Like you said, quite the day! Great interview with President Biden. Couple that with the letter tonight, and I find solace in the strength we have. Thank you for your exceedingly fine work. Sleep well, Heather💛🕊💙
Like you said, quite the day! Great interview with President Biden. Couple that with the letter tonight, and I find solace in the strength we have. Thank you for your exceedingly fine work. Sleep well, Heather💛🕊💙
I woke up too early so I listened to the interview on Now and Then, Heather Cox Richardson and Joanne Freeman's weekly podcast. Of course, Joanne wasn't a participant though she is a historian buddy of Heather's. The interview was informative from a history standpoint leading up to the horrific current events taking place with Russia in Ukraine.
I've been wearing my 'I Love Jimmy Carter' tee-shirt the last week or so. Time to find an 'I Love Joe Biden!' tee-shirt. My admiration for that man grows and grows as I learn more about him. Thank you for the interview Heather. And thank you Kathleen for posting the youtube link, I had no idea that I would get to watch the interview. I can hardly wait!
It's funny - when Joe Biden first was voted into the Senate, I thought he was The Fonz (played by Henry Winkler) - seriously - (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fonzie)
... I was a big fan - knew right then and there, that man would be president one day😆😄😆 ... I feel the same about Jon Ossoff - even though I know he's not a media star - he is courageous, bold, articulate and truthful ... I would like to think those are qualities we want in a president!!
I am praying out loud that the voters in Georgia soundly re-elect Sen. Warnock. He seems to epitomize the speech and actions of what a U.S. Senator should be. I will refrain from commenting on his opposition the former occupant of the WH prefers.
Hi Joan, Daphne, Kate - people ... I am happy to hear you found the link useful - wasn't sure if it would be redundant. Here is the introductory comment from the good professor's email:
"Every day, people write to me and say they feel helpless to change the direction of our future.
"I always answer that we change the future by changing the way people think, and that we change the way people think by changing the way we talk about things. To that end, I have encouraged people to speak up about what they think is important, to take up oxygen that otherwise feeds the hatred and division that have had far too much influence in our country of late."
"Have any of your efforts mattered?"
"Well, apparently some people think they have. Last week, President Biden’s team reached out to ask if I would like some time with him to have a conversation to share with you all.
"On Friday, February 25, I sat down with the president in the China Room of the White House to talk about American democracy and the struggles we face.
"It was an amazing time to be able to talk to the President. Russian president Vladimir Putin had just attacked Ukraine, Biden was preparing to give his first State of the Union address, and the president had just made the historic announcement of the nomination of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson for a seat on the Supreme Court.
"But I didn’t want to ask the president about anything I could learn from other publicly available sources—I already read those every day to write my Letters from an American. I wanted to hear from a historic figure in a historic time about how he thinks about America in this pivotal moment, to put the specifics of what he does in a larger context.
"In my books, I have argued that throughout our history, America has swung between the defense of equality outlined in the Declaration of Independence and the defense of private property outlined in the Constitution.
"Our peculiar history of racism has meant that every time it seems we are approaching equality before the law, those determined to prevent that equality have turned people against it by insisting that government protection of equality will cost tax dollars, thus amounting to a redistribution of wealth from those with property to those without. That is, if Black and Brown Americans, and poor people, are permitted to vote, they will demand roads and schools and hospitals, and those can be paid for only by taxes on people with money. In this argument, an equal say in our government for all people amounts to socialism.
"With this argument, those defending their property turn ordinary Americans against each other and take control of our political system. Once in power, they rig the system for their own benefit. Money flows upward until there is a dramatic split between ordinary people and those very few wealthy Americans who, by then, control the economy, the government, and society.
"This point in the cycle came about in the 1850s, the 1890s, the 1920s, and now, again, in our present.
"In the past, just when it seemed we were approaching the end of democracy and replacing it with oligarchy—and in each of these periods, elites literally talked about how they alone should lead the country—the American people turned to leaders who helped them reclaim democracy.
"We know these leaders from our history. Presidents Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, and Franklin Delano Roosevelt all have entered the pantheon of our leaders because of their defense of democracy in the face of entrenched power. But all of those presidents became who they were because they rose to the challenge of the pivotal moments in which they lived. They worked to reflect the increasingly loud voices of the majority of the American people.
"James Buchanan, William McKinley, Herbert Hoover, and Donald Trump did not.
"And now President Biden stands at another pivotal moment in our history. What he does in this moment will reflect what the American people demand from his leadership.
"So do your voices matter? He wouldn’t have taken the time in the midst of such an important day in America to talk to you if they didn’t."
I watched the interview yesterday. Biden was articulate and Heather didn't interrupt him which gives her high marks as well. It was nice to see someone listen attentively.
Thank you so much for this interesting review of history and role of different presidents, landowners, and the rest of us. You have a gift for clarifying history.
Great interview! I was so impressed at Biden's knowledge of history and the English language :-) Happy we have a president who can speak in full sentences and follow a thread.
Also a HUGE thank you HCR for yesterday's letter (I am in bed by the time it arrives in my inbox).
