All in starts right now. Good evening from new york. Im chris hayes. It was a big day for the future of american democracy. We will get to that significant action in a moment, but before we do, just give me a second to go back to the context of what happened in the last election. I think it has been obscured by the sabotage and disinformation and violent insurrection unlike anything weve seen in the history of the country stoked by the former president. Remember this, last november, right, once in a cent ray pandemic, we got a glimpse of what a full or fuller participation version of our democracy would look like because due to the pandemic, state after state, jurisdiction after jurisdiction, and i should note this is both democratic and republican there were fights over this. But across the board, more or less on the whole in the aggregate, all these places did something praise worthy and novel. They took steps to make it easier to vote. They did this by expanding eligibility for mail
Described by various historians as contentious, tumultuous, dangerous, and even the worst in history. What made it so . Susan on the face of it is what you have to recognize is this was the most consequential election transition in American History. The central issue, of course, is that several Southern States did not recognize the election of Abraham Lincoln as a legitimate. It considered him a sectional president for the fact that by and large to support came from nonslave states and no sooner had he been elected that South Carolina makes good on its promise to proceed toward seceding from the union on the grounds that the election did not represent its interest. Host lets set the stage for the transition. James buchanan had announced that he would be a one term president , but we did a regular president ial Leadership Survey and James Buchanan always falls at the bottom of the list as the worst leader in american president ial history. How would you characterize his leadership skill
Historian susan schulten, our country has experienced several fraught president ial transitions but the 1860 transition between James Buchanan and Abraham Lincoln is described by various historians as contentious, tumultuous, dangerous, and even the worst in history. What made it so . Susan on the face of it is what you have to recognize is this was the most consequential election transition in American History. The central issue, of course, is that several Southern States did not recognize the election of Abraham Lincoln as a legitimate. It considered him a sectional president for the fact that by and large his support came from nonslave states and no sooner had he been elected that South Carolina makes good on its promise to proceed toward seceding from the union on the grounds that the election did not represent its interest. Host lets set the stage for the transition. James buchanan had announced that he would be a one term president , but we did a regular president ial Leadership
A cameo. When we get to the q a part there is a microphone in the back of the room and we will let you know when it is time you will line up there to ask your questions. It is always worthwhile to revisit the documents that set us apart from british rule and created the framework for our government. Our guest speaker, kermit roosevelt, explores these documents and shares interpretation of their meaning and relevance. Professor roosevelt teaches constitutional law at the university of pennsylvania law school. He was born and raised in d. C. And attended harvard and yale. Before joining, he served as a law clerk to Supreme Court Justice David souter. His book sets standards by which citizens can determine whether the Supreme Court is abusing its authority to interpret the constitution. He also teaches creative writing and is the author of two novels. In the shadow of the law and allegiance. Please join me in a round of applause for professor roosevelt. [applause] thank you. Thank you all
He argues thaw failures and reinventions we use the constitution as a tool to create our modern core values. The Smithsonian Associates hosted the event. Good evening, everyone. Can you all hear me in the back . My name is ruth robbins and it is a pleasure to welcome you to our program, before we start a couple of quick things. If you have electronic devices, now is a good time to turn them off. As usual in our programs, there is no photography and no filming. Also, if youre wondering what our equipment is in the back of the room, its cspan. So make show your nicest smile, brush your hair, in case you get a cameo and when we get to the q and a part, there is a meeker phone in the back of the room that will let you know when its time for that and youll get time to ask your questions. In the rest of times it is always worthwhile to visit the documents that set us apart from british rule and created the framework of the government. Today our guest speaker Kermit Roosevelt explains these d