For more information go to our website, studentcam. Org. This week on q and a, meijer inc chairman, hendrik meijer, talks about Arthur Vandenberg, the man in the middle in the of the american century. Brian hendrik meijer, author of of the man in the middle of the american century. When was the first time you ever thought about writing a book this about this man . In 1989 i thought of a biography. But i was casting about for another idea. Ill a failed fiction writer and poet looking for a character i wouldnt have to create but could explore and explain. Was talking to freand of mine historian in grand rapids, saying Arthur Vandenberg, i am intrigued by him. I love foreignpolicy. I kept running across his name. But some professor back in 1970 published the first of what was supposed to be a twovolume biography and i thought the world doesnt need two biographies. That year my friend was responsible for the local state Historical Societys annual meeting. He was putting together the progra
But i never really understood the trajectory of this man until i was writing my last book, the arsenal of democracy in. That book there was a book where senator truman goes to detroit to investigate the Car Companies and their failure to produce airplane pieces. It struck me as amazing that this on cure person should become the most powerful president in the history of the world. Even my last book was done i was beginning in my head to structure this one. Brian in your book to talk about a newest session. What does that mean and what were they . A. J. when you research this book, you end up eating a lot of Peanut Butter sandwiches and going through cheap hotels. You talk about something newest asession. It just means this is a document thats new. And it will list the date when it showed up. So the great truman biographies all came out in the 1990s, right . Anyway, so i knew if i found these documents that they hadnt been available to biographers in the 1990s and i knew these were piece
Making a book like this . A. J. i grew up thinking that truman was this man of integrity. But i never really understood the trajectory of this man until i was writing my last book, the arsenal of democracy in. That book there was a book where senator truman goes to detroit to investigate the Car Companies and their failure to produce airplane pieces. It struck me as amazing that should become the most powerful president in the history of the world. Even my last book was done i was beginning in my head to structure this one. Brian in your book to talk about a newest session. What does that mean and what were they . A. J. when you research this book, you end up eating a lot of Peanut Butter sandwiches and going through cheap hotels. You talk about something newest asession. It just means this is a document thats new. And it will list the date when it showed up. So the great truman biographies all came out in the 1990s, right . Anyway, so i knew if i found these documents that they hadnt
Wall street contributor a. J. Baime. Brian you have a book called, the accidental president. When did you first get interested in doing a book like this . A. J. i was raised in a household where truman was a hero. I grew up thinking that truman was a man of integrity. I never understood the trajectory. In that book, there is a chapter where senator truman goes to detroit to investigate the Car Companies and their failure to produce airplanes and other military pieces during world war ii as fast as i said they could. It struck me that this obscured senator truman should be the one to become the most powerful man in the history of the world in 1945. Brian in your notes, you talk about a new session. What does that mean . A. J. when you are researching a book like this, you end up traveling around the country and eating a lot of Peanut Butter and jellys images and spending time alone sifting through documents. Are essentially looking for treasure and those eureka moments. Means, you are t
For copresenting lecture with a. J. Baim and were in for a great story if you havent read the book i highly encourage it. It will be on sale tonight later right here on this stage. And just a couple of words i cant resist the opportunity to plug the Truman Library, its not too far away about 25 minutes. Directly that way, if you havent been there recently, i encourage you to visit it. We have a fantastic special exhibit there right now on trumans renovation of the white house. Great story many of you probably dont know that. Couple of other plugs weve got several Upcoming Events including on december 6th, of the program called nato truman to trump, presented with our partner American Public square on december 14th. The faith of a first Lady Eleanor Roosevelt spirituality by local author dr. Harold ivan smith who some of you may know. And then on december, 19th, ultimate insiders white house trafers and how they shape history by Kenneth Walsh thats the last in our year long series on wh