This is backstory. I'm Peter Onov. Democrats and Republicans don't agree on much these days,

but there's one issue that transcends the partisan divide. As President Obama put it in his final

state of the Union address this month. Let me tell you something. The United States of America

is the most powerful nation on earth. Period. Talk of American exceptionalism is nothing new.

Some traces all the way back to the famous image of a city on a hill, but a city on a hill meant

something quite different when it was first used back in 1630. We shall be as a city upon a hill.

Is a phrase that is not about a kind of glowing example for the rest of the world.

It's a phrase that describes the exposed position that the settlers are going to be in as they set out

upon this venture. Today on backstory, the history of American exceptionalism.

Major funding for backstory is provided by the Shia Khan Foundation, the National Endowment

for the Humanities, the Joseph and Robert Cornell Memorial Foundation, and the Arthur Vining

Davis Foundations. From the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities, this is backstory.

With the American History Guy.

Welcome to the show. I'm Brian Bellow, and I'm here with Ed Ears. Hey guys,

Ann, Peter Otis with us. Hey Brian. Earlier this month, President Obama

delivered his final state of the Union address. He used the speech to tout his

administration's various accomplishments, but he also gave a shout out to the American people.

Our unique strengths as a nation, our optimism, and work ethic, our spirit of discovery,

our diversity, our commitment to rule of law. These things give us everything we need to ensure

prosperity and security for generations to come. In the official Republican response,

South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley also sang the country's praises. She called America the last

best hope on Earth. Our forefathers paved the way for us. Let's take their values and their strengths

...