The American Idea

In this episode Jeff discusses two fascinating heroes of the American Civil War with Dr. Jason Stevens of Ashland University, and Pat Maloney of the Ashbrook Center.Learn more about Ashbrook's programs for students, teachers, and citizens at Ashbrook.org.Host: Jeff SikkengaExecutive Producer: Greg McBrayerProducer: Jeremy Gypton

In this episode of The American Idea, Jeff welcomes back Dr. Jason Stevens, Professor of Political Science at Ashland University and the Co-Director of the Ashbrook Scholar Program, to talk about the Great Triumvirate; the greatest American statesmen of the early nineteenth century. Over the course of nearly forty years, Henry Clay of Kentucky, Daniel Webster of Massachusetts, and John C. Calhoun of South Carolina shaped the destiny of the republic and saved it several times from falling into disunion. Jeff and Jason's conversation explores these men, their fame and notoriety during their own times, and their lasting influence on future statesmen like Abraham Lincoln and on the country.Host: Jeff SikkengaExecutive Producer: Greg McBrayerProducer: Tyler MacQueen

In this episode of The American Idea, Jeff is joined by David Davenport, Research Fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University and Senior Fellow at Ashbrook, for a conversation exploring the crisis in civic education and what we can do about it. The former president of Pepperdine University from 1985-2000, David is a regular columnist for the Washington Examiner and his study, "Commonsense Solutions To Our Civics Crisis," was published by the Orrin G. Hatch Foundation in 2020. He earned a BA with distinction in international relations from Stanford University and a JD from the University of Kansas’s School of Law, where he was elected to Order of the Coif and earned national and international awards in moot court competitions.Host: Jeff SikkengaExecutive Producer: Greg McBrayerProducer: Tyler MacQueen

In this episode of The American Idea, Jeff welcomes back Dr. Greg McBrayer, Associate Professor of Political Science at Ashland University and Ashbrook's Director of Citizen Programs, for a conversation on Martin Luther King Jr.'s 1963 Letter from a Birmingham Jail.Host: Jeff SikkengaExecutive Producer: Greg McBrayerProducer: Tyler MacQueen

In this episode of The American Idea, Jeff welcomes back Dr. Chris Burkett, Associate Professor of Political Science at Ashland University and Director of the Ashbrook Scholar Program, for a conversation on Benjamin Franklin's famous Autobiography, his dramatic rise from the ninth of twelve children in an impoverished household to the most famous American of his time, and why he is - rightly - remembered as "The First American."Host: Jeff SikkengaExecutive Producer: Greg McBrayerProducer: Tyler MacQueen

In the second episode of The American Idea's Presidential Portraits series, we explore the life and controversial presidency of George W. Bush, the two-term Texas Governor who became the unexpected wartime president with the horrific attacks on September 11th, 2001. For this conversation, Jeff is joined by Stephen Knott, Professor of National Security Affairs at the United States Naval War College and the Thomas and Mabel Guy Professor in American History and Government at Ashland University. Stephen is a renowned presidential scholar, having recently participated in the C-SPAN Presidential Leadership survey and published a book on the lost soul of the presidency. He is the author of Rush to Judgment: George W. Bush, The War on Terror, and His Critics from the University of Kansas Press.Host: Jeff SikkengaExecutive Producer: Greg McBrayerProducer: Tyler MacQueen

In this episode of The American Idea, Jeff is joined by Cara Rogers, Professor of History at Ashland University and Co-Director of the Ashbrook Scholar Program, for a conversation on Thomas Jefferson and his controversial book, Notes on the State of Virginia. Jeff and Cara discuss Jefferson's long history of anti-slavery sentiments and emancipation proposals, and his disturbing comments regarding the physiological differences between White Americans and Black Americans, and the historical paradox that these two seemingly separate concepts create.Host: Jeff SikkengaExecutive Producer: Greg McBrayerProducer: Tyler MacQueen

In the first episode of The American Idea's Presidential Portraits series, we explore the life and times of George Washington: "First in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen." For this conversation, Jeff is joined by Marc Landy, Professor of Political Science at Boston College and visiting faculty in Ashbrook's Master of Arts in American History and Government program at Ashland University. Marc has a B.A. from Oberlin College and a Ph.D. in Government from Harvard University. He was the recipient of the 2009 Teaching Award chosen by the student members of the Boston College Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa. He is the Faculty Chair of the Boston College Irish Institute.Host: Jeff SikkengaExecutive Producer: Greg McBrayerProducer: Tyler MacQueen

In this special episode of The American Idea, Jeff welcomes Sohrab Ahmari, prolific columnist, former Op-Ed Editor for the New York Post, and the author of the recent book, The Unbroken Thread: Discovering the Wisdom of Tradition in the Age of Chaos (2021) for a conversation on his journey from Iran to the United States, his conversion to Catholicism, the threats facing the great traditions of Western Civilization, and the moral condition of the American press.Host: Jeff SikkengaExecutive Producer: Greg McBrayerProducer: Tyler MacQueen

