as a moment for reflection. Through its 'Celebrating 1776' lecture series, public events, film screenings and courses, the department is bringing together historians, public scholars and UK experts to explore the American Revolution, the Declaration of Independence and the ideas that have shaped the nation across two and a half centuries. On this episode of 'Behind the Blue,' Amy Murrell Taylor, Ph.D., the T. Marshall Hahn Jr. Professor of History at UK, joins host Kody Kiser to discuss America 250, Kentucky's place in the story of the founding era and why the principles of liberty, equality and governance by the people remain so alive in the national conversation. "These are moments, yes, of celebration, but moments that encourage people to stop and think: what are we celebrating exactly?" Taylor said. "What is this nation? What is this Declaration of Independence that we're celebrating?" Taylor's scholarship focuses on the Civil War era, slavery, emancipation and the lived experiences of ordinary Americans. The last time she joined 'Behind the Blue,' the conversation centered on her award-winning book, 'Embattled Freedom,' and the national debate over Confederate memorials. In this episode, Taylor connects that earlier conversation to America 250 through questions of public memory — how people remember the past, what they choose to honor and how history continues to shape the present. "One through line between the conversations about Confederate memorials and the 250th is clearly how do we remember our past?" Taylor said. "How do we look back on it and learn from it and celebrate it?" Taylor also discusses Kentucky's relationship to the founding era. While Kentucky was not yet a state in 1776, the region was deeply shaped by the American Revolution, westward expansion, Indigenous resistance and settlement. Lexington itself was named for the Battle of Lexington in 1775, and what would become Kentucky was part of Virginia during the Revolutionary era. "Kentucky is part of what we might consider to be the traditional revolutionary story," Taylor said. "But it's also part of this other side to the revolution that hasn't gotten as much attention in our collective memory." The episode also previews the Department of History's 'Celebrating 1776' series. Events include public conversations and lectures with leading historians and public scholars, including Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Joseph Ellis; Christy Coleman, executive director of the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation; a September screening of highlights from the PBS film "The American Revolution" by Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein and David Schmidt; and an October lecture by Patrick Spero, chief executive officer of the American Philosophical Society, on "André Michaux, Thomas Jefferson, and the Kentucky Conspiracy of 1793." The department is also incorporating the anniversary into coursework, including classes on the American Revolution and U.S. history. Taylor said students are engaging directly with founding documents such as the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, not simply to memorize them, but to understand their origins, their meaning and how Americans have continued to invoke them across generations. "What I want them to get out of reading these documents is they're not going to memorize them," Taylor said. "But I want them to generally understand basically what's in there, but walk away from my class with an impulse to always go back and look." For Taylor, America 250 offers an opportunity for the public to ask historical questions — not only about what happened in 1776, but about why those events continue to matter. "I would love for people in this moment to ask some questions about what they're celebrating," Taylor said. "Even as they're eating their hot dogs and watermelon and whatever they're having, maybe some questions will come to their minds." You can find out more about the UK Department of History here. And, you can learn more about the department's 'Celebrating 1776' lecture series here. 'Behind the Blue' is available via a variety of podcast providers, including Apple Podcasts, YouTube and Spotify. Subscribe to receive new episodes each week, featuring UK's latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists, writers and the most important news impacting the university. 'Behind the Blue' is a production of the University of Kentucky. Transcripts for most episodes are now embedded in the audio file and can be accessed in many podcast apps during playback. Transcripts for older episodes remain available on the show's blog page.  To discover how the University of Kentucky is advancing our Commonwealth, click here. This interview has been edited for time and clarity.

The Author Events Series presents Annette Gordon-Reed | Jefferson on Race: A Reader In Conversation with Patrick Spero, Ph.D Among America's Founding Fathers, none was more deeply, personally, or controversially entangled with race and slavery than Thomas Jefferson. The man whose Declaration of Independence proclaimed that ''all men are created equal'' enslaved more than 600 people of African descent even as he acknowledged the injustice of slavery, saw himself as its opponent, and condemned it in his writings. How is this possible? In Jefferson on Race, Pulitzer Prize–winning historian Annette Gordon-Reed gathers Jefferson's most revealing writings about African Americans, slavery, and Native Americans, enabling readers as never before to directly explore his complex and contradictory thoughts, feelings, and decisions on these subjects-the most hotly debated aspect of his legacy. These selections come from Jefferson's public and private writings, letters, and plantation records, as well as accounts by contemporaries, including his son Madison Hemings and three other people formerly enslaved at Monticello. The book documents Jefferson's ideas about-and self-image in relation to-African Americans, slavery, and Native Americans, as well as his conduct, including interactions with individual Black and Native people. The writings show how Jefferson responded to living in a multiracial slave society while professing progressive ideals, and how his views on race and slavery were shaped by his experiences with enslaved Black people. Jefferson on Race is essential reading for anyone seeking to understand Jefferson's conflicted attitudes-and the impact of race and slavery on American history. Annette Gordon-Reed is the Carl M. Loeb University Professor at Harvard University. Gordon-Reed won 16 book prizes, including the Pulitzer Prize  and the National Book Award, for The Hemingses of Monticello: An American Family  (2008). She is the author of six books, and editor of two. She was the Vyvyan Harmsworth Visiting Professor of American History at the University of Oxford (Queen's College) 2014-2015, and was appointed an Honorary Fellow at Queen's in 2021. Gordon-Reed served as the 2018-2019 President of the Society for Historians of the Early American Republic, and is currently president of the Organization of American Historians.  Her honors include fellowships from the Guggenheim and MacArthur Foundations, and the National Humanities Medal. She is a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the American Philosophical Society, and the British Academy.  Patrick Spero, Ph.D., is the Chief Executive Officer of the American Philosophical Society and a scholar of early American history. Dr. Spero is the author of four books on the era of the American Revolution. They are Frontier Country: The Politics of War in Early Pennsylvania (2016), which was named a staff pick by the Philadelphia Inquirer in 2017, Frontier Rebels: The Fight for Independence in the American West, 1765-1776 (2018), winner of the Philadelphia Athenaeum's Literary Award and a finalist for the Journal of the American Revolution's best book of the year, The Scientist Turned Spy: Andre Michaux, Thomas Jefferson, and the Kentucky Conspiracy of 1793 (2024), and The Other Presidency: Thomas Jefferson and the American Philosophical Society (2024).  Because you love Author Events, please make a donation when you register for this event to ensure that this series continues to inspire Philadelphians. Books will be available for purchase at the library on event night! All tickets are non-refundable. (recorded 5/7/2026)

