Friends & Fellow Citizens

As America was facing the crossroads on the political and moral debates of slavery, one former MA congressman warned of the ideologies and behavior that undermined the American experiment. Learn how Josiah Quincy III, a longtime Jefferson opponent who even attempted to impeach our third president, spoke about the dangers of usurpation, cunning, and arrogance that plagued politics then and plague our politics nowadays in different ways. Link to Quincy's full speech (June 5, 1856) Support the show Visit georgewashingtoninstitute.org to sign up for our e-mail list! The site is the one-stop shop of all things Friends & Fellow Citizens and George Washington Institute! JOIN as a Patreon supporter and receive a FREE Friends & Fellow Citizens mug at the $25 membership level! Check out my UA friend's Engagement Era blog for insight into modern American democracy! IMPORTANT NOTE/DISCLAIMER: All views expressed by the host are presented in his personal capacity and do not officially represent the views of any affiliated organizations. All views by guests are solely those of the interviewees themselves and may or may not reflect the views of their affiliated organizations, the host, and/or Friends & Fellow Citizens.

Hear a statement from Sherman and Friends & Fellow Citizens the day after the 2024 presidential election. Support the show Visit georgewashingtoninstitute.org to sign up for our e-mail list! The site is the one-stop shop of all things Friends & Fellow Citizens and George Washington Institute! JOIN as a Patreon supporter and receive a FREE Friends & Fellow Citizens mug at the $25 membership level! Check out my UA friend's Engagement Era blog for insight into modern American democracy! IMPORTANT NOTE/DISCLAIMER: All views expressed by the host are presented in his personal capacity and do not officially represent the views of any affiliated organizations. All views by guests are solely those of the interviewees themselves and may or may not reflect the views of their affiliated organizations, the host, and/or Friends & Fellow Citizens.

How should we evaluate our Presidents and presidential candidates? In Part II, we continue our conversation with Dr. George C. Edwards III about the Bush School and Presidential Library, the Electoral College, and criteria people should use for evaluating candidate and presidential performance. Finally, hear why Presidents are prisoners of their premises and a preview of some of his many books about the American presidency. ICYMI, listen to Part I of our interview: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1255184/15791663 Amazon.com links to Dr. Edwards' books on the U.S. presidency: The Strategic President: Persuasion and Opportunity in Presidential Leadership On Deaf Ears: The Limits of the Bully Pulpit Prisoners of Their Premises: How Unexamined Assumptions Lead to War and Other Policy Debacles Why the Electoral College is Bad for America Support the show Visit georgewashingtoninstitute.org to sign up for our e-mail list! The site is the one-stop shop of all things Friends & Fellow Citizens and George Washington Institute! JOIN as a Patreon supporter and receive a FREE Friends & Fellow Citizens mug at the $25 membership level! Check out my UA friend's Engagement Era blog for insight into modern American democracy! IMPORTANT NOTE/DISCLAIMER: All views expressed by the host are presented in his personal capacity and do not officially represent the views of any affiliated organizations. All views by guests are solely those of the interviewees themselves and may or may not reflect the views of their affiliated organizations, the host, and/or Friends & Fellow Citizens.

Teddy Roosevelt once coined the term 'bully pulpit' to describe an ideal speaking platform for one's agenda. But this begs many questions. The public can hear the President, but does the public actually listen? Is the Electoral College a democratic system for choosing our national leader? Does civility matter for Presidents? Released on the day before Election Day 2024, this conversation features Sherman speaking with Dr. George C. Edwards III. One of the leading presidential scholars of our time, Dr. Edwards is Texas A&M University Distinguished Professor Emeritus and has authored or edited 27 books. A researcher who enjoys asking and answering the questions no one else has asked, he details the opportunities and limitations of persuasion by American Presidents. Be sure to stay with us and listen to Part 2 of our conversation: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1255184/15791682 Amazon.com links to Dr. Edwards' books on the U.S. presidency: The Strategic President: Persuasion and Opportunity in Presidential Leadership On Deaf Ears: The Limits of the Bully Pulpit Prisoners of Their Premises: How Unexamined Assumptions Lead to War and Other Policy Debacles Why the Electoral College is Bad for America Support the show Visit georgewashingtoninstitute.org to sign up for our e-mail list! The site is the one-stop shop of all things Friends & Fellow Citizens and George Washington Institute! JOIN as a Patreon supporter and receive a FREE Friends & Fellow Citizens mug at the $25 membership level! Check out my UA friend's Engagement Era blog for insight into modern American democracy! IMPORTANT NOTE/DISCLAIMER: All views expressed by the host are presented in his personal capacity and do not officially represent the views of any affiliated organizations. All views by guests are solely those of the interviewees themselves and may or may not reflect the views of their affiliated organizations, the host, and/or Friends & Fellow Citizens.