Being from Sweden I am afraid for Finland, Sweden, Norway and the Baltic countries UNLESS putin is stopped.
I have friends/colleagues in Finland and Estonia. They are very worried too. My friend in Finland has never been political, but now he is very loudly calling for Finland to join NATO, and he is not alone. This has rattled everybody.
Rather than indulging in alarmist conjecture that this situation will escalate, even though it could, I prefer to see it as a reckoning for the Russian people, sort of like djt provides a political reckoning for the USA. It’s a major cultural turning point for that nation. And for Europe.
Perhaps - if/when the Russian people learn what Putin is really doing. I heard an interview yesterday with a woman in Ukraine who called her mother who lives in Russia. As much as the woman tried to tell her mother what Russian troops were doing in Ukraine, her mother denied the acts were being conducted by Russians. The mother was convinced (via Russian media, I presume) that it was Ukrainians committing the damage to the Ukrainian people. The impact on Putin directly only seems possible if some means of communication with the Russian people can be forged. Mass pamphlet drops perhaps?
I share your concern for Finland, Sweden, Norway, and the Baltic countries - and the rest of Europe because I believe anyone insane enough to do what Putin has already done will follow the previous path of a madman. And yet, remarks like Lindsay Graham made on Fox "news" only add fuel to an already dangerous situation. The more Pence can do to move Republicans away from the ludicrous political positions they've advocated the past 5 years, the better.
Janet, you are right about the interview with President Biden. We listened while driving, it was spellbinding, great questions and on-point prompts from Heather and cogent, informed, logical, caring responses from President Biden. I couldn’t help but be reminded of Republican friends and relatives (under the spell of Trump) saying, essentially, that “Biden is old, he never did anything in all of his time in government and he can’t even put a sentence together” (that last insult was interesting in terms of their idol Trump). Well, yesterday’s interview pointed out that “Joe” is the man we need, AT the time we need him and, while perhaps not a silver tongued orator, he knows what needs to be done and is doing it! Congratulations Joe AND Heather!
Like you said, quite the day! Great interview with President Biden. Couple that with the letter tonight, and I find solace in the strength we have. Thank you for your exceedingly fine work. Sleep well, Heather💛🕊💙
Historian Heather Cox Richardson interviews President Joe Biden February 25, 2022
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6Ks3BnFymQ
I woke up too early so I listened to the interview on Now and Then, Heather Cox Richardson and Joanne Freeman's weekly podcast. Of course, Joanne wasn't a participant though she is a historian buddy of Heather's. The interview was informative from a history standpoint leading up to the horrific current events taking place with Russia in Ukraine.
I've been wearing my 'I Love Jimmy Carter' tee-shirt the last week or so. Time to find an 'I Love Joe Biden!' tee-shirt. My admiration for that man grows and grows as I learn more about him. Thank you for the interview Heather. And thank you Kathleen for posting the youtube link, I had no idea that I would get to watch the interview. I can hardly wait!
It's funny - when Joe Biden first was voted into the Senate, I thought he was The Fonz (played by Henry Winkler) - seriously - (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fonzie)
... I was a big fan - knew right then and there, that man would be president one day😆😄😆 ... I feel the same about Jon Ossoff - even though I know he's not a media star - he is courageous, bold, articulate and truthful ... I would like to think those are qualities we want in a president!!
I am SO proud of both our Senators from Georgia! Warnock has greatly impressed me as well as Ossoff. They're both "gittin' it done"!
I am praying out loud that the voters in Georgia soundly re-elect Sen. Warnock. He seems to epitomize the speech and actions of what a U.S. Senator should be. I will refrain from commenting on his opposition the former occupant of the WH prefers.
!!!
Agreed.
Seriously.
You won't be disappointed, Daphane Hill!
Yes! A great interview!
Hi Joan, Daphne, Kate - people ... I am happy to hear you found the link useful - wasn't sure if it would be redundant. Here is the introductory comment from the good professor's email:
"Every day, people write to me and say they feel helpless to change the direction of our future.
"I always answer that we change the future by changing the way people think, and that we change the way people think by changing the way we talk about things. To that end, I have encouraged people to speak up about what they think is important, to take up oxygen that otherwise feeds the hatred and division that have had far too much influence in our country of late."
"Have any of your efforts mattered?"
"Well, apparently some people think they have. Last week, President Biden’s team reached out to ask if I would like some time with him to have a conversation to share with you all.
"On Friday, February 25, I sat down with the president in the China Room of the White House to talk about American democracy and the struggles we face.
"It was an amazing time to be able to talk to the President. Russian president Vladimir Putin had just attacked Ukraine, Biden was preparing to give his first State of the Union address, and the president had just made the historic announcement of the nomination of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson for a seat on the Supreme Court.
"But I didn’t want to ask the president about anything I could learn from other publicly available sources—I already read those every day to write my Letters from an American. I wanted to hear from a historic figure in a historic time about how he thinks about America in this pivotal moment, to put the specifics of what he does in a larger context.
"In my books, I have argued that throughout our history, America has swung between the defense of equality outlined in the Declaration of Independence and the defense of private property outlined in the Constitution.