In this episode of The American Idea, Jeff welcomes back two old friends of the show, Dr. Greg McBrayer, Associate Professor of Political Science at Ashland University and Ashbrook's Director of Citizen Programs, and Dr. John Moser, Professor of History and Chair of the Department of History and Political Science at Ashland University, for an in-depth conversation about the ascension of Ronald Reagan from Hollywood actor to the 40th President of the United States. Greg, John, and Jeff will examine the Reagan Revolution and the Fall of the Soviet Union through two of the Gipper's most important political speeches: "A Time for Choosing" (1964) and Reagan's Speech at Brandenburg Gate -- or more famously known as the "Tear Down This Wall!" speech (1987). Their conversation will examine both the complex historical narrative surrounding American politics and world affairs between 1964 and the fall of the Berlin Wall, Reagan's place in that narrative, and how Reagan's principled defense of freedom and the virtues of capitalism guided America to victory in the Cold War.Host: Jeff SikkengaExecutive Producer: Greg McBrayerProducer: Tyler MacQueen

The American Idea is a podcast presented by Ashbrook that explores America’s Founding principles and their effect on American history and government. Through lively and thoughtful conversations with renowned academics and public figures, the podcast will examine the history and political thought behind our country’s greatest documents and debates, as well as American popular culture and political statesmanship.If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review it on your platform of choice, subscribe for more at ashbrook.org/americanideapod, and follow us on Twitter and Facebook at @amideapodcast.To support Ashbrook and The American Idea, please go to ashbrook.org/support.

In this special episode of The American Idea, Jeff welcomes Ken Starr, Independent Counsel for the Whitewater Controversy, former United States circuit judge, and the 39th solicitor general of the United States of America, for a conversation on religious liberty in the twenty-first century, the collapse of civic education across the country, and the prospects for reviving the ways American history and government are taught.Host: Jeff SikkengaExecutive Producer: Greg McBrayerProducer: Tyler MacQueen

In this special holiday episode of The American Idea, we are privileged to share with you a very special Christmas story.A story of hope and freedom, of overcoming tyranny and opression, of finding love for a country and its ideas. A story of a boy whose father gave him the gift of America.This is the story of Peter Schramm.Peter was born in Hungary in 1946. Fleeing the Soviet invasion of Hungary ten years later, Peter famously asked his father why they were going to America. “Because, son. We were born Americans, but in the wrong place.” He would devote the rest of his life to studying and teaching about what that meant.He received a B.A. degree from California State University Northridge and went on to earn a Ph.D. from the Claremont Graduate School. With the help of figures like Harry Jaffa, Peter came to understand what his father already knew: why – as Peter’s hero Abraham Lincoln put it – America is “the last best hope of Earth.”Peter was a co-founder of the Claremont Institute for the Study of Statesmanship and Political Philosophy, and became its founding President. He later left Claremont to work for Bill Bennett in the U.S. Secretary of Education under the Reagan administration.It was at the end of Reagan's tenure in office that Peter came to Ashbrook. President Reagan famously inaugurated Ashbrook in 1983, but five years in, it was still in its infancy and looking for its purpose. Over time, Peter would give Ashbrook a purpose.Peter served as the Executive Director of Ashbrook from 1997 to 2013 and a professor of political science at Ashland University until his death in 2015. Under his leadership, Ashbrook grew into a national organization, reaching students, teachers, and citizens in all 50 states.But his most enduring legacy is the students who he personally challenged and inspired in the classroom to be the best human beings and citizens they can be.This is Peter’s story, "Born American, but in the Wrong Place," as recounted by him in 2006.Host: Jeff SikkengaExecutive Producer: Greg McBrayerProducer: Tyler MacQueen

In this episode of The American Idea, Jeff welcomes Dr. Peter Myers, Professor of Political Science at University of Wisconsin- Eau Claire and the 2016-17 B. Kenneth Simon Fellow in American Political Thought at the Heritage Foundation, for a revealing conversation on the greatest American speech of the twentieth century: Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream." Peter and Jeff will examine the history of the Civil Rights Movement preceding the historic March on Washington in August of 1963, King's leadership during this vitally important time, and how King wove the greatest of American political and religious traditions to write the defining speech of the era. Listen to the full conversation to learn more about this legendary piece of political and religious rhetoric, its history, and whether or not we could have another speech like it today.Host: Jeff SikkengaExecutive Producer: Greg McBrayerProducer: Tyler MacQueen

