Transcripts For CSPAN3 The Contenders William Jennings Bryan 20240712

Led to his first run in the white house at the age of 86. We dont come as the grifters. Our war isnt a war of conflict. Many are fighting in defense of our families, and prosperity. We have traditions, and our traditions have been strong. Our treaties have been disregarded. We have failed and they have mocked we beg no longer. When we speak no. More we petition know more. We defy then we. Confident that we should win. The words of Williams Jenning Brian were coming to from his home and office in the state capital of lincoln, nebraska. Its commonly referred to as fair view because at the turn of the century and give you a fair view of the land. William Jennings Brian and his wife moved here back in 1902. Its now part of the brian lg each Medical Center. Were coming to from the first flow of his parlor. His study is just below us. He did much of his writing and entertaining here in this house and we want to welcome our two guests. Michael casey is a professor of history hes also a author of William Thomas of the third is the chair of the department of history at the university of nebraska here in. Lincoln gentlemen, thank you both for being here with us. Michael let me start with you to set up the speech. The man who delivered, at the setting in chicago, and the impact it had on democratic delegates in 1886. The country was very divided in 1890. Six there was a great depression. On democrats were released split down the middle. Then companies in cleveland was very unpopular as president s usually are degree. Depressions comes into the election there are course for the presidency, but everyone knows hes a dark. Order hes defending the free, silver which meant getting, supply helping, getters helping people economically. He gives a speech which people go wild when they hear it probably because he had a wonderful voice. The tape that you played was actually recorded in 1983, not 1896, the technology didnt exist yet to record a speech live in 1883. He was robust, he was rigorous, he had a voice that could be heard without 10,000 people at a. Time so he really set this up so that he would give the speech at a time at the convention where he knew the majority of delegates before. Him at the same, time no really riveting speech had been getting given yet for the silver cause. So he had found his moment and he used it to great effect. Thomas. Were gonna hear more about the goal speech. As you indicated his words recorded in 19 1890. Three here is a race where he was challenging will he mckinley. He was relatively unknown. Served only two terms and house of representatives a here. Nebraska ran for, senate won the popular vote, but lost because the republican that legislature give it to the william Jennings Brian. It was a tumultuous time in american politics. There was a major. Strike Railroad Strike in 1884 that tore the country, apart and reveal to americans maybe just how unstable the economy, was and how deep this direct pressure might become. And William Jennings ryan ran as a democrat and a paula in 1994 ran against a railroad attorney named johnston. I would like in it to the lincoln douglas. Debates he had a series of debates with john thirst, and those give him great visibility across the nation among the political class. And, so he emerged as sort of a National Figure at that time. And the country was desperate for leadership all the parties were. Divided the republicans are divided. The populists were on the scene. The republicans had won the president ial contest in nebraska in 1892. But the second place vote getter was the populist. And the democrats, cleveland was far behind. So the Democratic Party was in deep trouble in this part of the midwest. When William Jennings ryan one of 14 president ial candidates who lost the election, but change american. Politics were in lincoln, nebraska and heres more the words of William Jennings ryan from his famous cross of gold speech. Fellas, great cities. In favor of the Gold Standard. Great. Cities [inaudible] from the prairies. Bill down our cities and leave our home. Our cities bring up again. Destroy our farms. [inaudible] every city in the country. We care not about the lines the battles. Fought in it could be good, but if we can have it another nation suffers. We have a Gold Standard, we will restore by middle. Ism and england revivalism, if they dare to come out in the open fields, and effective Gold Standards a good thing. Will fight them to the outermost. Having massive devastation and the world. Supported [inaudible] the labor union, we will answer their demands for Gold Standards by saying to them you shall not [inaudible] the crown of thorns. You shall not crucify man upon a cross of gold. For michael. How long was the speech in 1986 1896 and why was it referred to as a cross of gold . It was about 45 minutes. Long cross of gold was a powerful metaphor obviously for a country in which most people were christians. And William Jennings ryan was a very serious evangelical christian. For them people want to keep the country in the gold. Standard restrict the amount of money for brian and many people who supported him this was a way of keeping americans were poor. Poor americans who were in that deeper and. That it was a way of keeping the british economy, the supreme economy in the. World the country was based on the Gold Standard. So it sounds like a very technical issue, but really its a issue of the haves against the have. Not at least thats the way that ryan. Sought so to crucify mankind and across cross of gold would be crucifying christ. In the same, way ryan and the democrats and populist democrats as well thought that the American Economy was being run for the interest of those who already had property or those who already had. Money those who already had banks and big industries. So is really a class divide and american politics at that time. Now, you know we have a lot of anger about that conley. But the anger isnt focused on money the way it was then. Then, every dollar people hide in their pockets could be redeemed for a dollar in the treasury. Gold, wine would have to be redeemed in silver as well which means a lot more dollars could have been minted in. Coin there could be more silver us in circulation then there was. Gold so it was really a call for cheaper money. Lower interest rates. And greater Economic Opportunity for a Small Business. Person for a small farmer. And a worker of one to be a Small Business person or. Former in your book you talk about his, charisma and what he meant at that. Time he essentially became a celebrity. He was receiving as many as 2000 letters a day in the eternity six campaign. You also write about something he did that was viewed as revolutionary, which is campaigning for the office as opposed to william mckinley, who had the frankfort strategy in ohio. Can you explain . Mckinley had a lot of money for the campaign. He was able to get checks from rockefeller. Big investors could write checks. There were no restrictions whatsoever, you connected nations back in 1890. Six brian couldnt get that kind of money. He had to get that money. Himself he couldnt depend on a large machine to do that for. Him hes a good, speaker as i said before. For him this was a positive. Thing he made an essences necessity to be. Richer he traveled at least 18,000 miles on trains, he didnt have his own jet as many candidates do. Now he spoke to at least many times a day for example. So for him, this was an opportunity, then as will said to become known. Also he believed the only chance he had really to reach americans directly. Its also the First Campaign or to use the railroad in this, way and to really Campaign Across the country. Stephen douglas had done something similar in 1860 in the crisis of the nation. Trying to take a Campaign Swing through the south, and parts of the north, and revitalize the Democratic Party. But for the most, part after 18, 60 american president ial candidates sat on their front porch and other people campaigned for them. And bryan went out there and campaigned at every whistle stop town in ohio, virginia pennsylvania, new york, and traveled all over america bringing his campaign to the. People as always we want to hear from you in sea on cspan. [inaudible] we are in lincoln, nebraska. The home referred to as fear of yet. William Jennings Bryan and his wife moved here in 19 oh. To thomas lets take a step back. He ran for the house of representatives. Served two terms, though he was born in selma, illinois. Walk us through and how he ended up here. He was born in 1860, to a world that was being transformed. The he was too young to serve in the civil war and that something he actually