"Our peculiar history of racism has meant that every time it seems we are approaching equality before the law, those determined to prevent that equality have turned people against it by insisting that government protection of equality will cost tax dollars, thus amounting to a redistribution of wealth from those with property to those without. That is, if Black and Brown Americans, and poor people, are permitted to vote, they will demand roads and schools and hospitals, and those can be paid for only by taxes on people with money. In this argument, an equal say in our government for all people amounts to socialism.
"With this argument, those defending their property turn ordinary Americans against each other and take control of our political system. Once in power, they rig the system for their own benefit. Money flows upward until there is a dramatic split between ordinary people and those very few wealthy Americans who, by then, control the economy, the government, and society.
"This point in the cycle came about in the 1850s, the 1890s, the 1920s, and now, again, in our present.
"In the past, just when it seemed we were approaching the end of democracy and replacing it with oligarchy—and in each of these periods, elites literally talked about how they alone should lead the country—the American people turned to leaders who helped them reclaim democracy.
"We know these leaders from our history. Presidents Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, and Franklin Delano Roosevelt all have entered the pantheon of our leaders because of their defense of democracy in the face of entrenched power. But all of those presidents became who they were because they rose to the challenge of the pivotal moments in which they lived. They worked to reflect the increasingly loud voices of the majority of the American people.
"James Buchanan, William McKinley, Herbert Hoover, and Donald Trump did not.
"And now President Biden stands at another pivotal moment in our history. What he does in this moment will reflect what the American people demand from his leadership.
"So do your voices matter? He wouldn’t have taken the time in the midst of such an important day in America to talk to you if they didn’t."
"Here is what he has to say:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6Ks3BnFymQ
"Thanks for subscribing to Letters from an American. This post is public, so feel free to share it."
🤗😄😃😄🤗
I watched the interview yesterday. Biden was articulate and Heather didn't interrupt him which gives her high marks as well. It was nice to see someone listen attentively.
Wouldn’t it be nice if Judy Woodruff learned how to do that on the NH
LOL!
Thank you so much for this interesting review of history and role of different presidents, landowners, and the rest of us. You have a gift for clarifying history.
Impressive to read this again today
Great interview! I was so impressed at Biden's knowledge of history and the English language :-) Happy we have a president who can speak in full sentences and follow a thread.
Also a HUGE thank you HCR for yesterday's letter (I am in bed by the time it arrives in my inbox).
Being from Sweden I am afraid for Finland, Sweden, Norway and the Baltic countries UNLESS putin is stopped.
I have friends/colleagues in Finland and Estonia. They are very worried too. My friend in Finland has never been political, but now he is very loudly calling for Finland to join NATO, and he is not alone. This has rattled everybody.
Rather than indulging in alarmist conjecture that this situation will escalate, even though it could, I prefer to see it as a reckoning for the Russian people, sort of like djt provides a political reckoning for the USA. It’s a major cultural turning point for that nation. And for Europe.
We can only hope!
Perhaps - if/when the Russian people learn what Putin is really doing. I heard an interview yesterday with a woman in Ukraine who called her mother who lives in Russia. As much as the woman tried to tell her mother what Russian troops were doing in Ukraine, her mother denied the acts were being conducted by Russians. The mother was convinced (via Russian media, I presume) that it was Ukrainians committing the damage to the Ukrainian people. The impact on Putin directly only seems possible if some means of communication with the Russian people can be forged. Mass pamphlet drops perhaps?
I am in the USA and I am worried about what Putin will do! He is 69 and I believe a coward in reality plus he has short man syndrome!
I share your concern for Finland, Sweden, Norway, and the Baltic countries - and the rest of Europe because I believe anyone insane enough to do what Putin has already done will follow the previous path of a madman. And yet, remarks like Lindsay Graham made on Fox "news" only add fuel to an already dangerous situation. The more Pence can do to move Republicans away from the ludicrous political positions they've advocated the past 5 years, the better.
Yes, I am grateful for your comment & link. I hadn’t been aware of this interview. I hope it is broadcast on TV, too.
Such a wonderful amazing surprise that Heather promised us on Thursday. I cried and still do when I think about this gift she has given us!
Thanks so much for this post
There needs to be a transcript of this interview. Too many things will get lost in the wind without it.
Heather, in her infinite wisdom, has a transcript already, believe me. She leaves no rock unturned.
Thanks so much for posting this link, Kathleen.
I couldn't have said it better! A few quick markers turned into quite the essay! Excellent as usual.
Janet, you are right about the interview with President Biden. We listened while driving, it was spellbinding, great questions and on-point prompts from Heather and cogent, informed, logical, caring responses from President Biden. I couldn’t help but be reminded of Republican friends and relatives (under the spell of Trump) saying, essentially, that “Biden is old, he never did anything in all of his time in government and he can’t even put a sentence together” (that last insult was interesting in terms of their idol Trump). Well, yesterday’s interview pointed out that “Joe” is the man we need, AT the time we need him and, while perhaps not a silver tongued orator, he knows what needs to be done and is doing it! Congratulations Joe AND Heather!
So true.
Ditto all of Janet's comments. Wonderful interview with President Biden who is becoming one of my heroes.