Podcasts about Richard Norton Smith

From 2003- A discussion of the book "Who's Buried in Grant's Tomb: A Tour of Presidential Gravesites" with Richard Norton Smith, one of the contributors to the book.

Today, we're excited to introduce Country Over Self: Defining Moments in American History. This new mini-series, hosted by Matt Blumberg, dives into moments when Presidents put Country Over Self and Country Over Party. In each 30-45 minute episode, Matt speaks with renowned presidential historians, exploring pivotal instances in U.S. history. Highlights include conversations with Joseph Ellis on John Adams, H.W. Brands on FDR, Alexis Coe on George Washington, and a compelling two-part episode on Ford's pardon of Nixon, featuring biographers Richard Norton Smith and Rick Perlstein. Whether you're a history buff or just curious about inspiring moments in American leadership, give Country Over Self a listen. Catch it on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, or YouTube or visit www.countryoverself.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this weekend's episode, three segments from this past week's Washington Journal –First, National Constitution Center's Jeffrey Rosen discusses the importance of Constitution Day. Then, Presidential historian Richard Norton Smith discusses the two assassination attempts against former President Gerald Ford. Plus, Brookings Institution's William Galston on why the national debt is not being discussed this presidential cycle.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Produced by KSQD 90.7, 895. & 89.7FM “Be Bold America!” Sunday, September 8, 2024 at 5:00pm (PT)  “When somebody has taken the time to draw up a playbook, they are going to use it.” - Tim Walz, 2024 DNC Vice-Presidential Acceptance Speech (re: Project 2025) Call it what you want. The Republican Party is nakedly zealous about turning America from a democratic republic into a kingdom and the right-wing billionaires and their corporations are doing everything they can to make it happen … led by The Heritage Foundation, that also flew the American flag upside down after the January 6 insurrection just as did Justice Alito's wife. Everyone must realize that the Project 2025 scheme to dismantle the American government is for any future Republican president. It might be beaten back this upcoming presidential election but these people, who are fighting for a dictatorship, will not go away. The right wing is not hiding it. They say it out loud and have proudly written their manifesto; their painstakingly detailed, 922-page, step-by step instruction manual titled, “The Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise - Project 2025.”  This interview with Professor John Roth, cohosted by former KGO radio talk show host, John Rothmann, will peel back its pages with an emphasis on religion, health and education. Yes, this is a detailed plot for a coup.   Interview Guest: John Roth, PhD, is the Edward J. Sexton professor emeritus of philosophy at Claremont McKenna College in Claremont, California. Dr. Roth was named the 1988 U. S. National Professor of the Year by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. Dr. Roth's expertise in Holocaust and genocide studies, as well as in philosophy, ethics, American studies, and religious studies, has been advanced by postdoctoral appointments as a Graves Fellow in the Humanities, a Fulbright Lecturer in American Studies at the University of Innsbruck, Austria, and a fellow of the national Humanities Institute, Yale University. In addition to lecturing widely throughout the United States and around the world, Dr. Roth has authored, coauthored, or edited more than fifty books, and he has published hundreds of articles and reviews.  Dr. Roth graduated from Yale University with a Master of Arts and Doctorate of Philosophy degrees. Guest CoHost: John F. Rothmann is a renowned radio talk show host, formerly with KGO radio, and he is a popular lecturer and political and foreign policy consultant. John has also been involved in a broad variety of political campaigns on the national, state and local levels and Richard Norton Smith called John "a scholar of modern Republicanism.” John is the co-author of two highly acclaimed books and has been on the faculty of the Fromm Institute at the University of San Francisco since 2004.    John's personal library of 15,000 volumes is widely recognized as one of the finest libraries of American political history and biography in the United States. Scholars, graduate students and authors in the process of research frequently access his extensive collection. Currently, John hosts his own highly successful podcast titled, “Around the Political World with John Rothmann.” John lives in San Francisco with his wife Ellen and their two sons, Samuel and Joel.