came back to again and again in his public. Life he hadnt served in the military. So many men in politics, in his period of political activity had served in the military. So you dont have that opportunity as a young man. Instead, he read for the. Barr wanted to practice as a lawyer in lincoln, nebraska in the 18 eighties. He started his own law firm. A partnership with gulf tab it. He practiced basic law in a growing urban environment in the prairie. And that is when he became active in politics. If i could just add. At the, time in many ways, still to go to law school, it was a good feet to go to. Politics here was one to go to politics. His father was a judge in illinois. A very close associate of Stephen Douglas is, and his father helped Illinois State constitution in the late 18 sixties. Certainly politics was in his blood. And he never thought of doing anything else but politics in a serious. Way he became a lawyer because you want to get involved in politics. He moved to nebraska partly because he knew the Democratic Party was very weak here and it would give him an opportunity for a young man to improvise quickly within the Democratic Party of the state. Let me go back to the way he was able to capture the in a nation of the country. Three times getting the democratic nomination. Has that ever happened where youve received a nomination and lost all three times . The first time the person you propelled the first time henry clay, received twice for the wig party. Of course a little bit different from 100 years. Ago this is a lot more voters. A lot more media. For a lot more media involved. Im like, clay a pretty small country with population. America was published by the early 18 hundreds. This is a modern campaign all three of them in the sense that Clays Campaign was. Not you read in your book that voted in an election in 1886 and about 80 of testable. Its women in colorado. A couple other western states which he won actually. Yes. 80 . Thats the highest percentage of eligible voters in the election for men to the president. Weve never had that high of a percentage of voters in the system. If you could touch briefly on his senate bid in 1884. Sure. Will he started out campaigning to get both the populace and democratic nomination. Both part the populist of course was this Insurgent Movement in politics. Rapidly rising. They had secured the house in nebraska. And the irony of his 1884 Senate Campaign is that the republicans win the legislature, and the democrats, the democratic candidate actually wins the governorship. This reverses what had been the case before. So bryan campaigns largely, its interesting there were two debates. What a, lincoln won in. Omaha 7000 people turned up for the debate in lincoln in october of 1880. Four and 15,000 people turned up for the debate in omaha. So this was a great event. To come to this political, campaign and be part of it for the public. What bryan started out talking largely in the campaign about the income tax. This was an important issue. The democrats had passed the first income tax since the civil war in 1894. And bryan had been part of. That it was a 2 flat tax on anyone making for thousand dollars a year. So on the. Rich he started his debate with john on that issue. Then he moved on to the Pacific Railroad and its monopoly power. The silver issue was a down on the list in 1884. It wasnt a significant as it would become in 1886. Do we go back to income tax really quickly . 1885 the supreme rule taxes that they can fax is unconstitutional. As you can imagine, its a pretty thing to do for the highest court in the land to say the president size that law and its unconstitutional. So that helped to inflame things on bryans side in the 1886. Campaign and if you can enforce the irony that in the signing of the 17th amendment which signified . What yes the direct a what senators. Bryan is of course expecting to get elected. And hoping to get elected. The republican minute majority elects and john to be the senator from. Tabasco the other irony is that thurston becomes the Republican Committee chair in 1886. So bryan runs for president gets the nomination. And the man he ran against an 1894 is the Republican Committee chair. Were gonna look at his study in just a. Moment does his home reflect William Jennings bryan . In many. Weighs a great home at the time. It was considered as you can see its well furnished. He made a lot of money speaking so in that way it was. Apprize it was a prize for his career. But he worked. Here he worked here with his, wife mary, very closely in. Fact youll see they worked on together. Thats the important thing to that i mentioned about. Him he and his wife or partners in their career, which is often true of political wives. Now you dont think that much in 1896 of that being the case but certainly was a mix. Case is part of the Historical Society and hes in the study of William Jennings bryan and his wife. Thanks so much for sharing your time and insight with us on the American History so often how often did he use his home and how often we see in the city . Writing he wouldve used the study probably daily when he was in lincoln. The study was the heart of the home as he said. Would you walk in and show us if you would the way the dusk looked like and also the artifacts that were on top of the desk. Well this is the partners desk that he and his wife shared. They would exchange conversation. Compose writings, and, letters and help formulate some of the positions that he may have wanted to take for the day. On the top of the, desk a copy of the kilometer. What was . That why was that significant in his life . I know he has signed the copy that strictly in front of you. I think it could best be stated right in a quote from the first physician of the commoner which i have right here. Its as the common or will be to satisfy if by identity to the common people, it proves its right to be the name which has been chosen. You study the. Man youve studied his. Home you studied his life. Would you find especially interesting about William Jennings bryan, and how it reflected in his home here that he moved in in 1902 . The home can really tell us a lot about the lifestyles of misses and mr. Bryan and their family. I think one of the most important stories that came out of the restoration of the house was the role of his wife and interpretation of her life which is best represented here in this office. The two set directly across each, other and worked on basically everything together. Is that correct . They certainly. Did bryan had said that his wife was a beloved wife and helpmate. How much of the material there is original . Very few of the pieces of bryans furnishings survived. The furnishings in this office have been collected to represent what was originally in the room, based on some very fine 19 oh wait photographs of the spaces. But if he was seated in the cheer adjacent to, you would it feel comfortable . Would it feel like his chair at the turn of the century . It would feel very much like his study at the turn of the century, even the open. Bible with historical state, society will check in with you throughout the program. Thanks so much for opening up this home to cspan viewers. James is joining us from state albany west virginia, as we welcome your calls and participation in this the third of our cities looking at the life and political career of William Jennings bryan. Go ahead. James and you talking about Thomas Thomas massed. Thomas missed was a great cartoonist. Responsible for among other things the most popular image we have of santa claus. A german immigrant. Popular images, he came up with the democratic elephant. But the time that brine ran in 1896 im not sure if nast was still alive. He is known for these vitriolic and effective images of boston town hall in 18, sixties 18 seventies, these images of boss tweed looking like a savvy devil you might say, really help to put him down. It was actually his a democratic candidate at the time, the important prosecutor in new york city. Samuel, leader democratic candidate for 1876 who really prosecuted , and was able to really bring down the as it was. Known and of course we know but that the. Spew my question resonates from the american president series. And historian was asked about what cleveland [inaudible] he said that cleveland hated William Jennings bryan and that he was cut off and he was unable to finish. Im curious what he hated him for, and if its true . Thank you. You want to take . It ill start michael and you can follow up. He didnt like Grover Cleveland was a hard manny democratic president. He did like bryans position on the silver issue. He particularly did like the income tax that bryan had championed in the