This probably the definitive biography. Especially without what is going on in the United States. Nobody was more consequential and has been more consequential on the question of race in America Frederick douglass, way ahead of his time per he was not only an abolitionist, and a passionate abolitionist is a former slave but he insisted from th earliest times in 1845 through the with his death. Almost, for the end of the 19th century. That equality was it. And he would have no d. A. And for deviation from the per he was very clear about what the goal was. And so any of his words ring true today. And i really recommend the biography for everyone. Its a long read. But it is really powerful. Peter one of the things that i learned about Frederick Douglass this year is that he was also very much a suffrage. Gerald absolutely. Is very consistent. In a distinguished career. And was able to talk to a mixed race audience at a time for that was unusual to say the least. And took on the powerful they had that ideas. For example, abraham taken in the beginning of his presidency was really fixed on an idea. We will free the slaves but we will move them to some other country because clearly, immigration in america will never work. And Frederick Douglass would have none of that and took lincoln to task. I think arguably to say to take some credit for changing lincolns idea about that. Douglas is up there with our founders in terms of where he belongs in american history. In this biography is long overdue. Theres a fine piece of work. And another book that i dont have with me because of limited out, the biography of george packer, called our man. It is unique. He never rode a book like it. Southern traditional biography. It makes his opinion with facts and not your traditional biography. If it is a powerful book. Its a powerful book about a man in washington who sacrificed almost everything for vision. Talented, white, but, really the family relations, he destroyed family relationships and friendships of longstanding. Ingested through admission. He also had accomplishments. He was credited with things that ended mars. And when he died, he was the boys for afghanistan. And had really made Great Strides in trying to she if that issue and get america to look at his involvement. But at the end of the day, kind of figured that it terms of what he was willing to do. And then almost of a rally of a story about power in washington. In a cautionary tale. So really powerful biography. And i highly recommend it. Peter did you know him at all congressman. Gerald i had met him. On several occasion to the during the course of his car. You can tell you that i was intimate with him or that i served with him or worked with him. On any kind of project but he was clearly a powerful figure but also i think some ways a tragic figure. In any rate, think it is one of the best biographies that i have ever read. And its a completely different style. Is not your usual biography. Im so taken with it. Ive given it away multiple times for people to read because i think there are a lot of lessons for people in the place where i work. In a book i just read recently by sydney. All the powers, and this is the pre president ial history of Abraham Lincoln. But its so more than that. The social logical and political history of the tumultuous years between 1956 in 1960. So much its sandwiched into the foyer. And it made the civil war really inevitable. Everything from populist to Stephen Douglas to the kansas nebraska act and live in kansas browns grades rated the over these are these really for important civil years that led to the civil war. And the sydney goes in depth into some of the main characters, Stephen Douglas, charles the summer. And others and is just really a great piece of history. And theres a lot in there thats written one month entered might not normally no. One of the characters, from a historical point of view is Stephen Douglas. Really a demagogue. Willing to sacrifice all kinds of principles to advance his career and of course, he tragically failed now to deliver meanwhile did huge damage to the country. During the missouri compromise and opening up territories to slavery were and had ordered them and ultimately for nobody. Thats southward to the north. A really good piece of work. If the story of the massacre and told side, of a really vibrant and successful africanamerican part of tulsa. And the massacre that took place was awful. Its actually hard to believe this can happen in 20th Century America but he did. Hundreds of africanamericans were killed. Relations were running rampant they ultimately burned to the ground. A six the blocks of this African Community churches businesses communities homes. And frankly subrogated the africanamerican population. Until the end of jim crow in the 1960s 45 years later. It is a gripping story and again, given what is going on in america today, understanding the history. In the insecurity of the white majority at least at the time and leading to really reverse economic and cultural progress of a very vibrant africanamerican community. Its called wall street of black america. Is that successful. But for some reason, for a long time, the americans kinda forgot this important part of history. And it needs to be revisited