The Department of Homeland Security has entered a partial government shutdown, after a two-week funding extension expired without a bipartisan agreement on immigration reforms. While core agencies like ICE and CBP remain operational due to existing funding streams, the lapse forces roughly 95% of TSA agents and thousands of FEMA employees to work without pay, echoing the financial strain of a previous 43-day shutdown. Republican candidate for the North Carolina Senate and former RNC Chairman Michael Whatley joins the Rundown to discuss yet another political standoff and how it ties into his bid to replace retiring Senator Thom Tillis. As the nation marks the federal holiday for Washington's birthday, 'The White House', a new FOX Nation series, explores the executive mansion's early years, highlighting the political power plays, personal scandals, and the high-stakes compromise that shaped the nation's capital. Historian and CEO of the American Philosophical Society, Dr. Patrick Spero, who is featured in the series, joins to discuss the complex lives of the Founding Fathers, the influential role of Dolley Madison in shaping the building's social identity, and how the "People's House" has constantly evolved to meet the needs of a growing country. Plus, commentary by Paul Batura, vice president of communications at Focus on the Family. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Department of Homeland Security has entered a partial government shutdown, after a two-week funding extension expired without a bipartisan agreement on immigration reforms. While core agencies like ICE and CBP remain operational due to existing funding streams, the lapse forces roughly 95% of TSA agents and thousands of FEMA employees to work without pay, echoing the financial strain of a previous 43-day shutdown. Republican candidate for the North Carolina Senate and former RNC Chairman Michael Whatley joins the Rundown to discuss yet another political standoff and how it ties into his bid to replace retiring Senator Thom Tillis. As the nation marks the federal holiday for Washington's birthday, 'The White House', a new FOX Nation series, explores the executive mansion's early years, highlighting the political power plays, personal scandals, and the high-stakes compromise that shaped the nation's capital. Historian and CEO of the American Philosophical Society, Dr. Patrick Spero, who is featured in the series, joins to discuss the complex lives of the Founding Fathers, the influential role of Dolley Madison in shaping the building's social identity, and how the "People's House" has constantly evolved to meet the needs of a growing country. Plus, commentary by Paul Batura, vice president of communications at Focus on the Family. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Department of Homeland Security has entered a partial government shutdown, after a two-week funding extension expired without a bipartisan agreement on immigration reforms. While core agencies like ICE and CBP remain operational due to existing funding streams, the lapse forces roughly 95% of TSA agents and thousands of FEMA employees to work without pay, echoing the financial strain of a previous 43-day shutdown. Republican candidate for the North Carolina Senate and former RNC Chairman Michael Whatley joins the Rundown to discuss yet another political standoff and how it ties into his bid to replace retiring Senator Thom Tillis. As the nation marks the federal holiday for Washington's birthday, 'The White House', a new FOX Nation series, explores the executive mansion's early years, highlighting the political power plays, personal scandals, and the high-stakes compromise that shaped the nation's capital. Historian and CEO of the American Philosophical Society, Dr. Patrick Spero, who is featured in the series, joins to discuss the complex lives of the Founding Fathers, the influential role of Dolley Madison in shaping the building's social identity, and how the "People's House" has constantly evolved to meet the needs of a growing country. Plus, commentary by Paul Batura, vice president of communications at Focus on the Family. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Story 1: In a nation based on free speech, speaking out against certain issues is now more dangerous than ever, especially if you're on the political Right. Professional Clarinetist James Zimmermann joins Will to share how his opposition to DEI led to him losing out on a high-profile orchestra gig despite unanimously winning three sets of blind auditions, and the high stakes legal battle he now finds himself embroiled in as a result.Story 2: It's no secret that many Americans struggle with a healthy diet, but what about what we put into our minds? Will and The Crew discuss America's increasingly unhealthy media consumption habits and what Bad Bunny's halftime show says about the ‘age of slop.'Story 3: Are we running the country as the founders intended? Award-Winning Historian and CEO of the American Philosophical Society Dr. Patrick Spero discusses how America's government has evolved over time and gets into the drama of a young America, as documented in the new FOX Nation series ‘The White House.'Subscribe to ‘Will Cain Country' on YouTube here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Watch Will Cain Country!⁠⁠⁠Follow ‘Will Cain Country' on X (⁠⁠⁠@willcainshow⁠⁠⁠), Instagram (⁠⁠⁠@willcainshow⁠⁠⁠), TikTok (⁠⁠⁠@willcainshow⁠⁠⁠), and Facebook (⁠⁠⁠@willcainnews⁠⁠⁠)Follow Will on X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@WillCain⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

[00:00:00] Rep. August Pfluger   [00:18:26] Dr. Patrick Spero   [00:36:50] First Lady Melania Trump   [00:55:12] Shannon Bream   [01:13:35] Kennedy   [01:32:00] Marc Thiessen   [01:43:31] Daryl “Moose” Johnston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Declaration of Independence is one of the most iconic documents in United States history. But what do we really know about how it came to be? In our most recent episode, historian Emily Sneff helped us explore the Declaration through your questions–questions that revealed just how complex, living, and contested this document still is. So in today's Revisited episode, we take a listen to the podcast that Emily helped to produce back in 2017: Episode 141: A Declaration in Draft. Originally part of the Omohundro Institute's Doing History: To the Revolution! Series, this episode features three distinguished scholars: Danielle Allen, Patrick Spero, and Peter Onuf, Together, these scholars reveal that many hands and minds shaped the Declaration of Independence. They also help us dive into some of the document's contradictions around slavery and equality. Emily's Website Show Notes: https://www.benfranklinsworld.com/415 RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODES

The Declaration of Independence is one of the most iconic documents in United States history. But what do we really know about how it came to be? In our most recent episode, historian Emily Sneff helped us explore the Declaration through your questions–questions that revealed just how complex, living, and contested this document still is. So in today's Revisited episode, we take a listen to the podcast that Emily helped to produce back in 2017: Episode 141: A Declaration in Draft. Originally part of the Omohundro Institute's Doing History: To the Revolution! Series, this episode features three distinguished scholars: Danielle Allen, Patrick Spero, and Peter Onuf, Together, these scholars reveal that many hands and minds shaped the Declaration of Independence. They also help us dive into some of the document's contradictions around slavery and equality. Emily's Website  Show Notes: https://www.benfranklinsworld.com/415 RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODES

In this episode of Leadership and Legacy, Brook Manville, author of The Civic Bargain: How Democracy Survives, discusses the concept of leadership in a democracy. He emphasizes that democracy is fundamentally a bargain, a system of self-governance where citizens act as checks on one another's power, ensuring that no single individual or "boss" can dominate. Drawing upon historical examples from Athens, Rome, and Great Britain, Manville highlights the challenges democracies face as they grow in scale and complexity.This is the last episode of season one of Leadership and Legacy. Season two, featuring interviews with current library executive director Dr. Lindsay Chervinsky, will debut in early 2025.For more information about this program, go to www.GeorgeWashingtonPodcast.com.Leadership and Legacy: Conversations at the George Washington Presidential Library is a production of the Mount Vernon Ladies Association. This podcast is hosted by Dr. Patrick Spero and Dr. Lindsay Chervinsky. Our executive producers are Dr. Anne Fertig and Heather Soubra.

In this episode of Leadership and Legacy, Brook Manville, author of The Civic Bargain: How Democracy Survives, discusses the concept of leadership in a democracy. He emphasizes that democracy is fundamentally a bargain, a system of self-governance where citizens act as checks on one another's power, ensuring that no single individual or "boss" can dominate. Drawing upon historical examples from Athens, Rome, and Great Britain, Manville highlights the challenges democracies face as they grow in scale and complexity.This is the last episode of season one of Leadership and Legacy. Season two, featuring interviews with current library executive director Dr. Lindsay Chervinsky, will debut in early 2025.For more information about this program, go to www.GeorgeWashingtonPodcast.com.Leadership and Legacy: Conversations at the George Washington Presidential Library is a production of the Mount Vernon Ladies Association. This podcast is hosted by Dr. Patrick Spero and Dr. Lindsay Chervinsky. Our executive producers are Dr. Anne Fertig and Heather Soubra.