past and helped pass. So it was the issue with the Cleveland Administration repeal in the act. Which most cup i are from Grover Cleveland. Yes cleveland was representative of the old Democratic Party. The Democratic Party of commercial interest for the, east especially, new york where cleveland was himself. He was from buffalo. People who believed Thomas Jefferson and Andrew Jackson that the government didnt really do very much in the economy. During the depression of the 1890s covert cleveland said that the people should support the government but the government should support the people. This is very different from what bryan believed, he was a liberal. He thinks the government should be Strong Enough to help people who cant help themselves. He wanted to address the balance between Corporate Power and the power of workers and small farmers. And also cleveland had broken the strike with federal troops. And clevelands attorney general was actually a roll road attorney at the same time the strike by railroad workers. So for bryan, cleveland was, in the 1890s at least, representative of all he did like about his, party and all he did like about american politics. Times i want to get a better sense of the man. Im getting used to misses words from his book and get your. Reaction field with the convictions and west with a charisma who are willing to lead a charge against Secular Forces whose power is both my dear, and more subtly deployed than a century ago. Bryan was a champion of those who needed help. He was a man of great conviction. And one of the things that he was trying to do, that was most difficult, was to take on the economic, powerful class that had emerged in american politics. In American Economy, in a way that it look like class warfare. Thats what was so hard for bryan to be able to. Due to not appear to be a demigod. To do it sincerely. To speak for the people without tearing, down but instead attempting to build. Up and, that that was a very hard case to make. And he did it beautifully, but it was a very difficult attempt to try to reveal the inadequacies American Society at the time, without looking like someone whos just tearing down the american ideals. So those are your words. Are there parallels to someone today in american politics that would resemble a William Jennings bryan . Im not sure. I think there will be people who want to be William Jennings bryan. Sarah palin in some ways tried to be in that 80. Six there are angry, populists people who believe that small greedy elites is after the majority of americans. But bryan was a representative of a. Movement a anti monopoly. Movement of movement that people believe that Corporate America was taking the country in a revolutionary. Direction and we have for better or worse come to grips or made peace with big business. And we cant imagine a society in which big business is not. There was that was not true for bryan. I think its where we are in fear, view in bryans home just look at the task he worked with mary bryan side by side. Most businesses were like that in america in the 18 seventies and the 18 sixties and 18. Fifties they were partnerships. They were small partnerships, small firms. In that period before 1896 was a period of enormous colossal corporations the Pennsylvania Railroad employed more people than the United States post office. You know, so these are corporations with enormous resources. Enormous wealth and enormous power. And, most people had experienced a very different america, one of small partnerships and that change was arresting. Brian was really speaking to that massive transition in American Society, in American Life. When we talk about money in politics in the very early campaigning of the country, but i want you to listen to one audio, i was a 1900 campaign in which brian talked about the issue of transparency, knowing who is contributing to whom. Here are the words for the second of his three campaign to the white house. An election is a public affair. It is held for the benefit of the public. And is the means through which people select their officials, and give directions for policies to be adopted. There is no sound reason for secrecy in regards to campaign. And publicity will limit itself for the politics. The necessity for publicity has increased with the goal for favors he get complications. But people who are working in the campaign, they have obligated the great corporations, as to make it impossible for them to protect the right to the people. From the 19 oh a campaign, wait taft, has anything changed a century later . It does sound like a the message stands for us united, doesnt it . Obviously, people of money, and people who love money they want deployment to do people what they want them to do. Theres a lot of influence that you have if you have a lot of money, obviously. Brian actually was a favorite of Public Financing elections. He did not private individuals would be able to give any money to elections. But he realized that was not gonna fly, at the time. So his idea, at the time was to at least publicized donations that people gave. Lets make sure that everyone knows its above board, for example. In 1986 a check was written, for 250,000 dollars, that they gave to mark hanna. And that was not known until after the election was over. So we wanted that to be known at least, if it happened. The first Series Campaign advisor to law to pass, which bans corporations from giving money directly, individual could still give as much money as they want to dont. Theres an influence connection between influence and money, its still something we argue about all the time, fight about all the time. And the court has ruled on it, but its an issue which is certainly not done. William, from detroit, good evening, go ahead. Good evening, gentlemen, how are you guys today . Just fine, thank. You yes, i had a question i wanted to ask, i just cut the program and i wanted to understand, william Jennings Brian was he had supporter of the go and silver spinner in america . He wanted the money supply based on both gold and silver, which at the time wouldve meant that more dollars would have been put in circulation, there would have been more money out there, prices would have gone up, but that also meant that the people who produced coffee crops would be able to see their crops go up. And then more money wouldve been circulation. So it sounds archaic, it sounds exotic to us today, but the way the best way to think about it is our brian wanted cheaper money, more money in peoples pockets, and waste for it to go down so people could borrow easily. He gets a nomination in 1896, he is renominated in 1900. What happened in 1904 . 19 oh for the democrats decided to go with a less exciting cord candidate, more conservative, who they thought could appear to the more traditional electability electorate. He had never run for office before, im sorry he ran for judge before, from new york. Very gray candidate, i think is fair to say. A man who did not go around the country giving speeches. But he was more he had some of iranians politics but none of his charisma, appeal, to ordinary americans. And he got killed. In a landslide, by federal agents. And then the party comes back to brian in 1908, why . Well. Michael . The party is in great need of a leader, and its a party thats divided by region, its had a great deal of difficulty uniting around the candidate and making it its voice heard in the national election. And bryan is that voice. Hes a tremendously charismatic, figure. You had three, the cannily that is assassinated, Teddy Roosevelt becomes president , and then taft elected in 1908. So lets go back to Something Else that was a guess rather revolutionary, thats it up the debates and how that occurred, technically speaking, in 1908. Well there wasnt actually a debate the way we have them now. But, in a way it was the first time in which both candidates recorded speeches, on wax cylinders. You could still hear varies scratchy editions of them, perhaps a library of congress owns some of these copies and we can play some. This was the original short playing record, they didnt last very long, two or three minutes. But they went to studios and recorded them. This was, brian actually sold these two, to campaign supporters. So it was a way that you could hear brian, you could hear taft, without them having to go out and speak to mueller directly. Of course, we take that for granted now, but it was a very new idea then. And one of their campaign buttons, in 1908, were gonna begin with the words William Howard taft, followed by janice brian. I have known a good many people, who are on board. Have known many good regulars from distant members, who have religiously if you let, turn