#1609 Joseph Ellis Returns

Listening to America

History, Politics, Unitedstates, Society & Culture, American

4.6 • 1.1K Ratings

🗓️ 22 July 2024

⏱️ 56 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Eminent historian Joseph Ellis returns to Listening to America to assess the country’s current political climate. Ellis, now in retirement in the mountains of Vermont, is the author of more than a dozen books, including biographical treatments of Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, John Adams, and others. He believes that the election of November 2024 is the second most important election of American history and the single most important election of his lifetime. He urges all Americans to step back and think hard about where we are and where we may be heading. Ellis and Jenkinson turn to the mission statement of the Founding Fathers, Jefferson’s famous 35 words beginning with We hold these truths to be self-evident, and the Constitution’s preamble which commits America to the perpetual struggle to create a more perfect union. They also discuss the vision, character, and achievement of Thomas Jefferson and whether he is truly the apostle of armed resistance in American life.

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hello everyone just this brief introduction to this week's podcast edition of
0:04.0	listening to America. Joe Ellis is back. Founding Brothers,
0:07.8	passionate sage, his excellency, American Sphinx, all those books that
0:12.4	Joe Ellis wrote that are crossover books.
0:15.0	They've passed academic muster, but they're also written for the general intelligent public.
0:20.6	They're amazing.
0:21.6	Joe and I worked on a Ken Burns film long, long, long ago, 25 years ago now and
0:26.2	have been friends ever since, but he's been available now in his retirement to be an occasional
0:30.9	guest on these podcasts and I'm thrilled to have him.
0:34.4	You know, we do have to talk a little bit about Donald Trump and the clear and present danger.
0:38.8	And I know that some of our listeners hate that.
0:41.3	A, listeners who are conservative and are somewhat
0:45.2	sympathetic to the MAGA movement and B, people who are just tired of it. Do
0:50.0	we have to talk about this ever again? And I apologize, but here's why you have to talk about this ever again and I apologize but here's why you have to talk
0:54.9	about it.
0:55.9	Former President Trump has said in his long careful interview with Time magazine is primary
1:02.4	evidence. He's talked about what he would do if he
1:05.1	could do it if he's reelected. That includes rounding up 12 million or more
1:09.2	undocumented workers and putting them in camps. Camp camps and then deporting them.
1:14.6	Perhaps another Muslim or an attempt at a Muslim ban,
1:18.0	retribution against his political enemies,
1:20.2	dismantling the deep state as he understands it.
	...

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