because the horror of what happened, the race is him. It led to unbelievable things. These are real contribution to the discussions of Racial Injustice in america. And another book, homecoming, i dont often get the chance to read as much literature as i would like. Even though im an english major. But this book was beautifully done and beautifully written novel. And the evolution of both slavery and race in america with really the story of donna. And how people lived in ghana. Prior to slavery and during the enslavement. And its really beautifully done book. Shes a very talented novelist. And i really think she has a future. And she also came out with the new book as well. In a book that really got me and that is killers of the move by david grant. This is a book again, in oklahoma where power, murdered a number of native americans who had lived. And they had royalties for Natural Resources on their land. They were swindled in order to have deeds transferred tomorroalmost always white power elites. Investment fraud and murder. Losers and poisonings. In some assassinations of native americans in order to get their land. In this again took place in the 1920s in america. This is not ancient history. This was not indian wars in the mid 19th century. This happened not that long ago. This unbelievable story deeply disturbing in terms of again, the power of racism. In the power grade. But something about her history the people need to read. And i just finished another book. It is an enormous book. It is a history of the slaves in jerusalem bargaining it takes you from the canaanite period, the babylonian captivity, incursions of the egyptians and the venetians and ultimately the romans and the greeks. To the crusaders in the islamic. Two modern history. In the sweep of history, when you read this book, really start to. And also sadly, said jerusalem is the bond by balance. The constant cracking soun aly in the name of. [inaudible]. And we realize that that also in the middle east. It is really a sweeping history, and gives you another perspective. I dont know if it gives you a lot of hope about the future of the middle east but it really does put a lot of what were dealing with right now in a very important context in terms that this is not new. And so much evil in the name of the sacred. Irrespective of the religion or the period of history. And another one by christopher. A great book about. [inaudible]. And how he built an empire from his perch in kansas. And now used it to influence politics in america. And certainly in a very effective if not totally way. He used his money to build think tanks. And putting himself in the university and to create schools. And he used his influence to go or build a Grassroots Network and then applied it to all that to legislative initiatives. His libertarian governance philosophy. Were going through pandemic where we understand actually we need more governments right now, not less. That kind of flies in the face of the the philosophy. But anyway, this is a great book. In terms of giving you a sense of who is charles. When you come from. Where is he going. Another book, will only talk about the history and biography. I do like to read mysteries. And i discovered recently, one is in what is called the nordic law school writings. This is called the island. This takes place in iceland. Set of this really start landscape. Its a background of murderous activities going on. Sort of an inspectors whose life is not worked out well. Who nonetheless was intrepid. And adopted and follows the mystery tour needs to go. And then another one this just incredible. Ive read four or five of his books now. He created this mystery detective who 72 yearold corner avenue the. Person in 1977 1978. Another three is a former guerrilla, is medical director based on the coroner. Any kind of disillusioned with communism and was countries going. Finds himself as quarter and looking at these very mysterious deaths. Hes a good writer. In case you back in time to a revolutionary last in the 70s recreates the place and what going on in a way that really is fantastical. Sizzle escapism. And finally, i want to talk about midnight into the wall. We talk about Nuclear Power it sometimes as if it is the unexamined alternative to fossil fuels. That is true. But when something goes wrong, it is catastrophic. In this book in the words, often of the victims. Really quite gripping worried the heroism. By the soviet government. Really told beautifully in this book. In the theories that i think hbo did on this place mightve benefited from this book. So please of history that ought not be forgotten. Obviously had huge consequences politically leading to the downfall of the soviet union because of its non conformance tenants bureaucracy and lack of empathy. In modern american history. It was a disaster. Im going to read it. Peter is your local bookstore open, your local library or amazon how are you getting your books. Gerald sort of all of the above. So i have a huge Library Including books i got for the holidays. Even cspan provided me with some books. High blood friends who share my love of reading. And with similar tastes. And i get gifts for a books my birthday. So i have a lot of reading materials. Im a voracious reader. Before i go to bed and