Willa Cather's novel, My Ántonia, evokes the Nebraska prairie life of her childhood and pays tribute to the spirit and courage of immigrant pioneers in America. Historian Richard Norton Smith discusses Cather's works, including My Antonia, which was written in 1918. The book tells the story of a girl who arrives on the frontier as part of a family of Bohemian immigrants, and her friendship with an orphaned boy who taught her English. The novel explores issues facing women of the time in that region, and the meaning of success in America. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Willa Cather's novel, My Ántonia, evokes the Nebraska prairie life of her childhood and pays tribute to the spirit and courage of immigrant pioneers in America. Historian Richard Norton Smith discusses Cather's works, including My Antonia, which was written in 1918. The book tells the story of a girl who arrives on the frontier as part of a family of Bohemian immigrants, and her friendship with an orphaned boy who taught her English. The novel explores issues facing women of the time in that region, and the meaning of success in America. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of How to Fix Democracy, host Andrew Keen engages in a conversation with the author and historian Richard Norton Smith, delving into a discussion about the Hoover presidency and its profound relevance for the United States during a time of upheaval and economic depression.   Author and historian Richard Norton Smith enjoys national recognition as an expert on the American presidency. After graduating from Harvard in 1975, he began his career as a White House intern and subsequently served as a speechwriter for Senator Edward Brooke of Massachusetts. Smith held the position of Director at various prestigious institutions, including the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum, the Dwight D. Eisenhower Center, and the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library.

Presidential historian and author Richard Norton Smith discusses his biography of President Gerald Ford titled "An Ordinary Man." He talks about Ford's personal life, anti-establishment politics, and post-presidential years. He also talks about the efforts made by President Ford to heal the country following the Watergate scandal and his controversial decision to pardon Richard Nixon.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Presidential historian and author Richard Norton Smith discusses his biography of President Gerald Ford titled "An Ordinary Man." He talks about Ford's personal life, anti-establishment politics, and post-presidential years. He also talks about the efforts made by President Ford to heal the country following the Watergate scandal and his controversial decision to pardon Richard Nixon.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hometown Radio with Dave Congalton Show" airs weekday afternoons from 3p to 7p. Join the conversation as Dave discusses important issues facing the community and chats with a mixture of local officials and interesting people.

Stewart McLaurin, President of the White House Historical Association, welcomed respected author and historian Richard Norton Smith to a special town hall gathering to discuss his latest book “An Ordinary Man: The Surprising Life and Historic Presidency of Gerald R. Ford.” Ford was born in Nebraska and raised in Michigan, surviving a tumultuous start in life while being raised by a strong, single mother. He was a star player for University of Michigan football, and went to Yale Law School while coaching their football and boxing teams. Ford served in the navy during World War II, and returned to Grand Rapids, Michigan to practice law where he decided to enter politics. He married Elizabeth Bloomer and won a congressional seat in 1948. Ford served 25 years in Congress, rising to the position of House Minority Leader, before being tapped by President Richard Nixon to become his VP. When Ford became the nation's first “unelected” president after Nixon resigned, he acknowledged that he was taking the oath “under extraordinary circumstances.” Richard shares many insights he discovered while writing his biography of Gerald R. Ford, including how the former president believed his wife's historical contributions would outweigh his. The Association's Official 2023 White House Christmas Ornament features decorations inspired by the handcrafted decorations used in the White House during the Ford administration. You can purchase an ornament at this link.

Far from being a historical asterisk, an accidental president, or a mere bridge between Nixon's failed presidency and the coming Reagan Revolution, Richard Norton Smith argues that Gerald Ford's life and administration must be understood in order to weigh the last decades of the 20th Century. From a broken home in Michigan to the world's most famous home in the nation's capital, the acclaimed presidential scholar explains how Ford drove the nation in a new direction. Smith argues that Ford's decisions on the legal fate of Richard Nixon, the economy and the role of government set the model for how presidents should govern. We also discussed what it was like for him to give one of the eulogies at Ford's funeral, and how he was able to keep enough scholarly distance from his topic in order to grade Ford fairly.Richard Norton Smith's website can be found at https://richardnortonsmith.com/Information on his book from HarperCollins can be found at https://www.harpercollins.com/products/an-ordinary-man-richard-norton-smith?variant=40629151367202Support our show at https://patreon.com/axelbankhistory**A portion of every contribution is given to a charity for children's literacy** "Axelbank Reports History and Today" can be found on social media at https://twitter.com/axelbankhistory https://instagram.com/axelbankhistory

Richard Norton Smith joins me to discuss his latest book: An Ordinary Man: The Surprising Life and Historic Presidency of Gerald R. Ford.