This podcast episode features an interview with Dr. Colleen Shogan, the director of the National Archives and Records Administration. Dr. Shogan discusses the importance of effective leadership and communication, particularly in her role overseeing a vast collection of historical records. She emphasizes the need for clear and direct communication, especially when delivering difficult messages. Dr. Shogan also reflects on her career path, highlighting the influence of her academic background in political science and her experiences working in government. She shares insights into the challenges of leading a large organization, navigating the digital transformation, and the importance of being adaptable and thoughtful in decision-making. The episode concludes with Dr. Shogan's call for greater public engagement with the National Archives and a reminder that these records belong to the citizens.For more information about this program, go to www.GeorgeWashingtonPodcast.com.Leadership and Legacy: Conversations at the George Washington Presidential Library is a production of the Mount Vernon Ladies Association. This podcast is hosted by Dr. Patrick Spero and Dr. Lindsay Chervinsky. Our executive producers are Dr. Anne Fertig and Heather Soubra.

This podcast episode features an interview with Dr. Colleen Shogan, the director of the National Archives and Records Administration. Dr. Shogan discusses the importance of effective leadership and communication, particularly in her role overseeing a vast collection of historical records. She emphasizes the need for clear and direct communication, especially when delivering difficult messages. Dr. Shogan also reflects on her career path, highlighting the influence of her academic background in political science and her experiences working in government. She shares insights into the challenges of leading a large organization, navigating the digital transformation, and the importance of being adaptable and thoughtful in decision-making. The episode concludes with Dr. Shogan's call for greater public engagement with the National Archives and a reminder that these records belong to the citizens.For more information about this program, go to www.GeorgeWashingtonPodcast.com.Leadership and Legacy: Conversations at the George Washington Presidential Library is a production of the Mount Vernon Ladies Association. This podcast is hosted by Dr. Patrick Spero and Dr. Lindsay Chervinsky. Our executive producers are Dr. Anne Fertig and Heather Soubra.

In this episode of Leadership and Legacy, General David Petraeus and historian Andrew Roberts discuss the art of leadership, drawing from their book Conflict: The Evolution of Warfare from 1945 to Ukraine. They explore the timeless principles of strategic leadership, emphasizing the importance of getting the big ideas right, communicating them effectively, overseeing their implementation, and adapting to changing circumstances. Through examples from history, including Napoleon, George III, and Churchill, they illustrate how these principles have been applied by successful leaders across different contexts.For more information about this program, go to www.GeorgeWashingtonPodcast.com.Leadership and Legacy: Conversations at the George Washington Presidential Library is a production of the Mount Vernon Ladies Association. This podcast is hosted by Dr. Patrick Spero and Dr. Lindsay Chervinsky. Our executive producers are Dr. Anne Fertig and Heather Soubra.

In this episode of Leadership and Legacy, General David Petraeus and historian Andrew Roberts discuss the art of leadership, drawing from their book Conflict: The Evolution of Warfare from 1945 to Ukraine. They explore the timeless principles of strategic leadership, emphasizing the importance of getting the big ideas right, communicating them effectively, overseeing their implementation, and adapting to changing circumstances. Through examples from history, including Napoleon, George III, and Churchill, they illustrate how these principles have been applied by successful leaders across different contexts.For more information about this program, go to www.GeorgeWashingtonPodcast.com.Leadership and Legacy: Conversations at the George Washington Presidential Library is a production of the Mount Vernon Ladies Association. This podcast is hosted by Dr. Patrick Spero and Dr. Lindsay Chervinsky. Our executive producers are Dr. Anne Fertig and Heather Soubra.

In this episode of Leadership and Legacy, Dr. Patrick Spero interviews General John Allen, a retired U.S. Marine Corps four-star general, about his views on leadership. General Allen defines leadership as the means to accomplish difficult tasks and emphasizes the importance of humility, service, and respect. He shares his personal experiences, from his early days as a Marine officer to his strategic command roles, highlighting the influence of his father and the lessons he learned from his noncommissioned officers. General Allen also discusses the transformative role of artificial intelligence in modern warfare and its implications for leadership in the civilian sector.For more information about this program, go to www.GeorgeWashingtonPodcast.com.Leadership and Legacy: Conversations at the George Washington Presidential Library is a production of the Mount Vernon Ladies Association. This podcast is hosted by Dr. Patrick Spero and Dr. Lindsay Chervinsky. Our executive producers are Dr. Anne Fertig and Heather Soubra.

In this episode of Leadership and Legacy, Dr. Patrick Spero interviews General John Allen, a retired U.S. Marine Corps four-star general, about his views on leadership. General Allen defines leadership as the means to accomplish difficult tasks and emphasizes the importance of humility, service, and respect. He shares his personal experiences, from his early days as a Marine officer to his strategic command roles, highlighting the influence of his father and the lessons he learned from his noncommissioned officers. General Allen also discusses the transformative role of artificial intelligence in modern warfare and its implications for leadership in the civilian sector.For more information about this program, go to www.GeorgeWashingtonPodcast.com.Leadership and Legacy: Conversations at the George Washington Presidential Library is a production of the Mount Vernon Ladies Association. This podcast is hosted by Dr. Patrick Spero and Dr. Lindsay Chervinsky. Our executive producers are Dr. Anne Fertig and Heather Soubra.

In this episode of Leadership and Legacy, Representatives Steve Womack and Pat Ryan, two elected officials on opposite sides of the aisle, discuss their views on leadership. They emphasize the importance of integrity, direction, and leading by example, drawing on their military experiences to illustrate these principles. Both congressmen reflect on the challenges of leadership in a polarized political landscape and the complexities of making difficult decisions that balance party loyalty with the needs of their constituents.For more information about this program, go to www.GeorgeWashingtonPodcast.com.Leadership and Legacy: Conversations at the George Washington Presidential Library is a production of the Mount Vernon Ladies Association. This podcast is hosted by Dr. Patrick Spero and Dr. Lindsay Chervinsky. Our executive producers are Dr. Anne Fertig and Heather Soubra.

In this episode of Leadership and Legacy, Representatives Steve Womack and Pat Ryan, two elected officials on opposite sides of the aisle, discuss their views on leadership. They emphasize the importance of integrity, direction, and leading by example, drawing on their military experiences to illustrate these principles. Both congressmen reflect on the challenges of leadership in a polarized political landscape and the complexities of making difficult decisions that balance party loyalty with the needs of their constituents.For more information about this program, go to www.GeorgeWashingtonPodcast.com.Leadership and Legacy: Conversations at the George Washington Presidential Library is a production of the Mount Vernon Ladies Association. This podcast is hosted by Dr. Patrick Spero and Dr. Lindsay Chervinsky. Our executive producers are Dr. Anne Fertig and Heather Soubra.