refused to contribute. Its fine by me. I did not realize the immense importance of funding. The truth is, weve got to wake up in this country. We are not all there is in the world. There are a lot besides us, and there are a lot of people besides us who are entitled to our money in our sacrifice, they have them all in the world. It is a policy of an empire, and an empire is a nation composed of different races, living under varying forms of government. The public cannot be an empire. For a republic rests on the theory that government derives door just powers from the onset of the governed, and this violates this very. Our experiment in colonialism has been unfortunate. Instead of profiting, instead of glory it has brought humiliation. The words of william mckinley, and taft, of course taft goes on to win the election in 1908. But did brian change his candidate from the first race until the last one, and what issues dominated . There was a key issue to each campaign. And the key issue in 1986, was a gold and silver issue. The issue of did depression in Class Divisions in that sense. The big issue 1900, was imperialism. U. S. Was fighting in the philippines, to try and stop the philippine Independence Movement from winning a war of insurrection against the u. S. Occupation of those islands, and that is a big issue in that campaign. 1908 there were several issues. The power of trust, of big corporations. The slogan with sheldon people rule. But taft was perceived as progressive at the time. He had been in this active war, he had been on the roads, built rosa was a progressive president , so in many ways, similar to some of your listeners remember and some of your viewers remember, judge w. Bush in 1988 winning a sort of the hand picks excess or to run on reagan. He was not a tremendously calories medic figure so to say. But people like reagan and they said i guess if i like were gonna get vote for bush. Similarly, people thought that if they liked roosevelt wouldbe safely taft, so thats why. Brian tried to use a lot of the same talking techniques, he went around to talk around to thousands and millions of people as it had been done before but, he was a very successful. The country was and prospects again after a recession in 1907. So times tapped was popular because he was a handpicked successor, very popular pick from Teddy Roosevelt. In fact the closest rate was 1896, if you look at the election result, from 19, hundred and 8 19 oh. We will be joined by murray, from connecticut, welcome to the conversation, go ahead. Thank you. How did william find time to live in Miami Florida . Booker returned, florida. His wife mary, contracted crippling arthritis when she lived in this house, actually. And she didnt want, she couldnt live in the winter climate, of nebraska any longer. So miami was beginning to be a place for older people to go, if they could afford to. And also, he had been in the south before, he had a lot of strong supporters in the south. So, they go to miami, they say at friends houses in miami, before. And they decided to move there. And it was a very good move for him certainly. And you tell the story in the book about how he also try to bring people, including the initial poll, thats there today. Yeah i became a promoter, in the 1920s, after hes given up all hope of becoming president. He began to make some money, a few speeches for land promoters. This is not one of his more sort of honorable adventures, perhaps. But after, all he needed to make money, and he did. Again, just understand is, period then we move to 1912, and a democrat finally wants to house, but its not brian. Its will joe wilson. And the democrats struggled for some time, and brian had led much of the struggle against a Republican Party. And really for the votes of working people, i think. And the broad middle class. The republicans were able, over that period, to coop many of the issues that the populists and democrats had brought forward. And developed their agenda as a progressive 40. Theater roosevelt was a master of this. And the democrats had a difficult time of reaching that broad middle class, and convincing voters that they could bring progressive change, not radical change, but progressive change. And wilson was able to do that, he was a professor at princeton, he had been governor of new jersey, he was a very moderate reformer, but a progressive reform or. And he was able to succeed where brian was not. You wanna follow up . I want to emphasize the only reason why wilson won was because a Republican Party split in 1912. Taft proved not to be a real progressive successor, to theodore roosevelt. Roosevelt tries to invest the nomination away, from taft, in 1912. Fails to, then goes out and includes the nominee for many progressive party. So if republicans would have stayed united, we will never now, its most possible that the democrat would not been elected. Georgetown university, teacher of politics, the life of brian, and the chair of the History Department, here at the university of nebraska, and josh is joining, us from phoenix. Good evening, welcome to the program. Yes, hi, good evening. Great show, thank you for your show. I just wanted to ask something a little different. I wanted to see if the gentlemen could speak to mr. Brians foreign policy, what he thought about the spanish american war, or european colonialism . If he ever went abroad . And what does the gentleman think that he handled, for example, now afghanistan and iraq, and the invasions, what was his mind said back then, in terms of how the major colonial powers around the world were going into other countries controlling them, and such. What was his theory about that, about all of that, and how did he feel in general his thoughts, thank you very much. Josh, thanks for the call. He served as our 44th secretary of state, so maybe that reflects his views on foreign policy. In some ways really before, that it does. After all, he served the spanish american war, boy wants to war and did, he opposed the occupation of the philippines. So he was an anti imperialist, in a time where there was a very large anti imperialist constituency in the United States. And actually, he did travel around the world, for a whole year with his family. From 19, five to 1906. Financed by William Randall first, who wrote articles for. And as he went around the world, he went to indonesia, which was then controlled by the dutch, and he went to india controlled by the british. He denounced european powers, the control of those countries. So in principle, he was opposed to rich countries dominating and owning poor countries. That doesnt mean that he was opposed to all wars, he was opposed to what he thought was unjust wars. And secretary of state, he resigned as a secretary of state in 1915. Because he thought United States was appalled to interrupt or one. After the lusitania, very large part Passenger Ship had been turned petered by a german the u. S. Didnt get into the war at that time. But he resigned a secretary of state because he was so opposed to world war i. He felt world war one was a insane war. Did it save should be a part of. Think it went stepfather. What was his relationship like with Woodrow Wilson both in the camp eaton and 12 and in his tenure as secretary of state. In 1912 he comes around to supporting woodrow in the convention with woodrow when he supports wilson in the convention it helps to put wilson at the top, at a time he needs two thirds of delegate votes to win. Ill stuff 46 ballots. But he and wilson were never close. Wilson had not supported bryan 1986. Wilson had been a more conserve democrat up until 19 oh, a 1909. The two didnt really trust each other. Wasnt came into this house at one point. Kim to fair view and wasnt impressed by. It he was an intellectual and bryan wasnt an intellectual. He was so disparaging of bryans intelligence just in the world. So the two werent close. Bryan became secretary of state in large part because he was a political appointment at that time it wasnt unusual for the leading figure in the party whos not the nominee to be nominated secretary of state by a incoming president. In many ways wasnt expected to be his own secretary of state. One of the reasons bryan was unhappy as secretary of state is proceeding kind of responsibility he wouldve wanted. One of the things he did do that shows something about his views of world peace, he put together he convinced various world powers to sign on peace treaty saying were not gonna go to war with one itch. Other the peace treaties were more or less symbolic but he give each of them a little bronze with the line from isaiah about it being a source of that as a symbol of the treaties. In the end of course the treaties can stop