Explore our nations past. As a Public Service and brought to you today by your television provider. Good evening and welcome to the third installment of cspans contend series. We look at Williams Jennings bryant. What better way to introduce to you the man than hearing directly from him. Heres a portion of the speech that he delivered at the Democratic National convention back in 1896. Its commonly referred to as the cross of gold speech which led directly to his first run at the white house at the age of 36. We do not come as aggressors. Our war is not a war of conflict. We are fighting into our homes, our families and prosperity. We have petitions, and our petitions have been scorned. We treaties and our treaties have been disregarded. We have begged and they have mocked when our calamity came. We beg no longer. We entreat no more. We petition no more. We defy them. We go forth confident that we shall win. The words of William Jennings bryan coming to you from his home in nebraska. I
Times of William Jennings brian, the threetime president ial nominee from nebraska. What better way to introduce you to the man than hearing from him. Its commonly referred to as the cross of gold speech which led to his first run for the white house at the age of 36. We do not come as aggressors. Our war is not a war of conquest. Were fighting in defense of our homes, our families and prosperity. We have petitions and our petitions have been scorned. We have been treated and disregarded. We have begged and they have mocked when our calamity came. We beg no longer. We entreat no more. We defy them. We go forth confident that we shall win. Were coming to you from his home and office in the state capital of lincoln, nebraska. Its referred to as fairview. William Jennings Bryan and his wife moved here. Were coming to you from the first floor of his parlor. His study is below us. He did much of his writing and entertaining here in this house. We want to welcome our two guests. Michael kazi
His most recent book is hoosiers, a new history of indiana, which is on display outside. For many years he coedited the Indiana University press series midwestern history and culture, which included a book he edited historiescomparative of the midwestern states. Jim says hes very proud, in a modest hoosier way that the midwest Mystery Association bestowed on him the Lifetime Achievement award. I have known jim many years, is many years since i was a , student, his student back at Indiana University and ill testify that he has solid midwestern values, unfailing kindness and decency unflagging , work ethic and solid common sense. Jim represents the best of what it means to be midwestern but he has never romanticized midwestern history. We pride ourselves on being nice, but we dont always live up to that ideal. So today jim will be speaking on a darker side of the midwestern past. He is going to be talking about who is an american, the rise and fall of the ku klux klan in the midwest. [ap
The heartland. Race and memory in america. And slinging doughnuts for the boys and American Woman in world war ii. His most recent book is hoosiers, a new history of indiana, which is on display outside. For many years he coedited the Indiana University press series midwestern history and culture, which included a book he edited entitled comparative historys of the midwestern states. Jim says hes very proud, in a modest hoosier way that the midwest Mystery Association bestowed on him the Lifetime Achievement award. I have known jim many years, is since i was a student, his student back at Indiana University and ill testify that he has solid midwestern values, unfailing kindness, decency, unflagging work ethic and solid common sense. Jim represents the best of what it means to be midwestern but hes never roman tied midwestern history. We pride ourselves on being nice, but we dont always live up to that ideal. So today jim will be speaking on a darker side of the midwestern past. Hell be
To crucify gold would be, of course, connected to Pontius Pilate crucifying christ. In the same way, bryan and populists and populist minded democrats and republicans, too, 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 theres a class divide in american politics at that time. Now we have a lot of anger about the economy. The anger wasnt focused on money the same way it was then. After all, remember then, every dollar people had in their pockets could be redeemed for a dollar in the federal treasury, first with gold. Bryan wanted that to be redeemed in silver as well, the means a lot more dollars could have been minted and coined because there was more silver in circulation than there was gold. Really a call for cheaper money, lower Interest Rates, and greater Economic Opportunity for a Small Business person, a farmer, a worker who wanted to be a Small B