The 1918 flu pandemic altered American Life in ways that are familiar to those living through the 2020 coronavirus pandemic. Conflicting information left people wary and fearful. College classes were held outside, sports were canceled, asks or challenged as unamerican, and fines imposed on those who refuse to wear them. Next, Christopher Mcknight nichols recounts how the country experienced the events of a century ago and the lessons we might learn. He directs the Oregon University center for humanities. Since the pandemic has begun, for our purposes, since we shut down in march, they thing that has been driving our analysis here as historians is what is the historical precedent . Obviously, 1918 is the one that comes to mind and we have nobody better to tell us about 1918 that my friend christopher nichols. Hes an associate professor of history at oregon state. Hes the director of the Oregon State Center for humanities and the founder of their citizenship and crisis initiative. He als
Clipper and George Hammond culture of the amenities forum which organized todays event. Im happy to welcome back a. J. Baime if we had them here you in half or so ago from the accidental president. His last book, and this time we have a virtually from his home, and were going to talk about his new book about a 1940 election. Were going back 72 years to another electionyear and you will be amazed at exactly how similar it sound in some ways. Another with a different but in some ways. Whats different is the politicians were all younger than they are today. Thats one big difference. But a. J. , take it away and tell us about the overview of the book. Just a very good read by the way. Very good read. Outstanding. I want to say a couple things first. Thank you so much for having the. The the Commonwealth Club is a wonderful place to be and you are doing this virtual. A lot of people are going to painandsuffering china for myself im just reminding why i fell in love with reading when i was s
I am pleased to announce a miniseries of six lectures entitled great president ial lives. This series is attractive for two main reasons. The first being its timeliness. As we face a president ial Election Year and prepare for it, it will be an insight all of us can benefit from. The second is the speaker himself, our esteemed umw Professor Emeritus of history william b. Crawley, he has just completed 50 years on the faculty of university of the Mary Washington he has contributed in numerous ways. The creation of our Historic Preservation program in the creation of this great life series among them. It is for his excellence in teaching his perhaps best known. And to thousands of our students who have come through our halls. He has received our institutions highest honors in teaching from his colleagues and his students. Many of whom through the years have voted him as the faculty member who has made the greatest impact upon their lives. Dr. Crawley through these years has become a true
And answer portion, in the interest of video and audio reporting, if you could just come to our microphone by the white pillar so we can hear your questions and engage in a nice discussion, and lastly, once everything is done if you could please fold up your chairs and place them against something solid. Our staff, as in me, would greatly appreciate that. Tonight im pleased to introduce jared cohen, to politics and prose the founder and ceo of jigsaw alphabet inc. As well as an adjuncrt senior fellow at the council on foreign relations. He is the New York Times best selling author with eric schmidt of the new digital age and has written the children of jihad. One of the great lessons of american politics that ive learned is the tale of two brothers. One went off to sea and one became Vice President. Neither was heard from ever again. However in rare cases, the Vice President is not relegated to obscurity. Namely when the president the previous president dies. And his newest, best New Y