Political Courage: Recent Episodes
Douglas Perkins
This podcast is dedicated to telling the stories of people involved in politics who have acted courageously in the face of opposition and threat.
How do you define courage?
What are the principles and values for which you are willing to sacrifice? How does this apply to the Fairness Doctrine and Free Speech?
Join us for this interesting and divisive issue.
Richard Nixon and Bill Clinton - What do these two men have in common?
Okay, unfortunately, the mistakes they made that led to resignation and impeachment are the first things that come to mind.
But, the goal of this episode is to highlight Executive Orders they signed that have lasting positive impacts that should be a part of their legacies. Join us and learn to appreciate their accomplishments. Learn about the influential orders that they have in common.
Let's remember them for their courageous accomplishments.
In September of 1787, the members of the Philadelphia Convention sent the new United States Constitution to the Confederation Congress for their review.
This new document outlined a new government and thus called for the transfer of governmental authority from the Confederation Congress to a new government. Instead of retaliating at the loss of their authority, the courageous existing Congress supported the new government and developed a plan that would facilitate that transfer of power.
June 21, 1788: Concord, New Hampshire. 114 men cast their votes on whether to ratify the new US Constitution. The vote was close.
We dedicate this episode to the 57 men who voted to ratify the Constitution.
But why New Hampshire? New Hampshire became the 9th state to ratify, meeting the 2/3 majority vote. Join us and learn about this fateful day and the state which made the Constitution the law of the land.
Philanthropist Jane Addams opened Hull House in 1889 and dedicated her life to those less fortunate.
In 1903, she gave a speech in Chicago dedicated to the spirit of Washington, Lincoln, and other great men. She challenged us all to look inward, then outward, and find ways to make our communities better.
"What is a great man? He is a man who has looked through the confusion of the moment and has listened to his conscience."
Over the past 222 years, 36 people have had the distinction of lying-in-state in the Capitol Building Rotunda. In that time only 5 people have earned the distinction of lying-in-honor in the Rotunda.
What is the difference between lying-in-state and lying-in-honor?
Who are the 5 honored people?
In this episode, we discuss the uncommon history of the United States Capitol Building and the people of integrity and distinction who have been given the honor.
Ida B. Wells spent 45 years battling racism, sexism, and violence. She fought an anti-lynching campaign after 3 friends were lynched by a group of southern whites in 1892.
She was a journalist, activist, researcher, and early leader in the Civil Rights movement. Join us in remembering a wonderful and courageous woman.
The first man of the Jewish faith to hold elected office in the colonies.
The first man of the Jewish faith to die in the Revolutionary War.
In this episode, we tell his story because, simply put, he deserves to be remembered.
General Richard Oglesby stood in front of those who wanted him dead. "I smell blood! I smell the blood of Union soldiers, here foully murdered by traitors to their country!"
We discuss courage in the face of the threat of harm and even death. It was said of General Oglesby, "threats only made him more determined.” He faced his armed accusers unafraid and gave his speech on the Union and the Civil War for two hours. They dared not stop him.
We analyze the power of the US presidency from the perspective of 2 of Teddy Roosevelt's good friends, Mark Twain and Henry Adams. In 1906, Roosevelt was mixed up in a scandal and Twain and Adams both weighed in on the subject and how the immense power of the presidency had affected their friend. Listen to the insights of two people close to the president. Fascinating stuff.
Thomas Jefferson taught us about the need for rebellion once in a while. But do the happenings of 1/6/2021 qualify?
In this episode, we analyze Jefferson and his statement and the specifics of what he was discussing. We discuss the differences between rebellion, revolution, and insurrection and where the circumstances of last January fall.
How does the insurrection of 2021 compare with the revolution of 1776 and the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 60s?
In 1968, Shirley Chisholm became the first woman of African descent to be elected to the United States Congress. She served for many years and dedicated herself to bettering the lives of countless people of all ages and races.
1st black candidate to run for a major party's nomination for president
1st woman to run for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination
1st woman to appear in a US presidential debate
Democrats, Republicans, Whigs, and Federalists. Presidents, senators, representatives, soldiers, and Founders. What do all the people we have discussed have in common? Courage, grit, integrity, and determination.
Let's review what we have learned and what we have to look forward to in 2022.
In 1941, suspecting mismanagement of federal defense contracts, Senator Harry Truman begins a 10,000-mile drive around the United States to investigate the usage of federal money. What he uncovered shocked and disturbed him. He then received approval for the Truman Committee to begin a formal investigation. The mismanagement of billions of dollars led all the way to the White House.
Listen to learn what he found and how he corrected it.
Was George Washington tolerant and accepting of the many religious sects, primarily the Jewish faith, which were represented in the new United States?
We answer that question. We analyze his thoughts and feelings by using his own words and actions. Join us and get to know our first president a bit better.
House Representative James "Tama Jim" Wilson courageously sacrificed a lot for the benefit of a dying man and his family. Who was that dying man? A former President of the United States. Learn about the debates, filibustering, yelling, and threats within the US House of Representatives that led to Tama Jim's heroic actions.