world war i. But for bryan as a good question, showing a humanitarian face to the world was one way of actually acting in humanitarian ways. Larry is joining us from delaware. Welcome to the program. Go ahead please. Thank you for listening to me. I have a religious question about bryans religion. First, let me say i applaud his efforts to level the Playing Field for the common man against big business. Free enterprise defeated communism. Its about a big democracy. What impact does your final bryans fundamental christian beliefs have an impact on his Election Results . Thanks for the call. We should point out to, the bible is open to the book of zeal it on his desk which is directly below where we. Our were in his apartment in fear view, what about the role of religion in his life and his wifes life . Thats a good question. One of the things about bryan thats really important is he never really separated religion from politics. We think of it now as some people more conservative, people you know, thank you should have a question government, america is a christian nation. But for bryan his christianity was a applied christianity it was really social gospel. He believed if you are christian you want to go out and save the, world you want to help the poor, you want to have the, workers level the Playing Field as the caller mentioned. So for him his religion and politics were not. Separate this in some ways hurt him among people who are not evangelical protestant, which most americans were by the way at this. Time catholics were less enthusiastic about him because was such a crusader. And also, he supported prohibition. In 19. Ten and was a very big supporter of what became the 18th amendment of the constitution. And this was a very divisive issue in American Life, and he came to prohibition because he wanted to purify the american body politic. For him this was a christian issue, and that meant that a lot of people from 1910 on that interest. Him even people who voted for him before because he was a prohibitionist. On a side, no heat entering but he enjoyed eating. Oh yeah. Sometimes when he was on the campaign trail, sometimes he eat as many as six meals a day. And he was known, he could devour three chickens in one sitting. If youre just tuning, in the suspense the contender series. Looking at 14 candidates for the presidency. All 14 lost, but in their own way they shaped american politics. And in many cases resonate with issues they put. Fourth were coming to you with his home from his home in lincoln, nebraska, referred to as fair. View its now part of the Medical Center in the state. Capital our phone lines are now open. [interpreter] this is an exterior view of what the homes looks like. You can see the bryan lgh Medical Center directly adjacent. This home is open to the public. For you tourists from lincoln, nebraska. Joining me from lincoln, nebraska. Hi this is [inaudible] near california. He has a relationship with my family. How so . [inaudible] genealogy. Im not a mormon. My family has 6200 names in. It i would like to know about buying the book, what you, have where i buy the book and how we send money. Before i answer that question we want to know whos in the photograph, and whats your connection with William Jennings bryan . At least in your family research. As far as i, know hes in that car in his picture hes in the car with its is single seater with the top down. And i always thought that the other man i dont remember he didnt believe in religion. And im 92 years old and almost 95 so i cant remember his name now. But i have this, and hes in my family. I have 6200 names every search. On my computer. I dont say id like to have that, one i researched my relatives. Nadine im gonna ask you to stay on the line and it would ask for your phone number if theres a way we can get you connected to kasich. His book is called a godly. Hero she brings up another part of his. Life dayton, tennessee, monkey trial i was just gonna tell nadine that we put all of William Jennings bryans speeches from 1896 online on our digital project. So if you would like to use her computer to look at those speeches. There are hundreds of. Them every speech he made in the 1896 president ial campaign is online on the railroads in the making of modern america website that we started here at the university of nebraska. All the material from this series is online, 14 weeks looking at president ial contenders. Contenders that cspan. Org is our website. Michael. The scopes trial. In many ways William Jennings bryan is known if hes known at all by americans, is he was one of the prosecutors in this case in tennessee in july of 1925, which was prosecuting a teacher, called john scopes, who is teaching the three of evolution in high school in dayton, tennessee. This issue is still very much alive of course. A large number of americans believe that the bible you know, the book of genesis is the truth is how the earth was formed. And i bryan believe that to. But its important to believe that for bryan one of the things he liked about the theory of revolution is he thought that it wasnt just darwinism, but social darwinism. It tucked the survival of the. Fittest might makes right. He put out a series of lectures about the scopes of the for him to be a good christian meant that you were against the social theory of evolution. He didnt really understand the science very well, but he believed rightly or wrongly, the way the sense was being applied by some people who are very well in American Society or people in the military, that those who are doing well in society where those who should do. Well they were biologically inclined to come out on. Top and this is one of the things that he disliked about the theory. But, again he was a fundamentalist and you believed what the bible said was true so he thought schoolchildren shouldnt be learning something which would be can rack. That there is an iconic photograph of William Jennings bryan in 1925 in 20. How did the to come together for this historic moment . Bryan he was asked by the prosecution to help in the trial. The state law had just been past that year in tennessee. They knew that if bryan helped them this withdrawal lot of attention to the. Case similarly when clarence the great offense a lawyer, in the first layer for labor candidates, and many others, when he heard bryan, from her friend by the, way was going to work for the prosecution, he said he had to be on the other. Side the ceo you the american civil liberty revolution had just before finance the defensive scopes. One of the things that people should know about. People might have seen the famous movie featuring spencer tracy. In fact, unlike what the movie shows you, scopes never went to jail. Scopes was basically, he agreed to be the defendant because he knew a trial was gonna take place somewhere in tennessee. His town of dayton, tennessee where he was in high school was hurting financially so you want to bring some business to dayton, fun tennessee. Technology was a factor. Industrial cameras were allowed in the courtroom and it was broadcast nationwide. One of the things that was so remarkable about this trial is not only that it was broadcast on the radio and tens of thousands of americans listen to it. But also, it was a courtroom. Four bryan to try to defend his history and creationism in the courtroom it was the context of the courtroom and crossexamination that made it so difficult for bryan to say what he really, mint and what he was trying to convey about the importance of creation in his thinking, and about the social darndest logic that as he saw it was infecting American Society as michael pointed out. So it was a very difficult context in which to make that argument. So bryan and his life really in sort of a man out of context. Im making an argument in a place where unlike 1896, where the context was perfect for bryan to make the cross in gold speech, the context in the courtroom in dayton, tennessee proved very difficult in the trial. Good evening, welcome. Hi, how are you doing . Youre on the air. I would like to make one point, and then i will get off. Well go to mark. Next we apologize for that phone. Call mark in arlington, texas. The Gold Standard debate seem to have made a comeback with mick having debate about whether the Gold Standard should be brought back, and then people will come out on the other side of the issue argue against the gold and those people in particular, almost always seem to quote William Jennings bryan to support their arguments. So he seems to be making a comeback at least in that regard. My question is probably his cross of gold speech in 1896 is relevant to the america that we live in today . Lets bring you to the 2012 campaign. Ron