Richard Norton Smith is at the top tier of American presidential historians. He is the author of the highly acclaimed new biography: An Ordinary Man: The Surprising Life and Historic Presidency of Gerald R. Ford.Smith is widely recognized for his regular appearances on the PBS News Hour, as well as a historical commentator on CBS and other networks. He's a familiar and beloved guide to history on CSPAN. In this episode of the Serve to Lead podcast, Smith discusses his new book, including its genesis and the many parallels and connections between President Ford's era and our own. Get full access to The Next Nationalism at jamesstrock.substack.com/subscribe

When a historian writes a book, there are at least two ways to read it, two different parts. One is the narrative, the story, usually told in chronological order. The second part includes epigraphs, footnotes, source notes, photography, and the acknowledgements. Richard Norton Smith spent over 6 years writing and researching his new book, "An Ordinary Man: The Surprising Life and Historic Presidency of Gerald R. Ford." Susan Swain interviewed Mr. Smith on the first part, the narrative, which is available on C-SPAN's video archives. Now comes that second part, the process, the research, and the extras.     Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For many Americans, President Gerald Ford was the genial accident of history who controversially pardoned his Watergate-tarnished predecessor, presided over the fall of Saigon, and became a punching bag on Saturday Night Live. Yet our revered guest nationally recognized authority on the American presidency, a familiar face to viewers of C-SPAN (our nerd tv mecca) and an absolute national treasure, Historian and Author, Richard Norton Smith reveals in his incredible new book Ordinary Man, An: The Surprising Life and Historic Presidency of Gerald R. Ford that with a proper look, Ford was underrated and full of surprises. Richard was a joy to spend time with, and his knowledge and understanding of the presidency seems boundless, like if we sat for 10 more episodes, we would barely scratch the surface. His latest book is an incredible study of an underrated leader whose tough decisions and personal decency look better with the passage of time. I couldn't put it down, and made this interview happen based on being so very taken with this book and its fine author. As I gear up to devour the rest of Richards books, you can catch up and enjoy not only this very special episode, but please read his absolutely gorgeous eulogy at President Ford's funeral as well.  https://www.fordlibrarymuseum.gov/grf/funeral/smith.aspIf only we had a Gerald Ford to choose from instead of the buffoon parade currently positioning for 2024…https://www.amazon.com/Ordinary-Man-Surprising-Historic-Presidency/dp/0062684167/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1676660761&sr=1-1

Richard Norton Smith is an American historian and author, specializing in U.S. presidents and other political figures. A preeminent presidential scholar and acclaimed biographer of historical figures including George Washington, Herbert Hoover, and Nelson Rockefeller, his new book is a look at the eye-opening life of Gerald Ford. 'An Ordinary Man: The Surprising Life and Historic Presidency of Gerald R. Ford' is now available. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/americas-talking/support

Richard Norton Smith is a renowned historian, a former director of five presidential libraries, & author whose latest work - Ordinary Man - chronicles the life and career of Gerald Ford. In this conversation, we talk the insurgent rise of Ford as he takes on the local GOP machine, his ascent through the House GOP of the 50s and 60s, the fortuitous events that led him to become Vice President and then President upon Nixon's resignation, his very narrow loss in 1976, & why the Ford Presidency and his enduring impact on America is much more consequential than often realized.(To donate to support The Pro Politics Podcast, you may use this venmo link or inquire by email at mccrary.zachary@gmail.com)IN THIS EPISODEWhat made Ford the “first post-New Deal President”...One of the rare times Ford lost his temper in politics...Ford's “political father figure”, Senator Arthur Vandenberg…The story behind Ford's first insurgent bid for Congress…The secret society within the House that helped propel Ford's career…The story behind Ford's attempt to become Richard Nixon's running mate in 1960…The never before disclosed “deal” that nearly gave House Republicans the majority in the early 1970s…The one politician who could've disrupted Ford's path to become Nixon's VP in 1974…The proposed “constitutional coup” that could have replaced Richard Nixon with a Democratic President…Two meetings with the same influential senator only days apart demonstrate Ford's quick growth in office…The political damage done to Ford by his pardon of Richard Nixon…Two late factors that might have cost Ford in his narrow loss to Jimmy Carter…The political impact of First Lady Betty Ford in the 1976 campaign…Ford's leftward drift after he left the White House…Richard reads a bit of what he feels is Ford's best speech as President…Two of Richard's favorite recommendations for off-the-beaten-path historical sites around DC… AND Bella Abzug, Sprio Agnew, Carl Albert, apartheid, asterisks, Doug Bailey, bar stools, the Bicentennial, Phil Buchen, butcher knives, the CIA, Chevy Chase, Dick Cheney, concealed resentments, John Connally, docile acceptance, Bob Dole, Tom Dewey, English muffins, Barry Goldwater, grizzly bears, Jesse Helms, the Helsinki Accords, Leon Jaworski, Billy Kidd, Leslie King, Henry Kissinger, Tom Korologos, Mel Laird, Henry Cabot Lodge, Russell Long, The Marshall Plan, Sara Jane Moore, non-descript committee rooms, OSHA, Old Bulls, John Rankin, Ronald Reagan, the road to Damascus, Nelson Rockefeller, John Rhodes, Rhodesia, the Rules Committee, Bob Schieffer, Phyllis Schlafly, Hugh Scott, scoundrels, George Shultz, ski chalets, Oliver Sipple, Ted Sorensen, Robert Taft, transitional figures, Harry Truman, the UAW, the Warren Commission & more!