In this episode of The American Idea, Jeff welcomes Dr. John Moser, Professor of History and the Chair of the Department of History and Political Science at Ashland University, to talk about the rise of Franklin Roosevelt and the origins of his radical presidency. John and Jeff will examine these topics through a fascinating and engaging conversation on Roosevelt's 1932 campaign speech, the Commonwealth Club Address. Recently ranked the second greatest campaign speech in political history, the speech set the ideological groundwork for Roosevelt's New Deal policies and the role of the federal government in twentieth century America. Listen to the full conversation to learn more about this essential (but understudied) speech in political history.Host: Jeff SikkengaExecutive Producer: Greg McBrayerProducer: Tyler MacQueen

Building on our recent conversation with former Vice President Mike Pence, Jeff welcomes Stephen Knott, Professor of National Security Affairs at the United States Naval War College, to The American Idea for a conversation on the evolution of the vice presidency. Stephen is a renowned presidential scholar, having recently participated in the C-SPAN Presidential Leadership survey and published a book on the lost soul of the presidency. A long-standing friend of Ashbrook, he is also the Thomas and Mabel Guy Professor in American History and Government at Ashland University. Jeff and Stephen talk about the origins and history of the vice presidency, how it's evolved to a position of great power in the late twentieth century, and some of its most famous (and infamous) occupants.Host: Jeff SikkengaExecutive Producer: Greg McBrayerProducer: Tyler MacQueen

On this very special episode of The American Idea, Jeff welcomes former Vice President Mike Pence to the Schramm Library. As many of our listeners know, Mr. Pence was the 48th Vice President of United States, serving alongside President Donald J. Trump from 2017 to 2021. Before that, he was a six-term congressman from the State of Indiana and Governor of the same state from 2013 to 2017. In their conversation, Mr. Pence and Jeff talk about the role of the vice president, his twenty years of experience in both Congress and the White House, and why teaching American history and civics is more important than ever before.Host: Jeff SikkengaExecutive Producer: Greg McBrayerProducer: Tyler MacQueen

In this episode of The American Idea, Jeff welcomes Donald Drakeman, Distinguished Research Professor at the University of Notre Dame and the Founding Chairman of the Advisory Council of the James Madison Program in Ideals and Institutions at Princeton University for a conversation how we should interpret the Constitution. Donald is a renowned constitutional scholar, having been cited by the Supreme Courts of the United States and the Philippines. His books on the Constitution include Church, State, and Original Intent (Cambridge, 2009), a Choice Outstanding Academic Title, and his most recent book The Hollow Core of Constitutional Theory; Why We Need the Framers (Cambridge, 2021). Donald and Jeff talk about the dangers of the living constitution, the real role of judges in our democratic republic, and why interpreting the Constitution should matter to you!Host: Jeff SikkengaExecutive Producer: Greg McBrayerProducer: Tyler MacQueen

In this episode of The American Idea, Jeff welcomes back Dr. Jason Stevens, Professor of History and Political Science at Ashland University and the Director of Teacher Programs at the Ashbrook Center, to talk about the conflicting political ideologies at the heart of the Progressive Era, spanning three decades at the end of the nineteenth century and the dawn of the twentieth century. Particularly, their conversation with focus on two speeches that offer drastically different understandings of American government and its future: "The Authors and Signers of the Declaration" (1907) by Woodrow Wilson and "Speech on the 150th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence" (1926) by President Calvin Coolidge.Host: Jeff SikkengaExecutive Producer: Greg McBrayerProducer: Tyler MacQueen

In this episode of The American Idea, Jeff welcomes Natalie Taylor, Associate Professor of Political Science at Skidmore College, to the show for a conversation on Susan B. Anthony's "Is it a Crime for a U.S. Citizen to Vote?" Their conversation explores how to understand the Constitution's relationship to the Declaration of Independence, the history of women's suffrage during the nineteenth century, women's rights (and lack thereof) during the Founding, and Anthony's lasting legacy on road to the passing of the 19th Amendment.Host: Jeff SikkengaExecutive Producer: Greg McBrayerProducer: Tyler MacQueen

In this episode of The American Idea, Jeff welcomes Daniel Gullotta, Doctoral Candidate in Religious Studies at Stanford University and the host of The Age of Jackson podcast, to the show for a conversation on American prophets. Daniel is a scholar on religion in early American history and is a graduate of Yale University’s Divinity School, in the Master of Arts in Religion program. Their conversation will examine the life and times of three influential American religious leaders from the Early Republic: Joseph Smith, Robert Matthews, and Nat Turner.Host: Jeff SikkengaExecutive Producer: Greg McBrayerProducer: Tyler MacQueen