In this episode of Leadership and Legacy, Dr. Patrick Spero interviews Carly Fiorina, former CEO of Hewlett Packard. She discusses her experiences at AT&T and HP, highlighting the challenges of leading change within large organizations. Fiorina also reflects on the role of technology in leadership and the importance of preserving history in the digital age.The conversation also touches on Fiorina's views on corporate responsibility and her vision for the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution. Fiorina concludes by sharing her thoughts on the importance of civic engagement and the role of citizens in shaping the nation's future.For more information about this program, go to www.GeorgeWashingtonPodcast.com.Leadership and Legacy: Conversations at the George Washington Presidential Library is a production of the Mount Vernon Ladies Association. This podcast is hosted by Dr. Patrick Spero and Dr. Lindsay Chervinsky. Our executive producers are Dr. Anne Fertig and Heather Soubra.

In this episode of Leadership and Legacy, Dr. Patrick Spero interviews Carly Fiorina, former CEO of Hewlett Packard. She discusses her experiences at AT&T and HP, highlighting the challenges of leading change within large organizations. Fiorina also reflects on the role of technology in leadership and the importance of preserving history in the digital age.The conversation also touches on Fiorina's views on corporate responsibility and her vision for the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution. Fiorina concludes by sharing her thoughts on the importance of civic engagement and the role of citizens in shaping the nation's future.For more information about this program, go to www.GeorgeWashingtonPodcast.com.Leadership and Legacy: Conversations at the George Washington Presidential Library is a production of the Mount Vernon Ladies Association. This podcast is hosted by Dr. Patrick Spero and Dr. Lindsay Chervinsky. Our executive producers are Dr. Anne Fertig and Heather Soubra.

On September 17, Constitution Day, Patrick Spero—the incoming chief executive officer of the American Philosophical Society's Library & Museum in Philadelphia—will release his new book, The Scientist Turned Spy: André Michaux, Thomas Jefferson, and the Conspiracy of 1793. It explores the incredible story of an explorer, André Michaux, drawn into a plot orchestrated by the French government to exploit tensions between American settlers and Spanish authorities in the Louisiana region, with the aim of setting up an independent republic. In this episode, Spero joins Jeffrey Rosen to discuss the history of this conspiracy and explore new evidence implicating Thomas Jefferson in the plot, as well as the American Philosophical Society and Jefferson's role in it.     Resources:  The Scientist Turned Spy: André Michaux, Thomas Jefferson, and the Conspiracy of 1793 (2024)  Stay Connected and Learn More: Questions or comments about the show? Email us at podcast@constitutioncenter.org.   Continue today's conversation on Facebook and Twitter using @ConstitutionCtr.   Sign up to receive Constitution Weekly, our email roundup of constitutional news and debate, at bit.ly/constitutionweekly.  You can find transcripts for each episode on the podcast pages in our Media Library. Donate

The Whiskey Rebellion was an uprising in Western Pennsylvania protesting an unpopular tax. For George Washington, the rebellion held echoes of the revolution of days past. Except this time, the rebellion was against the new American government. Join Dr. Patrick Spero and Dr. Sandra Moats to learn about what started the Rebellion and how Washington's decisions led to a peaceful solution. For free videos, lesson plans, and more, click here. Written and directed by Dr. Anne Fertig. Narrated by Tom Plott with additional voice acting by Dan Shippey, Matt Mattingly, Nathaniel Kuhn, Breck Pappas, and Samantha Snyder. Inventing the Presidency is a Production of the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association and CD Squared Productions.

After the first presidential inauguration in 1789, George Washington faced the daunting prospect of starting a presidency from scratch. Every action he took would set a precedent. Ramin Ganeshram, Dr. Sara Georgini, Dr. Sandra Moats, and Dr. Patrick Spero explain the challenges of Washington's first year in office, from his levees and tours to the deadly illness that almost took his life.   For free videos, lesson plans, and more, click here. Written and directed by Dr. Anne Fertig. Narrated by Tom Plott with additional voice acting by Matt Mattingly, Betty Brown, Rachel Samson, Adam Erby and Dr. James Ambuske. Inventing the Presidency is a Production of the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association and CD Squared Productions.

In the early days of June, 1787, in the thick of the Constitutional Convention, a debate unfolded that would test the fate of the young American nation. Four years after the end of the American Revolution, the United States still had no functioning Executive branch. The Convention sought a solution that would eventually create one of the most hallowed institutions of the United States government: the presidency. In this episode, join Rick Atkinson, Dr. Lindsay Chervinsky, Dr. Bruce Ragsdale, Dr. Patrick Spero, and Dr. Peter Kastor to explore the foundations of the American presidency and the first presidential election. For free videos, lesson plans, and more, visit our website. Written and directed by Dr. Anne Fertig. Narrated by Tom Plott with additional voice acting by Matt Mattingly, Dr. James Ambuske, Matt Mattingly, Breck Pappas, and Adam Erby. Inventing the Presidency is a Production of the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association and CD Squared Productions.

He was the victorious Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. As presiding officer of the Constitutional Convention, he oversaw the birth of the government of the United States. But George Washington is remembered by most as the first President elect of the United States.This is the first episode of a new series on American History Hit. Every two weeks Don and an expert will explore the presidencies of the former Commanders-in-Chief of the US.To begin, Patrick Spero joins us to take us through George Washington's time in office. From his ascent to the presidency to the development of the new capital; from the Proclamation of Neutrality to the Whisky Rebellion; this is the ultimate introduction to the first president.Patrick is Executive Director of the George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon.Produced by Sophie Gee. Edited by Siobhan Dale. Senior Producer was Charlotte Long.Discover the past on History Hit with ad-free original podcasts and documentaries released weekly presented by world renowned historians like Dan Snow, James Holland, Mary Beard and more.Get 50% off your first 3 months with code AMERICANHISTORY. Download the app on your smart TV or in the app store or sign up at historyhit.com/subscribeYou can take part in our listener survey here.

Boston, Philadelphia, London...Fort Loudon, PA. One of these places is not usually included when imagining the crucial scenes of the American Revolution. In Frontier Rebels: The Fight for Independence in the American West, 1765-1776 (W. W. Norton, 2018), Dr. Patrick Spero argues that the early West was just as important to the unfolding American Revolution as events in imperial centers and colonial cities. Spero, Librarian and Director for the American Philosophical Society in Philadelphia, tells the story of the imperial crisis through several Western characters: Ottawa and pan-Indigenous leader Pontiac, Irish trader and diplomat George Croghan, and settlers James and William Smith, among others. In this narrative driven book, Spero describes how Smith and the so-called Black Boys articulated fears, rooted in anti-Native racism, that predated and motivated arguments for independence on the eastern seaboard years before anyone threw tea in Boston Harbor. When viewed from the West, the American Revolution seems less noble and high minded, and far dirtier, more violent, and perhaps more revolutionary, than the story most Americans know. Dr. Stephen R. Hausmann is an assistant professor of history at the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Boston, Philadelphia, London...Fort Loudon, PA. One of these places is not usually included when imagining the crucial scenes of the American Revolution. In Frontier Rebels: The Fight for Independence in the American West, 1765-1776 (W. W. Norton, 2018), Dr. Patrick Spero argues that the early West was just as important to the unfolding American Revolution as events in imperial centers and colonial cities. Spero, Librarian and Director for the American Philosophical Society in Philadelphia, tells the story of the imperial crisis through several Western characters: Ottawa and pan-Indigenous leader Pontiac, Irish trader and diplomat George Croghan, and settlers James and William Smith, among others. In this narrative driven book, Spero describes how Smith and the so-called Black Boys articulated fears, rooted in anti-Native racism, that predated and motivated arguments for independence on the eastern seaboard years before anyone threw tea in Boston Harbor. When viewed from the West, the American Revolution seems less noble and high minded, and far dirtier, more violent, and perhaps more revolutionary, than the story most Americans know. Dr. Stephen R. Hausmann is an assistant professor of history at the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/military-history