Presidential historian and author Richard Norton Smith discusses his biography of President Gerald Ford titled "An Ordinary Man." He talks about Ford's personal life, anti-establishment politics, and post-presidential years. He also talks about the efforts made by President Ford to heal the country following the Watergate scandal and his controversial decision to pardon Richard Nixon.    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Richard Norton Smith is a Pulitzer Prize-nominated historian and the author of numerous books, including On His Own Terms: A Life of Nelson Rockefeller, and Patriarch: George Washington and the New American Nation.  Throughout his career, he has been the director of five presidential libraries, those of Abraham Lincoln, Herbert Hoover, Dwight Eisenhower, Ronald Reagan, and, in keeping with today's subject, Gerald Ford.Richard joined Mark Updegrove to discuss his newest book, An Ordinary Man: The Surprising Life and Historic Presidency of Gerald R. Ford.

Hugh talks with presidential historian Richard Norton Smith about 1976 and 2024 presidential races as they discuss Smith's new biography of Gerald Ford. Plus interviews with David Drucker, Byron York, Bethany Mandel, and Mollie Hemingway about Tucker and 2024.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gerald Ford occupies a truly singular place in American history: he is the only chief executive who took office without getting a single vote for either the presidency or vice presidency. When he did become president, he took charge of the nation at one of its lowest points — in the aftermath of Vietnam and Watergate. It fell to Gerald Ford to heal the nation and restore its confidence. In this episode, we interview historian Richard Norton Smith about this unlikeliest of American leaders. AN ORDINARY MAN: THE SURPRISING LIFE AND HISTORIC PRESIDENCY OF GERALD R. FORDhttps://www.amazon.com/Ordinary-Man-Surprising-Historic-Presidency/dp/0062684167/JOIN PREMIUMListen ad-free for only $5/month at www.bit.ly/TAPpremiumFOLLOW USwww.linktr.ee/thisamericanpresidentCREDITSHost: Richard LimProducer: Michael NealArtist: Nip Rogers, www.NipRogers.com

John J. Miller is joined by Richard Norton Smith to discuss his new book, 'An Ordinary Man: The Surprising Life and Historic Presidency of Gerald R. Ford.'

After last week's show was preempted, Team Face the Nation wanted to deliver a special bonus episode featuring CBS News Correspondent Robert Costa and his conversation with four presidential historians for a look at the American presidency today and how it is still shaped by the lessons of the past. Bob was joined by four esteemed historians. Douglas Brinkley, a professor at Rice University, his latest book is Silent Spring Revolution. Lindsay Chervinsky is a presidential historian and editor of Mourning the Presidents. Jon Meacham is a professor at Vanderbilt University, his latest book is And There Was Light, and finally, historian Richard Norton Smith, his newest book is An Ordinary Man.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On this episode of BPC Weekly, we look back at the incredible life and near-century of public service of Senator Bob Dole, who co-founded the Bipartisan Policy Center in 2007. First, Richard Norton Smith, a Pulitzer Prize nominated historian and former Director of the Bob Dole Institute of Politics at the University of Kansas, joins to examine Senator Dole's political legacy. Later, BPC's G. William Hoagland and Dennis Shea, who both worked for Senator Dole, share stories from their time with him on Capitol Hill. 