collins talked about the Federal Reserve and even governor perry has been critical of making some pretty sharp comments about. Him so to the colors point into what William Jennings bryan was talking about a century ago. The golden silver standard. The legacy of that debate i think was among other things the Federal Reserve system was also getting off the golden standard but what bryan really wanted in those on his side of the debate was more flexibility they wanted in hard times, in historys would go. Down in circulation. And prosperous time they were happy to have him go up. And this was, seen at the, time as america being a great reform. Now of course we had in the economic trouble like we are, now people look for you might say panacea,s going back to those years. And, but i think, you know, as a historian, i think that many ways one of the reasons we have been able to avoid serious economic down trade between economic depression and, now is because we have had of flexible money supply. We have been able to take charge in when necessary, one comes to the federal. Well, i think one of the biggest years obrien was trying to confront with the silver issue, and the gold, who was the great contraption of the American Economy. And weve lived through a similar contraption in the American Economy. Recently. So i think its not surprising, that some of these issues are coming forward when they are right now. I think the difference is, of course, that bryans efforts to broaden the money supply, were mainly aimed at trying to rescue a class of americans who were struggling deeply with their Financial Wellbeing and their situation. So, i dont see that quite playing out today in the same way, when the Gold Standard is being brought up. Our history professors representing georgetown university, and the university of nebraska, lincoln, the author of a godly here, the life of brian, and will thomas teaches history here. Hes also the author of iran, way the railroads, seven war in the making of modern america. Harold is joining, us young stunning will hire, good evening. Good evening. He seems rather ironic, that many of the parallels from ryan today, and our day, its amazing were arguing hard money versus daft money. And we do see class but the class where argument is coming from the rich against the poor instead of the poor against rich. And i think the irony in my mind is amazing. Who would like to take that point. Well, it is interesting to look back at that time, because for brian making the argument not only of the money supply, and the silver issue, but also about the income tax and about the monopoly power that hes all around, and the corruption politics, and the trust. All of those things together, he was accused by the republicans of practicing a form of demagoguery or class warfare, opening the door to class warfare by even mentioning these things and bringing them up. So, brian, was trying to lead from what he saw, he was trying to lead americans to see that a class in power was not necessarily looking out for their own interests. And that was his main argument, but he had to frame it in a way that it didnt become class warfare. Americans didnt want class warfare, theyd seen a series of strikes in the last 20 years that looked a novel lot like my class warfare. Its not something they feared from europe, communist organization and conflict, so that fear of class warfare is very valuable to the period of the 18 nineties, when brians campaigning. It turns out, in the strike of 1870, seven for example, with the militia and the federal government bringing out guns, and mowing down american workers, who are striking, that didnt sit well with american people. So brian, was looking this thin line, trying to raise the issue, but not being accused of class warfare. William Jennings Bryan who was born in salem, illinois, and he moved here. He practice, law ran for congress during two terms, became the democratic president ial nominee in 1896, he moved to this home in 1902, with his wife mary, and bought with an iraq Historical Society which is down below. My question is, how did they used to home, back in 1902 when they first moved here . Its an interesting combination, of uses. The second floor, where youre sitting, was deciding family bedrooms, in the sleeping chambers. The first floor was primarily for entertaining. You could see the white and spaces, the open spaces where they would entertain their friends. And the lower level was more of a family area. Including the dining room, and of course the office in which we have seen earlier. As you research the use of this home in the visitors of the home who would have been here . And while there were a number of prominent guests, wilson being one of them. But a number of social acquaintances as well as political figures would have been visitors to the house. And we talked early about the name farewell, because it really did get a sense of the nebraska landscape, and of course the home of the Medical Center now. Thats correct. The brian said that the house was one of the most beautiful first very best years of the farm country has ever seen. East of lincoln, he chose this site for their new home, in 1901. What is his legacy, here in lincoln, nebraska . Well, i think hes one of the most famous sons. I think hes widely recognized along nebraska, as well as nationwide. I think nebraska needs are proud that we have generated people of his stature, even though he did not win the presidency, it was an important aspect in nebraskas political life to have such a character. This of course being a historic landmark, the legacy thomas . I think he does bring the Democratic Party, antenna baskets history, of course there were democrats here before, William Jennings bryan campaigns. But he elevates the Democratic Party and its stature in nebraska. Obviously, here he is a major figure in nebraska history, but the local legacy, of course, is this home. And the hospital. Which bears his name. John is joining us from san francisco, as we look at the life and political career of William Jennings bryan. Go ahead please. Brian publicly defended the cooks plant in the 1924 Democratic National convention. Did he also privately embrace their productive practice of lynching in the south . He did not defend the klan, in 1924. Im not defending him, retrospectively. But in the 1924 democratic convention, in new york city, it was about whether to denounce the clan by name or not. He believed that the democrats should win over the klan, rather than denounce them. But you know, he certainly had supporters in the klan, but its unfair to say that he was a supporter of the klan. He was not. He was a racist, against African Americans and we have presume that now. But but he did not support the violence against them, not the lynchings. But, he was a white supremacist, and next one to clarify his racial views are not so simple as to say that he was a clans, or that he was a favorite of lynching people without a trial. He supported the views of most whites, and most white northern at the time as well, which was that they thought european americans were superiors to other people. And so in that sense, he was certainly not a modern figure. Yeah, i think hes certainly a Democratic Political figure in the sense from that period, in the sense that he broadly believes in white supremacy. And his appeal links to vote in a democratic south, really along those terms as well. So what do you think of the Democratic Party today . Which counts so much of African Americans as a core constituency . He wouldve been surprised. For him he was a small democrat, the majority of the people in the country were white, and he was mostly concerned with their welfare, its fair to say. The nebraska is interesting, in 1996, there was a group of what we call silver republicans, African Americans, which supported him, in that campaign. And he had African Americans to serve, you at different occasions, to visit. But politically, he wanted to stay as far from that issue as he could. In fact, in the 1908 campaign, the great black intellectual activist, wanted to support brian, and he did support brian against taft. But brian would not meet with him, did not want to acknowledge his support, because he was afraid he would use parts of the white staff. Our next caller is from memphis, tennessee. Chuck are in the phone, good evening. Good evening. This series has been fascinating in your guests are very interesting, the topic is great. I would be interested, i didnt hear about the time that the francs novels about the election of 19 1896, where William Jennings bryan was actually depicted. Id be interested in how your what your guests thought of that . Did either of you hear that . Thats