Boston, Philadelphia, London...Fort Loudon, PA. One of these places is not usually included when imagining the crucial scenes of the American Revolution. In Frontier Rebels: The Fight for Independence in the American West, 1765-1776 (W. W. Norton, 2018), Dr. Patrick Spero argues that the early West was just as important to the unfolding American Revolution as events in imperial centers and colonial cities. Spero, Librarian and Director for the American Philosophical Society in Philadelphia, tells the story of the imperial crisis through several Western characters: Ottawa and pan-Indigenous leader Pontiac, Irish trader and diplomat George Croghan, and settlers James and William Smith, among others. In this narrative driven book, Spero describes how Smith and the so-called Black Boys articulated fears, rooted in anti-Native racism, that predated and motivated arguments for independence on the eastern seaboard years before anyone threw tea in Boston Harbor. When viewed from the West, the American Revolution seems less noble and high minded, and far dirtier, more violent, and perhaps more revolutionary, than the story most Americans know. Dr. Stephen R. Hausmann is an assistant professor of history at the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/british-studies

Boston, Philadelphia, London...Fort Loudon, PA. One of these places is not usually included when imagining the crucial scenes of the American Revolution. In Frontier Rebels: The Fight for Independence in the American West, 1765-1776 (W. W. Norton, 2018), Dr. Patrick Spero argues that the early West was just as important to the unfolding American Revolution as events in imperial centers and colonial cities. Spero, Librarian and Director for the American Philosophical Society in Philadelphia, tells the story of the imperial crisis through several Western characters: Ottawa and pan-Indigenous leader Pontiac, Irish trader and diplomat George Croghan, and settlers James and William Smith, among others. In this narrative driven book, Spero describes how Smith and the so-called Black Boys articulated fears, rooted in anti-Native racism, that predated and motivated arguments for independence on the eastern seaboard years before anyone threw tea in Boston Harbor. When viewed from the West, the American Revolution seems less noble and high minded, and far dirtier, more violent, and perhaps more revolutionary, than the story most Americans know. Dr. Stephen R. Hausmann is an assistant professor of history at the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/american-west

Boston, Philadelphia, London...Fort Loudon, PA. One of these places is not usually included when imagining the crucial scenes of the American Revolution. In Frontier Rebels: The Fight for Independence in the American West, 1765-1776 (W. W. Norton, 2018), Dr. Patrick Spero argues that the early West was just as important to the unfolding American Revolution as events in imperial centers and colonial cities. Spero, Librarian and Director for the American Philosophical Society in Philadelphia, tells the story of the imperial crisis through several Western characters: Ottawa and pan-Indigenous leader Pontiac, Irish trader and diplomat George Croghan, and settlers James and William Smith, among others. In this narrative driven book, Spero describes how Smith and the so-called Black Boys articulated fears, rooted in anti-Native racism, that predated and motivated arguments for independence on the eastern seaboard years before anyone threw tea in Boston Harbor. When viewed from the West, the American Revolution seems less noble and high minded, and far dirtier, more violent, and perhaps more revolutionary, than the story most Americans know. Dr. Stephen R. Hausmann is an assistant professor of history at the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/native-american-studies

Boston, Philadelphia, London...Fort Loudon, PA. One of these places is not usually included when imagining the crucial scenes of the American Revolution. In Frontier Rebels: The Fight for Independence in the American West, 1765-1776 (W. W. Norton, 2018), Dr. Patrick Spero argues that the early West was just as important to the unfolding American Revolution as events in imperial centers and colonial cities. Spero, Librarian and Director for the American Philosophical Society in Philadelphia, tells the story of the imperial crisis through several Western characters: Ottawa and pan-Indigenous leader Pontiac, Irish trader and diplomat George Croghan, and settlers James and William Smith, among others. In this narrative driven book, Spero describes how Smith and the so-called Black Boys articulated fears, rooted in anti-Native racism, that predated and motivated arguments for independence on the eastern seaboard years before anyone threw tea in Boston Harbor. When viewed from the West, the American Revolution seems less noble and high minded, and far dirtier, more violent, and perhaps more revolutionary, than the story most Americans know. Dr. Stephen R. Hausmann is an assistant professor of history at the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/history

Boston, Philadelphia, London...Fort Loudon, PA. One of these places is not usually included when imagining the crucial scenes of the American Revolution. In Frontier Rebels: The Fight for Independence in the American West, 1765-1776 (W. W. Norton, 2018), Dr. Patrick Spero argues that the early West was just as important to the unfolding American Revolution as events in imperial centers and colonial cities. Spero, Librarian and Director for the American Philosophical Society in Philadelphia, tells the story of the imperial crisis through several Western characters: Ottawa and pan-Indigenous leader Pontiac, Irish trader and diplomat George Croghan, and settlers James and William Smith, among others. In this narrative driven book, Spero describes how Smith and the so-called Black Boys articulated fears, rooted in anti-Native racism, that predated and motivated arguments for independence on the eastern seaboard years before anyone threw tea in Boston Harbor. When viewed from the West, the American Revolution seems less noble and high minded, and far dirtier, more violent, and perhaps more revolutionary, than the story most Americans know. Dr. Stephen R. Hausmann is an assistant professor of history at the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/american-studies

Boston, Philadelphia, London...Fort Loudon, PA. One of these places is not usually included when imagining the crucial scenes of the American Revolution. In Frontier Rebels: The Fight for Independence in the American West, 1765-1776 (W. W. Norton, 2018), Dr. Patrick Spero argues that the early West was just as important to the unfolding American Revolution as events in imperial centers and colonial cities. Spero, Librarian and Director for the American Philosophical Society in Philadelphia, tells the story of the imperial crisis through several Western characters: Ottawa and pan-Indigenous leader Pontiac, Irish trader and diplomat George Croghan, and settlers James and William Smith, among others. In this narrative driven book, Spero describes how Smith and the so-called Black Boys articulated fears, rooted in anti-Native racism, that predated and motivated arguments for independence on the eastern seaboard years before anyone threw tea in Boston Harbor. When viewed from the West, the American Revolution seems less noble and high minded, and far dirtier, more violent, and perhaps more revolutionary, than the story most Americans know. Dr. Stephen R. Hausmann is an assistant professor of history at the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

Today is the first of three COVIDCalls special episodes in partnership with two great research libraries: the American Philosophical Society and the Linda Hall Library.  These episodes will explore challenges and changes for research libraries and the scholars that use them in the time of COVID.  We will be especially interested to think about the ways that library and archival materials in the history of science, technology, and medicine can teach us about COVID-19. Adrianna Link is the Head of Scholarly Programs at the American Philosophical Society. She received her Ph.D. from the Department of History of Science and Technology at The Johns Hopkins University in 2016, where she specialized in the history of 20th c. American anthropology.  She is currently preparing a book manuscript on the history of "urgent anthropology" at the Smithsonian InstitutionLisa Browar was appointed President of the Linda Hall Library of Science, Engineering and Technology in July 2008.  Prior to accepting this position, she was University Librarian at The New School in New York City from 2002 until 2008.  Lisa previously served as the Brooke Russell Astor Chief Librarian for Rare Books and Manuscripts at The New York Public Library.