When C-SPAN conducted our first Historians Survey of Presidential Leadership in 2000, we worked with a team of nationally recognized historians to establish the survey's framework: Douglas Brinkley, Edna Greene Medford and Richard Norton Smith. They recommended the 10 qualities of presidential leadership and guided us on the survey's organization, execution and analysis of the results. While other advisers have joined for certain years, this core group has remained with us for each subsequent survey. In 2021, our fourth survey, we welcome the addition of Amity Shlaes. Our advisers' research and writing in American history span from the nation's founding to the late 20th century. For each survey cycle, our group of advisers assesses the leadership qualities, recommends additional participants and reviews the results tabulated by C-SPAN.

Season 2: C-SPAN's Brian Lamb is Talking With…historian Douglas Brinkley. Educated at Ohio State and Georgetown, Professor Brinkley is a well-known expert on U.S. presidents. He has taught at Hofstra, Tulane, The University of New Orleans, and for the past 17 years at Rice University in Houston. In a 6-hour conversation broken into 20-30 minute segments, he shares his many interests including the story of the United States, our culture, and our history – from Bob Dylan to Ronald Reagan to the JFK Moon shot and much more. For more Talking With…listen to Season 1 with historian Richard Norton Smith. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Richard Norton Smith, eminent historian and biographer, guides listeners through the history and biographies of the presidents of the United States. George Washington through Zachary Taylor. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Richard Norton Smith is a presidential historian, biographer, essayist, and former leader of presidential libraries. He is a frequent commentator on C-SPAN and for many years appeared on the Lehrer Report on PBS. In this episode of the Serve to Lead podcast, Smith discusses the art and craft of history, and explores the changes of […]

Brian Lamb talks with historian Richard Norton Smith about his heart attack, Nelson Rockefeller, tracking hurricanes and his fascination with world fairs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brian Lamb talks with historian Richard Norton Smith about his writing technique, reading biographies, and book reviewers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brian Lamb talks with historian Richard Norton Smith about spending time with former President Ronald Reagan and living a solitary life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brian Lamb talks with historian Richard Norton Smith about Charles de Gaulle and Winston Churchill. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brian Lamb talks with historian Richard Norton Smith about Ernest Hemingway, Somerset Maugham, and writing eulogies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brian Lamb talks with historian Richard Norton Smith about greed, Fox News, the golden age of television, and our most religious president. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brian Lamb talks with historian Richard Norton Smith about the year 1968 and the least prepared/luckiest U.S. presidents. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brian Lamb talks with historian Richard Norton Smith about the U.S. presidents as public speakers, they myths about our presidents, and the presidents that are the most fun to talk/write about. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brian Lamb talks with historian Richard Norton Smith about the U.S. Supreme Court and Congress. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brian Lamb talks with historian Richard Norton Smith about becoming a historian, former President Gerald Ford, and having dinner with Queen Elizabeth. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brian Lamb talks with historian Richard Norton Smith about Broadway, Dorothy Kilgallen, Jack Paar, and George Gershwin. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brian Lamb talks with historian Richard Norton Smith about Alice Roosevelt Longworth, his books, and more on his forthcoming biography former President Gerald Ford. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brian Lamb talks with historian Richard Norton Smith about his favorite books, former Senators Ed Brooke and Bob Dole. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brian Lamb talks with historian Richard Norton Smith about President Trump, the Dole Institute, religion and Catholic popes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brian Lamb talks with historian Richard Norton Smith about the Catholic Church sex scandal and running the Lincoln Presidential Library. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brian Lamb talks with historian Richard Norton Smith about his favorite historians, "Hamilton" (the musical), and Winston Churchill. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brian Lamb talks with historian Richard Norton Smith about living in Illinois and Colonel Robert McCormick Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brian Lamb talks with historian Richard Norton Smith about his forthcoming biography of President Ford and writing speeches for former Boston Mayor Kevin White. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brian Lamb talks with historian Richard Norton Smith about his biography of former Senators Bob and Elizabeth Dole, presidents with the best sense of humor, and the presidential libraries he has run. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brian Lamb talks with historian Richard Norton Smith about Doris Kearns Goodwin, high school, and his family (parents and siblings). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brian Lamb talks with historian Richard Norton Smith about Thomas Dewey, Herbert Hoover, and Harvard University.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