one of the great myths of the American History, i used to give lectures about this. Its a wonderful way to teach students about the 19 1896 campaign and the different figures that correspondent in that campaign. Unfortunately, if you look at this biography, it doesnt bear out. He was a window dresser, he dressed windows in department stories. And for him, the artifice of the design, of the Department Store windows was one way he saw American Society developing. And for him, the wizard of oz was a figure of commercial artifice in that sense. So really, i think he wouldve been surprised by the meetings that people found in the first story, even though its an entertaining way to look. At unfortunately, its probably not true. Let me put another parallel on the table. Because in 1999, we sat down with carl rover, and he talked about the campaign of the 1896, and how he tried to take some of the lessons from that campaign for george w. Bush, in 2000. Can you touch on that . Well, one of the things that this campaign did, was establish a Republican Party in precise president ial elections, most Congressional Elections to, until the 1930s as a majority party. There was really no majority party, that is from 1868, roughly 70, two until 1896. So, what he wanted to do was produce a new republican majority, based on what he wouldve seen as the most forwardlooking business community, and a pretty heterogeneous group of middle class American Voters. And one of the ways we did, it was by establishing voters groups in the populations that were growing. Some try to appeal to european immigrants, at the time, which was a very large expanding group in the population. And he was able to, in 1896, and 1900, to win over german voters, for example. German American Voters who had for the most part than democrats before. But most of them became republicans for very obvious reasons. So, wolf saw more canada, the impresario of mckinleys career, producing this new republic majority. It didnt happen, and george w. Bush was not a successful president in the way of mckinley. We are coming to you from nebraska, where bryant served two terms in the house of representatives, running for the presidency in three separate occasions. Beginning in 1896, at the age of 36. Frank is joining us, salem, illinois, go ahead. The, hometown birthplace of William Jennings bryan. Yes, his birth place is open to the public. My question is, how much influence did he have in giving his brother nominated in the 1924 Vice President ial campaign . Yes, thats the sideline people dont really know about. 1924 then governor of nebraska, what was his first name again, i keep forgetting his first name. Charles brian. Younger brother of William Jennings bryan, was running for the Vice President ial candidate for the Democratic Party. He was more because of his name, then because a his older brother pushing him. At that time, William Jennings bryan was a very divisive figure in the party. Partly because of the klan, partly because of other reasons. And the brian name was still the democrats hoped, would enable him to win a lot of rural, especially in the midwest, as they were afraid of progression will rule voters. It was an independent campaign for the president. So charles brian, 1924, his nomination as Vice President by democrats was a attempt by the democrats to keep some of the Progressive Farm voters on their side. And for the most part, it did not succeed. Terry is joining us from east, in pennsylvania, as we look more from the study of William Jennings bryan go ahead. Gentlemen, very interesting top. You stated that William Jennings bryan was a fundamentalist, and a progressive. And i believe, states like kansas and nebraska, which had large fundamental populations, but also very progressive. Today, they are extremely conservative,. What happened . That could cause this chains . What did happen . Well. Thats a great question. I think the progressivism that brian espoused had a great deal to do with the Economic Conditions above his day. The prosperity that came forward in American Life changed that in the 20th century in ways that bryan could not have predicted. In terms of todays conservativism, bryan also foreshadow some of that in his commitment to faith in public life. But his fate, as michael has pointed out, was based around the social Gospel Movement and applied christianity. Helping those in the cities. Helping those in need. And that branch of christian thought and experience did not grow in the same way as the fundamental movement. Chris is joining us. Oh, did you want to follow up . Yes, just before going to austin. Another thing to think about there too is both liberalism and conservatism changed their views and their postures towards very active christianity in public life. Liberals generally, especially white liberals, got sort of soured on public really gst and became more identified with the big cities and a more pluralistic and secular kind of religious landscape. Where conservatives, who are not particularly evangelical in the 19th century, became more identified with the christian right in the 1970s. It is changed as well. Abortion was not an issue for bryan. A look at the life of williams William Jennings bryan. This work is from will thomas from the university of nebraska here at lincoln. Chris, youve been patient. Thanks so much for waiting. From austin, texas. Go ahead. Thank you for taking my call. Bryan and all the ways in social and economic issues. Social issues for conservatism. There was a Similar Movement in europe. A christian democracy going on as well. It seems there is no really outlet for a position like that within todays two major parties. What i was thinking theres an actual constituents for that if there was an outlet for. I was wondering what your take was on what you think the possibilities of a bryan tie position would have today in american politics . Thanks for the call in the question. Well, every politician today, whatever their the logical position, has totally appear to be a religious person. Whether they go to church or not. So in that sense everyone who has a chance to become president is a religious person and so far at least a christian. But i think though that its most people on the liberal side of politics mistrust people who talk to much about their religion in politics. And most people on the conservative side want pratte religious talk to be focused primarily, i think, on issues of the body you might say. Issues of personal piety, have personal responsibility, of abortion, same sex marriage, this kind of thing. Stem cells and so forth. So the kind of social christianity that, as you say, many christian democrats in europe stood for and certainly bryan bryan stood for. I dont see that is a real possibility, at least in the near future. One actual figure who is important to realize is we have a National Holiday named after him. Kim junior was very leftwing in economics but was a evangelical minister at the same time. In some ways, theres a lot of differences between king and bryan. We have a National Holiday named after someone who actually did try to put together a conservative, not quite fundamentalist, but a very conservative sense of biblical truth and a very leftwing belief about economic issues. On a separate note, the connection between william Jennings Brian and arbitrate. What is it . This goes back to nebraska again. His mentor in Democratic Politics in nebraska was a man who was a leading figure, who was never elected in his own right, but became the father of arbor day. It was a way to bring more business to this part of the plains. Larry is joining us from everett, washington. Good evening. Yes. My question was about the australian ballots or the secret ballots, where the lack of one 1908, 1900, its a 96. Did brian ever talk about the need for a secret ballot . Would it have one in that time, were to affect the outcome . Ive read anecdotes where major employees put in the right vote for mckinley and things like that. Is that true . Did bryan i ever talk about it . Thanks for the call. Who would like to take that . I will take it. Bryan they talk about a secret ballot. It was a subject of some discussion in 1884 and 1896. It came up in context about the potential corruption of companies that would bring in voters to vote for elections or require voters to vote in a certain way, that is they are employees. These accusations were made especially in nebraska with regard to the burlington railroad. It did in deed release all of its men from its western job sites and brought them into omaha or lincoln and told him which way to vote. So that kind of activity led politicians like bryan and others to object and call for the kind of secret ballot