Politics in the early republic, like today, was bitterly partisan, but in 1811, one of the nation’s most renowned doctors David Hosack took the position that science “knows not party politics.” Hosack lived according to this motto. On hand at the infamous duel between Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr in 1804, he was the beloved Hamilton family doctor and a close friend of Burr. On this episode, Dr. Patrick Spero talks with Dr. Victoria Johnson on her Pulitzer Prize finalist book American Eden: David Hosack, Botany, and Medicine in the Garden of the Early Republic.Dr. Victoria Johnson is Associate Professor of Urban Policy and Planning at Hunter College in New York City, where she teaches on the history of philanthropy, nonprofits, and New York City. She holds a doctorate in sociology from Columbia University and an undergraduate degree in philosophy from Yale.

It’s census season in the United States and some may be asking what exactly the census is, how it’s done, why. On this episode, Dr. Patrick Spero talks with former Director of the United States Census Bureau Dr. Kenneth Prewitt about the history of the census, the various methods that census-takers use to count the population, and the challenges the census faces in this time of increasing political polarization.Dr. Kenneth Prewitt is the Carnegie Professor of Public Affairs at the School of International and Public Affairs and Director of The Future of Scholarly Knowledge at Columbia University. From 1998-2001, Dr. Prewitt was the Director of the United States Census Bureau and in November 2018 he gave a talk at an APS Meeting titled, “Can the Census Be Gerrymandered?”Full Recording of Dr. Prewitt’s APS Meeting Talk, “Can the Census Be Gerrymandered?”

How do we understand the things we cannot see – the tiniest building blocks that make up our physical world? And then how do we teach about them? On this episode, Dr. Patrick Spero talks with leading particle physicist Dr. Helen Quinn. They discuss the theory and research behind particle physics and how such complex science can and should be taught in K-12 curricula.Dr. Helen Quinn is Professor Emerita and Former Chair of the Department of Particle Physics and Astrophysics at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center. In theoretical physics, she has made contributions to how we understand the interactions between particles and what this can teach us about matter and antimatter. After Dr. Quinn retired from Stanford, she translated her scientific expertise into leading a National Research Council study that produced a new framework for K-12 Science education.Clip on the National Accelerator Courtesy SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory. 

How do empires come to be? How are empires made and who makes them? What role do maps play in making empires? Christian Koot is a Professor of History at Towson University and the author of A Biography of a Map in Motion: Augustine Herrman’s Chesapeake. Christian has researched and written two books about the seventeenth-century Anglo-Dutch World to better understand empires and how they are made. Today, he joins us to take us through his research and to share what one specific map, Augustine Herrman’s 1673 map Virginia and Maryland, reveals about empire and empire making. Show Notes: https://www.benfranklinsworld.com/256 Augustine Herrman’s Map, Virginia and Maryland as it is planted and inhabited Sponsor Links Omohundro Institute Babbel--Try learning a new language for Free! Production of this episode was made possible by a grant from the Roller-Bottimore Foundation of Richmond, Virginia.   Complementary Episodes Episode 138: Patrick Spero, Frontier Politics in Early America Episode 161: Smuggling and the American Revolution  Episode 177: Martin Brückner, The Social Life of Maps in America Episode 186: Max Edelson, The New Map of the British Empire Episode 209: Considering Biography Episode 242: David Young, A History of Early Delaware Episode 250: Virginia, 1619   Listen! Apple Podcasts Spotify Google Podcasts Ben Franklin's World iOS App Ben Franklin's World Android App Helpful Links Join the Ben Franklin's World Facebook Group Ben Franklin’s World Twitter: @BFWorldPodcast Ben Franklin's World Facebook Page Sign-up for the Franklin Gazette Newsletter *Books purchased through the links on this post will help support the production of Ben Franklin's World.

The final episode of season one of Great Talks at the APS departs slightly from the format of featuring an APS Meeting talk, instead featuring a paper appearing in a recent issue of Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society. We thought it appropriate to close out the season by having a conversation about two figures who loom large in the history of the APS and in the national imagination—Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson. On this episode, Dr. Patrick Spero and Dr. John Van Horne discuss Franklin, Jefferson, and their contributions to the founding and early growth of the American Philosophical Society and other Philadelphia institutions. Dr. Van Horne is Director Emeritus of the Library Company of Philadelphia. His essay, "Two Chips off the Same Block: Benjamin Franklin's Library Company and Philosophical Society and the Saga of Their 275-Year Relationship," was published in the December 2018 issue of the Proceedings. John Van Horne, [“Two Chips off the Same Block: Benjamin Franklin’s Library Company and Philosophical Society and the Saga of Their 275-Year Relationship,”](https://www.amphilsoc.org/publications/proceedings-volume-162-number-4) *Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society*, Vol. 162, No. 4 (December 2018). Patrick K. Spero, [“The Other Presidency: Thomas Jefferson and the American Philosophical Society,”](https://www.amphilsoc.org/publications/proceedings-volume-162-number-4) *Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society*, Vol. 162, No. 4 (December 2018). Thomas Jefferson’s [“3. Volumes bound in Marbled paper”](http://jefferson3volumes.princeton.edu/) online.

Delaware may be the second smallest state in the United States, but it has a BIG, rich history that can tell us much about the history of early America. David Young, the Executive Director of the Delaware Historical Society, joins us to explore the early American history of Delaware from its Native American inhabitants through its emergence as the first state in the United States. Show Notes: https://www.benfranklinsworld.com/242 Sponsor Links Omohundro Institute The Ben Franklin's World Shop Complementary Episodes Episode 059: Eric Foner, The Hidden History of the Underground Railroad Episode 121: Wim Klooster, The Dutch Moment in the 17th-Century Atlantic World Episode 138: Patrick Spero, Frontier Politics in Early America Episode 177: Martin Brückner, The Social Life of Maps in America Episode 217: Jessica Millward, Slavery & Freedom in Early Maryland Episode 234: Richard Bushman, Farms & Farm Families in Early America   Listen! Apple Podcasts Spotify Google Podcasts Ben Franklin's World iOS App Ben Franklin's World Android App Helpful Links Join the Ben Franklin's World Facebook Group Ben Franklin’s World Twitter: @BFWorldPodcast Ben Franklin's World Facebook Page Sign-up for the Franklin Gazette Newsletter *Books purchased through the links on this post will help support the production of Ben Franklin's World.

