I think the perceptionce that many people in the United States and also around the worldhi that this is an extraordinary unusual time in a sense where we are out of time will be a curiosity in the future. People will look back and wonder about that wonderment. And he gets kind of an interesting phenomenon. When you think about today do you compare it to any other time in history . As a historian. Im interested in that. We have a cognitive tendency. In the same way im the kind of person that seems like this and family members. Our need for familiarity. For most of my career as a historian. What time is this like. It is an easy story to write. I think theres a whole crop of president ial biographers who go out on talk shows. I generally find them to be not i in this era. Its actually a way to kind of contain the chaos. It is a way to avoid what is truly strange about this. What do we mean when we talk about American History. How are we to reckon with the fact that our present day is so p
New responsibilities. Narrator frontline has investigated the candidates. Americas best days are yet to come. Narrator who would be presiden i William Jefferson clinton, do solemnly swear. I believe we have to make the right choices. W will meet aggression with resolve and strength. Do everything in our power to change the wor. I, George Walker bush, do solemnly swear. Narrator the moments that i wont let you i wont. Let it be said we refused to let th journey end. That future is our destiny. Narrator the president s they would become. I, Barack Hussein obama, do solemnly swear. We have to heal the divides in our country. Ur i am oice. Narrator and now on ontline. That the end of this chapter of american darkness began here. Narrator the choice 2020. Frontline is made possible by contributions to youpbs u. Ation from viewers like thank you. And by torporation for public broadcasting. Major support is provided by the john d. And catherine t. Macarthur foundation, committed to building a
Books as a historian what is your contemporary view of how our world will be viewed . We have so little perspective on this moment is quite impossible to say but the perceptionptio t many peopln the United States and around the worldha have the extraordinary initial time. In a way that was experiencing. Host thinking about today do compared to any other period of history . Guest know. As a historian i think we have a cognitive tendency to enjoy analogies to be thing like anotherre f. And then to say that looks just like my great grandma with the baby but then also with my need for familiarity so as my career as a historian that is a journalistic tick to understand theres a whole crop leftparenthesis president ial beyond the one biographers as a way to contain that chaos as a way to avoid with that moment in time. Host you gave a talk on your book what do we mean in American History . How do we reckon that it is two different as to share a common ancestry as a people and it seems a fair
A generation assumes new responsibilities. F narratontline has investigated the candidates. Americas best days are yet to come. Narrator who would be president . I, William Jefferson clinton, do solemnly swear. I believe we have to make the grght choices. We will meet sion with resolve and strength. Do everything in our power to change the world. I, George Walker bush, do solemnly swear. Narrator the moments that shaped them. I won let you down. I wont. Let it be said we refusedo let this journey end. That future is our destiny. Narrator the president s thee woulme. I, Barack Hussein obama, do solemnly swear. We have to heal the divides in our country. I am your voice. Narrator and now on frontline. That the end of this chapter of american darkness began here narratthe choice 2020. Frontline is made possible by contributions to youpbs station from viers like you. Thank you. And by the corporation for public brocasting. Major support is provided by the john d. And catherine t. Macarthur
Moderate. So if you think of something youd like to ask either or both of them, please submit the question in questions box. Tell us your name and where youre tuning in from. Well answer as many questions as we can in the time we have. But before we get to the discussion between Mike Gonzalez and Michael Knowles i want to introduce a special guest to kick off the program. That special excess Heritage Foundation president , mrs. Kale coles james. Ms. James, the floor is yours. Well, good morning. I am so excited to welcome you to the Heritage Foundation and to our virtual book launch of the plot to change america. I want to thank you all but especially i want to think Michael Knowles for join us today. We are so honored to have you with us. We are so proud of Mike Gonzalez and the time and the research hat the has put into this tremendous book. Mike isnt afraid to point out what is happening to our beloved country, and he is not afraid to call out those who buy into the destructiveness