that would allow individuals to vote for who they wanted without the pressure of corporate interests in the election. Our next caller comes from rideau, and that it. Go ahead, youre on the air. Go ahead. , okay, color are you with us . We will try one more time, were getting some feedback. Lets go to nancy next joining us from another town important to williams Jennings Bryan. Dayton, tennessee. Go ahead, nancy. Im nancy saw ears and im from dayton, tennessee. Im not old enough to remember it, im just 70 something, but i know several people that were there and it was a carnival like and the drugstore was there for many years. The table where it all started, and as i understand it started with lets do something exciting or unusual. Lets do this. So that is how it got started as these older people have told me. Dayton has grown into a booming little town. It has a play on the anniversary depicting the trial. It is a very interesting place for people to come from all over the United States to see. I just wanted to say that we were kind of dubbed the monkey town for a long time, but now we are known as the home of the scouts trial. I did not know William Jennings bryan, but i didnt meet clarence dale. We are glad that it happened there and as i was told it was kind of started for chat nubia. Chad a new didnt really want it. It has brought much economy to the city of dayton. Nancy, thank you for calling and thank you for sharing your firsthand account to that famous trial. Thats from either of you . Yeah, you talk about tourism. Theres a very good museum in the basement of the courthouse in dayton, tennessee. About the trial and the reception of it around the world. Ive sat in the judges chair. Daryl cross examining bryan was held on the lawn outside. If you think about it, a few thousand people were probably in attendance listening to and watching this crossexamination. This is the kind of trial, we dont have that kind of caught today. But it was, as you said, a carnival and it did help the economy of dayton a good deal and it was much needed help at the time. Lets talk about the legacy of William Jennings bryan especially when it came to womens rights, prohibition, the federal income tax and the popular election of u. S. Senators. Will thomas. I think brians legacy is damaged by the end of the scopes trial. In particular, the obituary of bryan which depicts bryan as a bumbling backcountry kind of misguided figure in 1924 and 1925, that period. So his legacy tarnished, really, at the end of his career by this. And michaels book, i think it recovers his legacy beautifully. All of the reforms that he championed. Womens rights in particular. The right to vote, the suffrage. It was an active issue in the 18 seventies 1870s, 1880s and 1890s. I bryan was at the forefront of it, other issues as well, were ones that he was deeply involved in from the beginning. I emphasize this in the book. I think one of the legacies of bryan is in many ways without him you dont get wilson and franklin roosevelt. I think he really was the major figure in remaking the Democratic Party into a party we think of today. Those who dont like it, the Big Government party. For those who do like, it a more economically liberal party. He does, in 19 oh wait, forge for the first time a very strong relationship between organized labor, then the American Federation of labour, and the Democratic Party. A relationship that, for the most part, as remain for the last century between that movement and that party. He obviously wasnt the only figure who did this, but i think he was the key figure in the 1890s into turning the Democratic Party into the party we think of today. Wanting the government to be stronger and to serve the interests of working people, of people who are down on their luck. In some ways, that is a very important legacy which does not often you get credit for. This is a very brief what if question. Had he been elected president , what kind of president would he have been . I dont think a very good one actually. I think his skill was as an order. His skill was as an agitator. His skill was as someone who could put forth ideas and rally people to support those ideas, but he was probably not a very good administrators. He was not a goods administrator as secretary of state. As president , he would have been a very divisive figure and it would have been very difficult for him to, i think, work directly with the Opposition Party in congress. Time for one more call. Mark is joining us from dallas. Go ahead please. Yes. In 1900, did a senator Joseph Blackburn run against william Jennings Brian for the nomination . And did he tie with him . Can you tell me about that . Blackburn got a few votes, but in 1900 most immigrants rallied around bryan. It was not really a close contest. It was pretty much decided by the time they got to the convention, which was unusual at that time, because conventions back in that day we really tempestuous affairs. It was really decided at the convention. That was not true in 1900. In 1900, by the time they got to kansas city where the convention was held, it was pretty clear that the nomination would go to bryan again. Two other famous speeches at democratic conventions in 1984, mary cuomo delivers the keynote that propelled some to the national stage. And in 2004, senator, state senator barack obama delivers the keynote address and many say that propelled him to the presidency. Are there parallels to william Jennings Brian . Well, obama in that sense is a problem, certainly. Though, as well say he was little known in 1896, two americans, as obama was in 2004, which is surprising. Because of the media we. Have but brian was known around the country, before 1896, two silver crowds. He had a bit of a Great Convention speech, he gave a famous speech for civil rights in 1840, eight democratic convention. And put the Democratic Party on record for civil rights, which it had never been on before. But we have no other parallel in american political history where someone gives a great speech, and at the same convention, gets a nomination. What about today, are there parallels to other modern politicians . Well i think obamas speech in that way a similar. It took to national prominence. Brian had already achieved much of that, but the sense of party unity, that both of them brought to those speeches. And the kind of sincerity and speaking across a broad range of the public, and really, speaking outside of the party as well, both of them are able to do that in those settings. They are different in other ways, but there is a similarity. William thomas is the chair History Department here at the university of nebraska, in lincoln. And he teaches history as georgetown university. You put the book a godly here together when . I started doing research on around 1996, 100 years after, and it was published in 2006. We thank you ana perspective on the life and career of William Jennings bryan. And thanks to the staff here at the brian home who open the doors to the cspan cameras and the staff, and the administration of the brian Medical Center, which is the campus on which we are, often called for. We will do more of the words with William Jennings bryan, within you to look at his life and career, you can check it out online at cspan. Org the contender series. But in the words of William Jennings bryan, what made an ideal . Republic. Heres what he had to say. For the republic resting security, up in a foundation horrid by revolution patriot. From the mountain a republic applying in proclaiming to the world that self evident propositions that all men are created equal. That they are indicted within age of rights, that governments are instituted foreman, to secure these rights, and that governments derived or just power from those who govern. We hold it in public, in which Civil Liberties stimulate all doors and in which the law restrains every man, uplifted for the neighbors injury. A republican where every citizen is a sovereign, but in which no one cares to wear crown. Weeknights this month on American History tv are featuring the contenders, series that looks like 14 president candidates who lost the election, but had a lasting effect on u. S. Politics. On thursday night, will feature eugene depths, fivetime president ial candidate for the socialist party. Watch thursday beginning at eight eastern and enjoy American History tv this week and every weekend, on cspan 3. Youre watching American History tv every weekend on cspan 3, explore our nations past. Cspan 3, created by americas Cable Television company as a Public Service and brought to you today by your television provider. Up next on history bookshelf, robert mary talks about his book, president mckinley architect of the