C-SPAN's Brian Lamb is talking with historian Richard Norton Smith. During their wide ranging conversation you'll hear them discuss everything from U.S. presidents to hurricanes. Mr. Smith has written eight books, run five presidential libraries, and built the Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics at the University of Kansas. In this first episode Mr. Smith talks about growing up in Massachusetts, Groucho Marx, and Mahatma Gandhi.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we look at Nelson Rockefeller and his time in U.S politics. We briefly cover the Rockefeller wealth and will take a longer look at that on a future episode. On this episode we dive into the policies of the republicans of this brief era and how some of them were more progressive than what democrats propose today. For this discussion we are joined by special guest Tobi Olowe the host of Impressions of America. At one point to take the focus off the US we spend a moment to discuss the UK’s Priti Patel. Enjoy! The following was mentioned by Tobi to add to our description. I think listeners should consider the biography On His Own Terms by Richard Norton Smith. For the early CIA stuff although we didn't get into it as much but Gerard Colby's Thy Will on Rockefeller political interests in Latin America. For the Rockefeller family perhaps the PBS documentary. Impressions of America is a history podcasts about US History since the 1960s. We have covered key conservatives including Nixon, Reagan, William F Buckley, Ayn Rand and their effects on American life. Follow him on Twitter @Dontigga

Author and presidential historian Richard Norton Smith speaks to the Steamboat Springs audience about what it means to be presidential in his talk "How Do You Get To Mt. Rushmore: Can Presidential Character Be Set In Stone?" Smith is a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for his first book, "Thomas E. Dewey and His Times." He is also author of "An Uncommon Man: The Triumph of Herbert Hoover" and his most recent book, "The Colonel: The Life and Legend of Robert R. McCormick," which has been awarded the Goldsmith Prize by Harvard's John F. Kennedy School. This Seminar was recorded on August 5, 2019.