We take a unique look at the Thanksgiving holiday. We look at the reason the Pilgrims left England and the Netherlands and came to the New World. We apply tolerance and gratitude. We also apply the words of Cardinal Manning who spoke out against anti-Semitism in 1882. Join us for this unique perspective.
Cheri Jacobus, formerly of FoxNews, CNN, and executive producer of "America Reads the Mueller Report" and host of Politics with Cheri Jacobus, joins me for an enlightening discussion about our current national political landscape. She discusses what we can expect from the coming midterm elections, Biden, Trump, democracy, and courageous leadership.
This episode will provide an interesting take on President James Madison's request for a declaration of war on Great Britain and the start of the War of 1812. We present the history leading up to the war and ask you to make your determination regarding Madison's decision. Did he do the right thing? You decide.
Our guest in this episode is the intelligent and knowledgeable Ellie Cohanim. Ellie is a Senior Fellow at the Center for Security Policy and the host of the weekly newsmagazine, "Global Perspectives with Ellie Cohanim." Ellie has a unique perspective regarding the Middle East, specifically with the problems within Iran. We discuss Afghanistan, Iran, courageous leadership in politics, and her involvement with the Abraham Accords.
Leonidas Dyer, a white Republican US Representative from Missouri, courageously took a stand and fought against Southern Democrats and indifferent Republicans to establish anti-lynching legislation. He fought alongside NAACP representatives to enact this legislation for 16 years in the US House beginning with the 65th Congress up until the 72nd Congress.
The intelligent and entertaining Charlie Sykes joins me in this episode of Political Courage. Charlie is a longtime radio talk show host and the founder and editor-at-large of The Bulwark news outlet. We discuss the Biden and Trump administrations, the parties and where they are headed, elections, and the books It Was All a Lie and How the Right Lost its Mind.
The Founding Fathers endured hardship, danger, risk, and sometimes death to form a new nation. This week we look at the risks the signers of the Declaration of Independence endured as they were branded traitors by the British government. In this episode, we try to understand them, their devotion, and their risks.
Today I am joined by political strategist and Renew Democracy Initiative Advisor Lucy Caldwell. Lucy and I discuss the importance of empowering people to fight for democracy and constitutional values. We discuss equal justice, the two political parties, and promoting democratic principles.
Author & Professor Ruth Ben-Ghiat joins me to discuss authoritarian political leadership. She discusses her book, Strongmen, and helps us understand the motivations and the "playbook" of authoritarians. She discusses how we can spot them and get rid of them. Join us and learn!
Rina Shah, an advisor to the Renew Democracy Initiative (rdi.org), discusses her time working on political campaigns and in political advocacy, the current threats to democracy, the Biden administration's promises of unity, and her role against the Trump campaigns of '16 and '20. We talk about election fairness, and the mission of the RDI, and the need for its mission.
Greg Jenkins, Co-Director of the Franklin Project and former Special Assistant to President George W. Bush, is today's guest. We discuss the goals of the Franklin Project, civility, community, courage, the fight for democracy, and pre-partisan politics. Join us for this fascinating and encouraging discussion!
Today we deviate slightly from politics and dedicate our discussion to the courage of the Revolutionary War soldier and compare this courage and service to our current servicemen and women. We look at the Battle of Kings Mountain which took place in South Carolina in 1780. We also look at how courage doesn't mean hate; it can also mean compassion.
Historian & political science professor Eddie Zipperer and I talk John Quincy Adams and his fight in the House of Representatives against slavery and the unconstitutional Gag Rule which was put in place by pro-slavery Southern Democrats.
Eddie Zipperer and I discuss John Quincy Adams and his life prior to serving in Congress. He spent much of his childhood in France and Russia before attending Harvard and beginning his life in public service. This leads us up to Episode 34 wherein we look at his time in the House of Representatives and his fight to restore the constitutional right of petition and against slavery.
My extremely insightful discussion with author and Lincoln Center Senior Advisor, Stuart Stevens. We discuss the Republican and Democratic Parties and where they are headed. We discuss the cult of Trump, and the long road the Republican party has taken to get here. The importance of the fight for democracy. We talk Eisenhower, McCarthy, Reagan, Bush, Clinton, Trump, and Biden.
Policy analyst and former White House speechwriter, Michael Johns, joins me to analyze the leadership of John F Kennedy and the Cuban Missile Crisis. JFK led us safely through the crisis that brought the world closer to nuclear war than at any other moment in history.
Michael Johns and I discuss John F Kennedy, his life leading up to political service, and his time in college, Europe, and Congress. We discuss his publications, his time in the ambassador's office in London, and in Berlin. This leads us up to Episode 31 wherein we look at JFK's presidency and the Cuban Missile Crisis specifically.
Interview #6 - My discussion with Fred Wellman. Fred is a senior advisor with the Lincoln Project. We discuss the Biden and Trump administrations, the status of the political parties, and the widening gap between them. We talk about Afghanistan and foreign policy and the very interesting topic of potential 2024 presidential nominees.