when i wake up in the morning and when i have a free moment, i read. I think reading rod and your perspective. Until you about life in history and philosophy and i think it is one of the most enriching activities and human being can engage in. Peter bob woodward Michael Schmidt etc. , several of the trump things that are coming up. Have you read those. Gerald i read a couple of books actually on start of the psychological profile of donald trump in terms of what is going on. I those who have really studied that. I dont generally like to read those types of memoirs because its too close to the events to have a good perspective that would be lasting. The bob war board, i have read every one of his books ever written on bob woodward. And i intend to read this one as well. Because i think he really has a knack for being able to get inside and get people to say extraordinary things. That they probably otherwise would not have. They do give you insight to what is going on. So that one for sure i will read. And my friend Michael Antonio has also written several books and is coming out with a new one on impeachment of trump. This fall and i certainly intend to read that one as well. Peter going to go back to Sidney Blumenthals book with the four years of the civil war. With the hindsight of the hundred and six years with their point during that four years but the civil war couldve been avoided. Gerald obviously honestly, i dont think so. To live with slavery in the south was going to say or setting a timeline for his elimination. Echoes of the past resonates today. As all fuel a firebrand. They really wanted to fuel the politics of grievance. North was out to get us. Going to lose things. Remember, civil wars any ways was also about the fear of the transfer of power. The southerners had controlled Congress Almost from the beginning and they protected what they call the peculiar institution including like blocking petitions in congress about slavery which was a cause of john quincy adams. And he refused to recognize van even though the constitution give them that right. And that was all about slavery and power in itself. Analysis out soft a growing movement in the north and north that was expanding, he decided that their only future, was not justified. It was frankly to separate. And i think it was inevitable. And people with out the events during this for your freighted, i think the table had been set for the separation. The violent separation at that. Took a leader like Abraham Lincoln to understand that we cant accommodate secession. We are one country. Any also evolve to understand and to preserve the union, we actually had to end it. Those that is video when he first took office. Becky had said i can preserve the union by preserving slavery, would do that. Enough i could preserve the union by eliminating slavery in some places and not others, would do that as well. I could preserve the union only by ending slavery, that to i would do. So when he began, it was all about the union. But as the war went on and understood that actually that principle, napster, and also had a brief about flow kind of union we would point have. And needed to be in it needed to be a union of freemen. Peter having lived through 1968. Where would you put us today and how would you put todays world into context. Gerald i dont think the country is as hard as we were 1968. I think we came very close in this country. Just dissolving into something less than what we think of as the United States of america. There are so any forces pulling us apart. And the provisions were so enormous about race and about the war and today, we are also divided nation. But i think what is different is there is a clear emerging majority that wants to see a more progressive america. Wants to address racism in america. But that believes we have to empower people and extend and deal with issues of inequity, economic inequity and there certainly exposed to that. And so as always, i am more hopeful today that i was at the end of 1968 having lived through those turbulent times. So having said that, i think frankly the president and his approach to issues in governance, represents a clear challenge to the continuation constitutional democracy in america. I live with that every day in congress. That has to be addressed in the selection were going to go in a very different direction. None envisioned by our founders, Abraham Lincoln. A lot of us are we love and care about our country. Peter we talk to your colleague and friend representative tom cole, the republican of oklahoma yesterday. He said usually talk about books quite often produced one of his great guy. Hes not somebody was need jerk reaction. Or in a partisan way. To every issue that comes his way. Ive enjoyed our friendship. If we do share thoughts on books right of once while we would chair a cigar. With an update on your rating freighted. Gerald thank you peter. If youre interested in hearing more about the books, members of congress visit booktv. Org, and search what you reading. At the top of the page. And we are featuring tv programs on cspan2. Every weekend with the latest nonfiction books and authors. Shes been to created by americas Cable Television company as a Public Service and brought today by your television provider