On this episode of C-SPAN's The Weekly Podcast: This is part two of an hour-long conversation with three nationally known presidential historians. They offer historical context for the Trump Presidency. Historian and presidential biographer Douglas Brinkley, Civil War and Reconstruction era historian Edna Greene Medford of Howard University, and Richard Norton Smith, biographer of President Washington, President Hoover, and President Gerald Ford. They were interviewed by C-SPAN's Brian Lamb as part of a forthcoming C-SPAN book on presidential leadership which will be published in the Spring of 2019. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of C-SPAN's The Weekly Podcast: This is part one of an hour-long conversation with three nationally known presidential historians. They offer historical context for the Trump Presidency. Historian and presidential biographer Douglas Brinkley, Civil War and Reconstruction era historian Edna Greene Medford of Howard University, and Richard Norton Smith, biographer of President Washington, President Hoover, and President Gerald Ford. They were interviewed by C-SPAN's Brian Lamb as part of a forthcoming C-SPAN book on presidential leadership which will be published in the Spring of 2019. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 1893, Grover Cleveland discovered a cancerous tumor on the roof of his mouth. It was feared that public knowledge of the president's illness might set off a financial panic, so Cleveland suggested a daring plan: a secret surgery aboard a moving yacht. In this week's episode of the Futility Closet podcast we'll describe the president's gamble -- and the courageous reporter who threatened to expose it. We'll also audit some wallabies and puzzle over some welcome neo-Nazis. Intro: Robert Louis Stevenson inadvertently borrowed much of Treasure Island from Washington Irving. When Graeme Gibson donated his parrot to the Toronto Zoo, it suddenly called after him. Sources for our feature on Grover Cleveland's secret surgery: Matthew Algeo, The President Is a Sick Man: Wherein the Supposedly Virtuous Grover Cleveland Survives a Secret Surgery at Sea and Vilifies the Courageous Newspaperman Who Dared Expose the Truth, 2011. William Williams Keen, The Surgical Operations on President Cleveland in 1893, 1917. Shahid R. Aziz, "The Oral Surgical Operations of Grover Cleveland: A Presidential Cover-Up," Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery 53:9 (1995), 1088-1090. W.O. Fenn et al., "Dr. Joseph Bryant's Role in President Grover Cleveland's Secret Anesthesia and Surgery," Anesthesiology 119:4 (October 2013), 889. "The Secret Operation on President Cleveland," British Medical Journal 1:3568 (May 25, 1929), 965. Ronald H. Spiro, "Verrucous Carcinoma, Then and Now," American Journal of Surgery 176:5 (1998), 393-397. Andrew Renehan and J.C. Lowry, "The Oral Tumours of Two American Presidents: What If They Were Alive Today?", Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine 88:7 (1995), 377. Philip H. Cooper, "President Cleveland's Palatal Tumor," Archives of Dermatology 122:7 (1986), 747-748. Richard L. Rovit and William T. Couldwell, "A Man for All Seasons: WW Keen," Neurosurgery 50:1 (2002), 181-190. "Without Prejudice," British Medical Journal 2:5467 (Oct. 16, 1965), 938. John J. Brooks and Horatio T. Enterline, "The Final Diagnosis of President Cleveland's Lesion," JAMA 244:24 (1980), 2729-2729. William Maloney, "Surreptitious Surgery on Long Island Sound," New York State Dental Journal 76:1 (January 2010), 42-45. Robert S. Robins and Henry Rothschild, "Ethical Dilemmas of the President's Physician," Politics and the Life Sciences 7:1, Medicine and Political Behavior (August 1988), 3-11. Richard Norton Smith, "'The President Is Fine' and Other Historical Lies," Columbia Journalism Review 40:3 (September/October 2001), 30-32. "A Yacht, A Mustache: How A President Hid His Tumor," Morning Edition, National Public Radio, July 6, 2011. "Grover Cleveland - Secret Surgery," University of Arizona Health Sciences Library, July 20, 2018. Arlene Shaner, "The Secret Surgeries of Grover Cleveland," New York Academy of Medicine, Feb. 27, 2014. Paul Maloney, "Grover Cleveland's Secret Surgery," Grover Cleveland Birthplace Memorial Association (accessed July 23, 2018). "Dr. W.W. Keen Dies; Famous Surgeon," New York Times, June 8, 1932. Abigail Trafford, "Presidential Illness: Are Coverups Still Possible?", Montreal Gazette, Jan. 8, 1987, A1. Martin D. Tullai, "Health Secret Was Once Possible for U.S. President," Salt Lake Tribune, March 14, 1994, A6. Allan B. Schwartz, "Medical Mystery: Grover Cleveland’s Secret Operation," Philadelphia Inquirer, Oct. 24, 2016. Dan Gunderman, "The Secretive, Disfiguring Medical Battle Waged by President Grover Cleveland as the Nation Fell Into a Deep Depression," New York Daily News, Dec. 25, 2016. David Steinberg, "Should the President Undergo Independent Medical Evaluations?", Boston Globe, May 27, 2018, A.4. Listener mail: "Wallabies in Onchan," Onchan and Garff Area Matters, Facebook, July 12, 2018. Samantha Harrelson, "Wandering Kangaroo Causes Rollover Crash Near Dodson in Northern Montana," KTVQ, June 21, 2018. "Two Injured in Montana After Swerving to Avoid a Kangaroo or Wallaby," KULR 8, June 21, 2018. Rob Rogers, "Startled Driver Rolls Car to Avoid 'Kangaroo' in Northern Montana," Billings Gazette, June 21, 2018. "Prohibited Species," Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (accessed Aug. 16, 2018). "Animals Go Wild! The Wallabies of Kalihi Valley," Hawaii News Now (accessed Aug. 16, 2018). "Native Animals," New Zealand Department of Conservation (accessed Aug. 16, 2018). "Kawau Island Wallabies," New Zealand Department of Conservation (accessed Aug. 16, 2018). Wikipedia, "Kawau Island: History" (accessed Aug. 12, 2018). This week's lateral thinking puzzle was devised by Sharon. Here are three corroborating links (warning -- these spoil the puzzle). You can listen using the player above, download this episode directly, or subscribe on Google Podcasts, on Apple Podcasts, or via the RSS feed at https://futilitycloset.libsyn.com/rss. Please consider becoming a patron of Futility Closet -- you can choose the amount you want to pledge, and we've set up some rewards to help thank you for your support. You can also make a one-time donation on the Support Us page of the Futility Closet website. Many thanks to Doug Ross for the music in this episode. If you have any questions or comments you can reach us at podcast@futilitycloset.com. Thanks for listening!