President Andrew Jackson begins a battle against the powerful and influential 2nd Bank of the United States. Jackson believes the bank is unconstitutional and corrupt. Bank President Nicholas Biddle goes against Jackson determined to see Jackson defeated in the election of 1832. Who will win this battle of wills and words?
This is a fascinating look at the Biden Administration and an analysis of how Biden can fulfill his campaign and inaugural promises to unify the country. Does Joe Biden have the courage to apply Conscience Politics and include people of other parties in his Cabinet?
5 in our series of interviews regarding political policy and foreign affairs.
My fascinating discussion with Simon Rosenberg the president of the New Democrat Network and New Policy Institute. Simon is an advisor to the White House and Congress. We discuss policy, his forward-thinking approach to politics, the Biden Administration, Afghanistan, Trump, Obama, Clinton, and Reagan.
Simon is extremely experienced and knowledgeable and gives us hands-on familiarity of the inner workings of the Biden White House.
4 in our series of interviews regarding foreign affairs and Afghanistan.
My interview with Tony Shaffer, the president of the London Center for Policy Research, best-selling author, retired lieutenant colonel, and White House & Pentagon advisor. We discuss foreign policy, international affairs, national defense, Afghanistan withdrawal, and courageous political leadership. We discuss Trump, Obama, Bush, Clinton, and Reagan.
Tony is knowledgeable, experienced, entertaining, and wonderful to listen to.
Don't miss out.
Abraham Lincoln unites with the wishes of the National Union Party Convention and courageously moves forward in the election year of 1864.
Follow-Up to Episode 10: Cye Cheasty. We speculated what danger Cye was in and what precautions were taken to counter the risk. I have some information to help answer these questions.
Jeannette Rankin of Montana becomes the first woman elected to Congress and immediately exhibits her courage when she stands and presents a bill for women's suffrage on her first day in Congress.
3 in our Afghanistan Interview Series. I talk to Hizbullah Khan, a pro-democracy freelance journalist who aided the US prior to the US withdrawal. Hizbullah is currently stuck in Kabul, Afghanistan, where he is traveling and staying in a different place each night to avoid capture by the Taliban. Listen as Hizbullah talks about the current lives and dangers of the Afghan people, the protests, captures and killings, what options he has now. He talks about women's rights, racial equality, the Biden Administration, and more.
2 in our foreign affairs Interview Series - Ms. Tsukerman, a human rights attorney and national security analyst, joins us to discuss the important human rights issues in Afghanistan.
In 1890, House Speaker Thomas Reed courageously uses his power as Speaker to defeat a common "immoral" parliamentary delaying tactic used by minority parties. This is a fascinating and entertaining story of great power used in a positive way.
1 in our series of foreign affairs interviews.
Former White House speechwriter and foreign policy analyst Michael Johns is the guest on the Political Courage podcast.
We discuss courage, Biden, Trump, both Bushes, Clinton, JFK, and more. An entertaining and educational discussion.
Harry Truman risked scrutiny within his party, particularly in the South, when, in 1948 - an election year - he eliminated segregation in the Armed Forces. This risked his ability to get votes in Southern states.
John Adams was devoted to the ideals of the new nation. He courageously submitted his will to the will of the people and the union. Learn about his sacrifice in this episode.
Listen as George Washington repeatedly sacrifices personal desires and responsibilities to serve the people and make our nation great.
Listen to the amazingly courageous actions of South Carolina House Representative Robert Smalls as he fights against Southern Democrats and the escalating Jim Crow laws of the South.
Teddy Roosevelt is remembered for his fight for racial equality in this exciting episode.
John Quincy Adams contradicts the POTUS and goes to the Supreme Court to argue the case of numerous enslaved Africans.
An Illinois State's Attorney breaks the law - did he do the right thing? Was he courageous?
Learn about the uncommon courage of a virtually unknown lawyer who assists in the Senate investigation of a powerful and corrupt union president.
The humble yet courageous wisdom of Benjamin Franklin at the conclusion of the Constitutional Convention in 1787.
On the Fourth of July, 1917, a surprisingly patriotic speech was given in London of all places. Who gave the speech? Lord Arthur Balfour.
The recent exciting example of courage in politics. 7 US Senators who stood up to the pressure of constituents and voted according to conscience.
Be surprised at the conciliatory and humble courage of Southern Democratic fire-eater Lucius Quintus Cincinnatus Lamar II.
Listen to the courage of Owen Lovejoy as he stands up to the threats of his fellow politicians and pro-slavery ruffians.
The courageous story of Senator Margaret Chase Smith who stood up to Senator Joseph McCarthy and McCarthyism.
Learn about the courageous story of Andrew Johnson, the 17th president, and the first president to be impeached. He is not a president we think of as successful but he was courageous.
This episode will provide insight into the courage of possibly the most obscure president in United States history - Chester Arthur.
This podcast is dedicated to telling the stories of people involved in politics who have acted courageously in the face of opposition including threat of party censure, loss of office, or damage to reputation, whether in personal life or in public office.