As we face the consequences of climate change, it may surprise some to learn just how long scientists—and denialists—have been talking about this problem. On this episode, Dr. Patrick Spero talks with two leading scientists and APS Members, Dr. Walter Munk and Dr. Charles Kennel, about the oceans and climate change. They explore how their interest in climate science grew out of work in oceanography (in Dr. Munk’s case going back to World War Two), reflect on the state of the oceans, climate, and what it all means for policymakers today. Dr. Walter Munk, described as the “Einstein of the oceans,” was professor emeritus of geophysics and held the Secretary of the Navy/Chief of Naval Operations Oceanography Chair at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California, San Diego. He gave a talk at the APS in April 2013 titled, “Corrigendum: Where the Swell Begins.” Dr. Charles Kennel is Distinguished Professor, Vice-Chancellor, and Director emeritus at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California, San Diego. He gave a talk at the APS in April 2014 titled, “The Hiatus in Global Warming.” Full Recording of Dr. Munk’s talk at the April 2013 APS Meeting Full Recording of Dr. Kennel’s talk at the April 2014 APS Meeting Walter Munk, “The Perfect Storm,” Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society, Vol. 157, No. 4 (December 2013): 369-392. Charles F. Kennel, “‘Hiatus’ in Global Warming: Paradox and Complexity in Climate Science,” Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society, Vol. 159, No. 4 (December 2015): 367-408.

In this episode, Dr. Kevin C. Butterfield sits down with Dr. Patrick Spero, Librarian and Director of the American Philosophical Society Library, to discuss his latest book, Frontier Rebels: The Fight for Independence in the American West, 1765-1776. For more information check out our website at www.mountvernon.org/podcast.

In this episode, Dr. Kevin C. Butterfield sits down with Dr. Patrick Spero, Librarian and Director of the American Philosophical Society Library, to discuss his latest book, Frontier Rebels: The Fight for Independence in the American West, 1765-1776. For more information check out our website at www.mountvernon.org/podcast. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mountvernon/message

Why is it that at a time when Mexican migration across the Southern U.S. border is historically low, public dialogue surrounding the Mexico-U.S. borderland continues to be divisive and heated? On this episode, Dr. Patrick Spero and Dr. Douglas Massey explore the history and paradoxes of the Mexico-U.S. borderland. They delve into the decades of research that Dr. Massey and colleagues have done for the Mexican Migration Project. Ultimately, they consider what, if any, policy decisions could and should be made to resolve the limbo of undocumented workers and the increasingly bombastic rhetoric around immigration issues in the United States. Dr. Douglas Massey is the Henry G. Bryant Professor of Sociology and Public Affairs at Princeton University and an APS Member. He has been the co-Director of the Mexican Migration Project with Dr. Jorge Durand for over 35 years. Dr. Massey has published widely on international migration, race and housing, discrimination, education, urban poverty, stratification, and Latin America, especially Mexico. Full recording of Douglas Massey’s talk entitled “The Mexico-U.S. Border in the American Imagination,” APS Meeting, April 2015 Douglas Massey, “The Mexico-U.S. Border in the American Imagination”, Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society, vol. 260 no. 2 (June 2016): 160-177. Douglas Massey, “Understanding America’s Immigration ‘Crisis’”, Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society, vol. 151 no. 3 (September 2007): 309-327.

Dr. Patrick Spero discusses the life and legacy of J. Robert Oppenheimer with Dr. Martin Sherwin, co-author with Kai Bird of the Pulitzer-prize winning biography American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer. He is professor emeritus at Tufts University and a University Professor at George Mason University. Full recording of J. Robert Oppenheimer’s talk at the November 1945 APS Meeting: Symposium on Atomic Energy and Its Implications Article entitled “Atomic Weapons” by J. Robert Oppenheimer published in the Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society in 1946

What does truth have to do with journalism? How has the profession evolved over the last half-century? On this episode, host Dr. Patrick Spero talks to Linda Greenhouse about these very questions. Greenhouse is an APS Member and current President of the Society. But she is also a Pulitzer-prizing winning journalist who covered the Supreme Court for The New York Times and the Joseph Goldstein Lecturer in Law, Senior Research Scholar in Law, and Knight Distinguished Journalist in Residence at Yale University. In this interview, Dr. Spero references Greenhouse's 2013 talk at the APS Meetings (below) and her recent book, Just a Journalist: On the Press, Life, and the Spaces in Between (Harvard University Press, 2017). Full Recording: Linda Greenhouse, “Truth in Journalism,” http://diglib.amphilsoc.org/islandora/video/truth-journalism

Frontier Rebels tells story of the “Black Boys,” a rebellion on the American frontier in 1765. In 1763, the Seven Years’ War ended in a spectacular victory for the British. The French army agreed to leave North America, but many Native Americans, fearing that the British Empire would expand onto their lands and conquer them, refused to lay down their weapons. Under the leadership of a shrewd Ottawa warrior named Pontiac, they kept fighting for their freedom, capturing several British forts and devastating many of the westernmost colonial settlements. The British, battered from the costly war, needed to stop the violent attacks on their borderlands. Peace with Pontiac was their only option—if they could convince him to negotiate. Enter George Croghan, a wily trader-turned-diplomat with close ties to Native Americans. Under the wary eye of the British commander-in-chief, Croghan organized one of the largest peace offerings ever assembled and began a daring voyage into the interior of North America in search of Pontiac. Meanwhile, a ragtag group of frontiersmen set about stopping this peace deal in its tracks. Furious at the Empire for capitulating to Native groups, whom they considered their sworn enemies, and suspicious of Croghan’s intentions, these colonists turned Native American tactics of warfare on the British Empire. Dressing as Native Americans and smearing their faces in charcoal, these frontiersmen, known as the Black Boys, launched targeted assaults to destroy Croghan’s peace offering before it could be delivered. Patrick Spero is the librarian of the American Philosophical Society in Philadelphia and is the author of Frontier Country: The Politics of War in Early Pennsylvania. Description courtesy of W.W. Norton & Company.

On the first episode of the APS podcast, host Dr. Patrick Spero interviews Dr. Kathleen Hall Jamieson about the attack on facts in political dialogue and what that means for governance. Dr. Jamieson is the Elizabeth Ware Packard Professor of Communication at the University of Pennsylvania’s Annenberg School for Communication, the Walter and Leonore Director of the university’s Annenberg Public Policy Center, author of numerous books on political communication, and an APS Member. She gave a talk at the April 2013 APS meeting entitled, “Implications of the Attack on ‘Fact’ in Contemporary Politics,” the full recording is below. Dr. Spero and Dr. Jamieson delve into the themes of her 2013 presentation as well its relevance for today.

The Jersey Devil is a monster legend that originated in New Jersey’s early American past. How and why did this legend emerge? And, what can it tell us about New Jersey’s past? Brian Regal, an Associate Professor of History at Kean University and the co-author of The Secret History of the Jersey Devil: How Quakers, Hucksters, and Benjamin Franklin Created A Monster, takes us into New Jersey’s past by taking us through the origins of the New Jersey Devil story. Show Notes: https://www.benfranklinsworld.com/192   Meet Ups Boston History Camp, July 7 Boston Meet Up: July 8, 10am Meet at the corner of Park Street and Tremont Street on Boston Common Cleveland Meet up at Shooters on the Water July 21, 4pm Sponsor Links Omohundro Institute Molly Wash, American Baroque Sign up for the Ben Franklin’s World Email List    Complementary Episodes Episode 053: Emerson W. Baker: A Storm of Witchcraft Episode 135: Julie Holcomb, Moral Commerce: The Transatlantic Boycott of the Slave Labor Economy Episode 138: Patrick Spero, Frontier Politics in Early America Episode 156: The Power of the Press in the American Revolution Episode 169: Thomas Kidd, The Religious Life of Benjamin Franklin Episode 185: Joyce Goodfriend, Early New York City and its Culture   Helpful Show Links Ben Franklin's World Facebook Page Join the Ben Franklin's World Community Sign-up for the Franklin Gazette Newsletter Ben Franklin's World iOS App Ben Franklin's World Android App   *Books purchased through this link will help support the production of Ben Franklin's World.