In this episode of The American Idea, Jeff welcomes back Dr. Lucas Morel, Professor of Politics at Washington and Lee University and a Visiting Graduate Faculty Member in Ashland University's Masters of American History and Government program, to talk about Abraham Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address. Lucas is a renowned scholar on American political thought and Abraham Lincoln, having recently published a new book called Lincoln and the American Founding. Their conversation will examine the crucial last twelve months of the American Civil War, Lincoln's evolving sentiments on emancipation and reconstruction, and how Justice Clarence Thomas was right when he claimed that the speech is Lincoln's Sermon on the Mount.Host: Jeff SikkengaExecutive Producer: Greg McBrayerProducer: Tyler MacQueen

Building on our recent conversation with Fox News Contributor Mollie Hemingway, Jeff welcomes Joe Fornieri, Professor of Political Science at the Rochester Institute of Technology and the Director of the Center for Statesmanship, Law, and Liberty, to the show for a discussion on the history of free speech and journalism in America. Their conversation stretches from Colonial America and seditious libel all the way through to modern day, where academia and digital media are raising new questions about the role of free speech and the press in our experiment in self-government.Host: Jeff SikkengaExecutive Producer: Greg McBrayerProducer: Tyler MacQueen

In this special episode of The American Idea, Jeff welcomes Fox News contributor and Senior Editor of The Federalist, Mollie Hemingway, for a conversation on media and political society. Their conversation covers what's wrong with contemporary journalism, its relation to politics, and how thoughtful engagement with American Founding principles is good for journalism -- and for the country.Host: Jeff SikkengaExecutive Producer: Greg McBrayerProducer: Tyler MacQueen

In this episode of The American Idea, Jeff welcomes friend and colleague Dr. Jason Stevens, Professor of History and Political Science at Ashland University and the Director of Teacher Programs at the Ashbrook Center, to talk about the most famous speech in American history: Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address. Their conversation covers the importance of the Battle of Gettysburg in the American Civil War, Lincoln's devotion to our Founding principles, and a fascinating reading of the speech line-by-line (it's only 272 words, after all!)Host: Jeff SikkengaExecutive Producer: Greg McBrayerProducer: Tyler MacQueen

On this episode of The American Idea, Jeff welcomes Dr. Lucas Morel, Professor of Politics at Washington and Lee University and a Visiting Graduate Faculty Member in Ashland University's Masters of American History and Government program, to talk about Frederick Douglass's most well-known and controversial speech, "What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?" A long-time friend of Ashbrook, Lucas is a renowned scholar on political philosophy and black American politics, having published five books and many articles. Their conversation will examine the life and political thought of Douglass, his escape from slavery in the Antebellum South, and how - as Lucas puts it - Douglass came to love "a country that did not love him back."Host: Jeff SikkengaExecutive Producer: Greg McBrayerProducer: Tyler MacQueen

On this episode of The American Idea, Jeff welcomes Dr. Cara Rogers, Assistant Professor of History at Ashland University and published scholar of Thomas Jefferson, to talk about Jefferson's important (but understudied) Letters to Roger Weightman and Henry Lee. Their conversation will examine the surprising legacy of the Declaration of Independence in the days of the Early Republic, Jefferson's hopes for his country and what we would become as a nation - hope that is needed more than ever today.Host: Jeff SikkengaExecutive Producer: Greg McBrayerProducer: Tyler MacQueen

On this episode of The American Idea, Jeff welcomes back Dr. Chris Burkett, Associate Professor of Political Science at Ashland University and Director of the Ashbrook Scholar Program, to talk about George Washington's famous 1796 Farewell Address. Their conversation will examine the historical context of the speech and how George Washington's republicanism is on full display in this enduring piece of political history.Host: Jeff SikkengaExecutive Producer: Greg McBrayerProducer: Tyler MacQueen

On this episode of The American Idea, Jeff is joined by Dr. Greg McBrayer, Associate Professor of Political Science at Ashland University, Assistant Director of the Ashbrook Scholar Program, and Director of Citizen Programs at Ashbrook, to talk about James Madison's contributions to the Federalist Papers. Their conversation will examine the theory and arguments of Federalist No. 10, 39, and 51, their historical context, and how Madison's contributions changed political science forever.Host: Jeff SikkengaExecutive Producer: Greg McBrayerProducer: Tyler MacQueen

On the inaugural episode of The American Idea, Jeff is joined by Dr. Chris Burkett, Associate Professor of Political Science at Ashland University and Director of the Ashbrook Scholar Program, to talk about the most important American document: the Declaration of Independence. Their wide-ranging conversation will examine the document's historical context, political theory, and the impact of its Founding principles on the entirety of American history and government.Host: Jeff SikkengaExecutive Producer: Greg McBrayerProducer: Tyler MacQueen

Coming to you from the Schramm Library, it's The American Idea! Hosted by Jeff Sikkenga, The American Idea is an exciting new podcast presented by the Ashbrook Center. In this trailer for season one, Jeff talks about the new show, its focus, the power of conversation, and the historical documents that will serve as the topics of conversation this season.