Our guest this week is presidential historian and author Richard Norton Smith. We talked with him about using a president's first 100 days in office as a measurement of success and why FDR set a standard that may not be matched. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The new year brings back our very first episode. Nancy is off for a few weeks, attending to her own writing. Here is our very first episode, with something added. A word from our sponsor. Sarah Swanson at The Bryant Corner Cafe is the person who has made us a space here at the cafe.  So, we find out a little bit about why that is, and also, we taste their homemade hollandaise sauce Write us at thatstackofbooks@gmail.com. Looking for a book suggestion? Have a thought about a topic we should cover? Give us some feedback to the show. Drop us a line. We love to hear from you.Here are the books we discussed on this episode.That Stack of Books Episode 1 Some of the books, authors and genre’s discussed by Nancy, Steve, Katy and our visitor’s Welcome To Subirdia, John M. MarzluffRichard Norton Smith, On His Own Terms: A Life of Nelson RockefellerGarth Stein, The Sudden LightPeter Temple, Truth, The Broken Shore; The Jack Irish SeriesDonna Leon, Guido Brunetti SeriesAndrea Camilleri, Salvo Montalbano SeriesManuel Vazquez Montalbon, Pepe Carvalho SeriesPatrick Millikin, Phoenix NoirJon Talton, David Mapstone Mysteries SeriesM.M. Kaye, The Sun In Morning, The Far PavilionsAgatha Christie’s booksPaul Scott, The Raj QuartetEmma Straub, The Vacationers.Ian MacEwan, The Children Act, Atonement, Black DogsAdrian Mckinty, The Cold, Cold GroundJohn Boyne, This House Is HauntedLouisa May Alcott, Little Men, The Old Fashioned Girl, Jack And JillNicole Krause, The History of Love Jonathan Safron Foer, Everything Is IlluminatedMarie-Helene Bertino, 2 A.M. at The Cat’s PajamasCheryl Strayed, WildJulia Glass, And The Dark Sacred Night, The Three JunesAnthony Marra, A Constellation of Vital PhenomenaJohn Le Carre, A Most Wanted ManCea Person, North Of NormalKristin Hannah, Fly AwayLeanne Moriarty, Big, Little Lies, The Husband’s SecretElin Hildebrand. Various titles Kathyrn Ma, The Year She Left UsFiona McFarland, The Night GuestDavid Shafer, Whiskey Tango Foxtrot 

Did you know That the Founding Father's of the USA were High on Cannabis While not leading revolutions and writing constitutions, George Washington lived many very non-mythical days. One of best articles separating the myth from the man is "The Surprising George Washington" by Richard Norton Smith. "According to Newsweek, 14 percent of all American preschoolers think that George Washington is still sitting in the Oval Office. To the rest of us, Washington appears every February to sell cars and appliances before vanishing into the historical mists, the Ultimate Dead White Male." Smith's article presents fascinating anecdotal glimpses of Washington's more "common" undertakings like his contract with a liquor-loving man employed as a gardener at Mount Vernon. "... if allowed four dollars at Christmas, with which to be drunk four days and four nights; two dollars at Easter, to effect the same purpose; two dollars at Whitsuntide, to be drunk for two days, a dram in the morning, and a drink of grog at dinner and at noon." Read More http://usgovinfo.about.com/od/thepresidentandcabinet/a/gwtheman.htm

Richard Norton Smith

Richard Norton Smith

Richard Norton Smith

Richard Norton Smith

Richard Norton Smith

Richard Norton Smith

Richard Norton Smith

Richard Norton Smith

Richard Norton Smith

Richard Norton Smith

Richard Norton Smith

Richard Norton Smith

Richard Norton Smith

Richard Norton Smith

Corporate leaders in the United States often draw leadership lessons -- good and bad -- from the examples set by American presidents. But in looking to the White House it's important to recognize that history's take on presidential performance is subject to change according to presidential historian Richard Norton Smith who spoke at a recent Wharton Leadership Conference. He offered 10 rules for presidential evaluations that stand the test of time. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Richard Norton Smith

Richard Norton Smith

Richard Norton Smith

Richard Norton Smith

Richard Norton Smith

Richard Norton Smith

Richard Norton Smith

Richard Norton Smith

Richard Norton Smith

Richard Norton Smith

Richard Norton Smith

Richard Norton Smith

Richard Norton Smith

Richard Norton Smith