Did you know that maps have social lives? Maps facilitate a lot of different social and political relationships between people and nations. And they did a lot of this work for Americans throughout the early American past. Martin Brückner, a Professor of English at the University of Delaware, joins us to discuss early American maps and early American mapmaking with details from his book The Social Life of Maps in America.
 Show Notes: https://www.benfranklinsworld.com/177   Sponsor Links Omohundro Institute The Georgian Papers Programme Citizen Transcriber Sign Up  OI Reader App   Complementary Episodes Episode 015: Joyce Chaplin, Round About The Earth Episode 050: Marla Miller, Betsy Ross Episode 136: Jennifer Van Horn, Material Culture and the Making of America Episode 138: Patrick Spero, Frontier Politics in Early America Episode 167: Eberhard Faber, The Early History of New Orleans Episode 169: Thomas Kidd, The Religious Life of Benjamin Franklin   Helpful Show Links Ben Franklin's World Facebook Page Join the Ben Franklin's World Community Sign-up for the Franklin Gazette Newsletter Ben Franklin's World iOS App Ben Franklin's World Android App   *Books purchased through this link will help support the production of Ben Franklin's World.

Just how personal was the American Revolution? What could the event and war mean for individual people and families? Daniel Mark Epstein, author of The Loyal Son: The War in Ben Franklin’s House, guides as as we explore what the Revolution meant for Benjamin Franklin and his family and how the Revolution caused a major rift between Franklin and his beloved son, William. Show Notes: https://www.benfranklinsworld.com/176   Sponsor Links Omohundro Institute Georgian Papers Programme Citizen Transcriber Sign Up   Complementary Episodes Episode 001: James Green, The Library Company of Philadelphia Episode 022: Vivian Bruce Conger, Deborah Read Franklin & Sally Franklin Bache Episode 031: Benjamin Franklin and the Papers of Benjamin Franklin Episode 086: George Goodwin, Benjamin Franklin in London Episode 123: Revolutionary Allegiances Episode 138: Patrick Spero, Frontier Politics in Early America Episode 169: Thomas Kidd, The Religious Life of Benjamin Franklin     Helpful Show Links Ben Franklin's World Facebook Page Join the Ben Franklin's World Community Sign-up for the Franklin Gazette Newsletter Ben Franklin's World iOS App Ben Franklin's World Android App   *Books purchased through this link will help support the production of Ben Franklin's World.

Did you know that Connecticut and Virginia once invaded Pennsylvania? During the 1760s, Connecticut invaded and captured the northeastern corner of Pennsylvania just as Virginia invaded and captured parts of western Pennsylvania. And Pennsylvania stood powerless to stop them. In this episode, Patrick Spero, the Librarian of the American Philosophical Society and author of Frontier Country: The Politics of War in Early Pennsylvania, takes us through these invasions and reveals why Pennsylvania proved unable to defend its territory. Show Notes: https://www.benfranklinsworld.com/048   Sponsor Links Omohundro Institute of Early American History and Culture Georgian Papers Programme   Complementary Episodes Episode 029: Colin Calloway, The Victory With No Name: The Native American Defeat of the First American Army Episode 048: Ken Miller, Dangerous Guests: Enemy Captives During the War for Independence Episode 056: Daniel J. Tortora, The Anglo-Cherokee War, 1759-1761 Episode 079: Jim Horn, What is a Historical Source? (Colonial Jamestown) Episode 104: Andrew Lipman, The Saltwater Frontier: Europeans & Native American on the Northeastern Coast   Helpful Show Links Ben Franklin's World Facebook Page Join the Ben Franklin's World Community Sign-up for the Franklin Gazette Newsletter Ben Franklin's World iOS App Ben Franklin's World Android App   *Books purchased through this link will help support the production of Ben Franklin's World.

In “Frontier Country,” Patrick Spero addresses one of the most important and controversial subjects in American history: the frontier. Countering the modern conception of the American frontier as an area of expansion, Spero employs the eighteenth-century meaning of the term to show how colonists understood it as a vulnerable, militarized boundary. The Pennsylvania frontier, Spero argues, was constituted through conflicts not only between colonists and Native Americans but also among neighboring British colonies. These violent encounters created what Spero describes as a distinctive "frontier society" on the eve of the American Revolution that transformed the once-peaceful colony of Pennsylvania into a "frontier country."

Michael Klarman of Harvard Law School and Patrick Spero of the American Philosophical Society reassess the debates that defined the Founding era. This program was presented live at the Constitution Center on November 14, 2016. You can watch the program on Constitution Daily or at constitutioncenter.org. Get the latest constitutional news, and continue the conversation, on Facebook and Twitter. We want to know what you think of the podcast. Email us at editor@constitutioncenter.org. Please subscribe to We the Peopleand our companion podcast,Live at America’s Town Hall, on iTunes, Stitcher, or your favorite podcast app. We the People is a member of Slate’s Panoply network. Check out the full roster at Panoply.fm. Despite our congressional charter, the National Constitution Center is a private nonprofit; we receive little government support, and we rely on the generosity of people around the country who are inspired by our nonpartisan mission of constitutional debate and education. Please consider becoming a member to support our work, including this podcast. Visit constitutioncenter.org to learn more. This show was engineered by Kevin Kilbourne and David Stotz, and edited by Jason Gregory. It was produced by Nicandro Iannacci. Research was provided by Lana Ulrich and Tom Donnelly. The host of We the People is Jeffrey Rosen.

Michael Klarman of Harvard Law School and Patrick Spero of the American Philosophical Society reassess the debates that defined the Founding era. This program was presented live at the Constitution Center on November 14, 2016. You can watch the program on Constitution Daily or at constitutioncenter.org. Get the latest constitutional news, and continue the conversation, on Facebook and Twitter. We want to know what you think of the podcast. Email us at editor@constitutioncenter.org. Please subscribe to We the Peopleand our companion podcast,Live at America’s Town Hall, on iTunes, Stitcher, or your favorite podcast app. We the People is a member of Slate’s Panoply network. Check out the full roster at Panoply.fm. Despite our congressional charter, the National Constitution Center is a private nonprofit; we receive little government support, and we rely on the generosity of people around the country who are inspired by our nonpartisan mission of constitutional debate and education. Please consider becoming a member to support our work, including this podcast. Visit constitutioncenter.org to learn more. This show was engineered by Kevin Kilbourne and David Stotz, and edited by Jason Gregory. It was produced by Nicandro Iannacci. Research was provided by Lana Ulrich and Tom Donnelly. The host of We the People is Jeffrey Rosen.