Come and hear what i have to say. I thought i would begin with the 2012 election and im sure you are aware come after that election, many people proclaimed the death of modern american conservatism. One commentator said the titanic is sinking, referring to american conservatism. Another observe the conservative arguments we heard in this election are going to be relics in museums very shortly. Lots of people said conservatism really its message and its methods if it was ever going to win an election again. Its still being debated today. I noticed in this mornings wall street journal scott walker has a piece about what he needs to do to be relevant. His thought is they dont need to give up their principles, they need to be stronger on their principles and people are looking for that kind of leadership. In this book, we talk about this in the public in the final chapter of this book. My coauthor and i talked about the future of conservatism in the last chapter. But we begin elsewhere and
Thank you for taking a break to be here today. You are brave to come and listen to me in particular. In an earlier career i was an attorney which is a group known not only for its brevity of speech and now for a long time ive been an academic which is a group not known for its clarity of speech so as i said you are brave to come on a friday to hear what i have to say. I thought i would begin with the 2012 election and as im sure you are aware after that election many people proclaimed the death of modern american absolutism. One commentator said the titanic is sinking referring to american conservatism. Another one observes that the conservative arguments we have heard in this election are going to be relics in a museum very shortly. Lots of people said conservatism really needed to change both its message and its methods if it so ever going to win an election again. It still being debated today. I noticed in this mornings wall street journal Governor Scott walker from wisconsin talkin
The great debate, the fractured republic and a time to build. This is two hours. Host author yuval levin, what is your assessment of the United States . Guest thanks for having me here. That is a wonderfully broad question to open within a challenging one. They are living in a moment of crisis. It is hard to deny. We have been through a spring dominated by a Public Health crisis. We are facing now also a social crisis and the struggle for racial the quality and very much of this moment that forces us to confront challenges that weve had trouble with in recent yea years. In th a time of crisis, you kno, its because it is the time of testing its also the time to think about what americas strengths are, what they are good at as a country and how we can build on that address the enormous problems in front of us. Host how did we get here . This is that an era marked by crises from 9 11 to the financial crisis to a pandemic that forces us to look to the sources of restraint what the politics
Professor of lauper he served in all three branches of the federal government to the Justice Department office of legal counsel, and the Senate Judiciary committee and Justice Clarence thomas prayed the previous books include crisis and command a history of executive power from George Washington to george w. Bush. His newest book the subject of todays discussion is titled defend her in chief, Donald Trumps fight for president ial power. John thanks for joining us today. Spivey entrance. Guest thanks adam and thank you its hard to believe ive been a scholar here for almost 20 years. I think im one of the oldest people on the staff. Its great to be here again to talk about a book and it would not be possible without having relationships like those i have aei. So terrific lets jump into the book. The end of the books introduction you summarize the overall argument and theme of the book. You say that President Trump has returned to the framers original vision of the presidency as an office
And for human equality. But the notice was very much at this moment. Enforces to confront challenges in our society that weve had trouble with in recent years. This is a time that makes us wonder how strong our institutions are going to prove to be. How we are going to rise to the challenge like this. I think you cant help but to see it as a time of crisis. Because it is a time of testing is also time for us to think about what americas strengths are and what were good at is a country and how we can build on that to confront these enormous problems. See 500 we get there. Our country has always tried to strike a balance between the dignity and equality of individuals in one hand and some form of strength of community on the other. Every free Society Faces that in our society think is in the past halfcentury really emphasize the individual. Yuval emphasize liberty and freedom. And also diversity. That is brought some enormous advances and benefits. But there is another side to the coin.