George Clymer was one of the staunchest supporters of independence who favored more drastic measures than many in the PA delegation. But what makes him a pragmatic signer? Learn how he helped supply the Continental Army when rough conditions and scare resources could have completely jeopardized the patriot cause. Support the show Visit georgewashingtoninstitute.org to sign up for our e-mail list! The site is the one-stop shop of all things Friends & Fellow Citizens and George Washington Institute! JOIN as a Patreon supporter and receive a FREE Friends & Fellow Citizens mug at the $25 membership level! NEW MERCH STORE! Click HERE to pre-order your podcast mug now! IMPORTANT NOTE/DISCLAIMER: All views expressed by the host are presented in his personal capacity and do not officially represent the views of any affiliated organizations. All views by guests are solely those of the interviewees themselves and may or may not reflect the views of their affiliated organizations, the host, and/or Friends & Fellow Citizens.

Imagine the ability to solemnly see the Earth and the universe from high above the sky and contributing to the ever-important infrastructure that informs us about outer space. A lifelong Aggie, Col. (Ret.) Michael E. Fossum was a former NASA astronaut who logged nearly 200 days in space, worked over 48 hours of extravehicular activity, and embarked on key missions to the International Space Station. He now serves as a VP of Texas A&M and the Chief Operating Officer of the Galveston campus. Hear Col. Fossum's inspiring story about working to become an astronaut, his service in space, the mission and vision of A&M-Galveston, and much more! A sincere thank you to my mother and father (who was an A&M-Galveston graduate) for our family's continued support for Texas A&M! Gig 'em! Thumbnail credits: NASA NASA photo of Col. Michael E. Fossum Click here to learn more about Texas A&M University at Galveston! Support the show Visit georgewashingtoninstitute.org to sign up for our e-mail list! The site is the one-stop shop of all things Friends & Fellow Citizens and George Washington Institute! JOIN as a Patreon supporter and receive a FREE Friends & Fellow Citizens mug at the $25 membership level! NEW MERCH STORE! Click HERE to pre-order your podcast mug now! IMPORTANT NOTE/DISCLAIMER: All views expressed by the host are presented in his personal capacity and do not officially represent the views of any affiliated organizations. All views by guests are solely those of the interviewees themselves and may or may not reflect the views of their affiliated organizations, the host, and/or Friends & Fellow Citizens.

One hundred years before this year's 2024 U.S. presidential election, a different type of populism and progressivism swept the nation during the 1924 national elections. Learn how Wisconsinite U.S. Senator Robert La Follette (popularly known as "Fighting Bob") tapped into the two-party dissatisfaction of the American people and introduced a novel politics that brought very different voter coalitions together. Marking four years since the start of the podcast, Sherman also recaps some of the highlights from the 2023-24 podcast guests. "Adventures in Adventureland" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ "Devonshire Waltz Andante" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Support the show Visit georgewashingtoninstitute.org to sign up for our e-mail list! The site is the one-stop shop of all things Friends & Fellow Citizens and George Washington Institute! JOIN as a Patreon supporter and receive a FREE Friends & Fellow Citizens mug at the $25 membership level! NEW MERCH STORE! Click HERE to pre-order your podcast mug now! IMPORTANT NOTE/DISCLAIMER: All views expressed by the host are presented in his personal capacity and do not officially represent the views of any affiliated organizations. All views by guests are solely those of the interviewees themselves and may or may not reflect the views of their affiliated organizations, the host, and/or Friends & Fellow Citizens.

The box office successes of the Barbie and Oppenheimer movies in 2023 may not have been just a coincidence. The Wausau Daily Herald earlier this year named a Wisconsinite woman as 'the real-life 'Barbenheimer.' Grace Stanke, a nuclear engineer and nuclear energy advocate who served as Miss America 2023, is a leader in sparking a new chain reaction. She unleashes her passion for nuclear energy and its role in keeping our physical (and discourse) environment cleaner and better for current and future generations. Follow Grace on social media! Instagram: @grace.stanke X: @Grace_Stanke To listen to full-length episodes, join our Patreon membership! Support the Show. Visit georgewashingtoninstitute.org to sign up for our e-mail list! The site is the one-stop shop of all things Friends & Fellow Citizens and George Washington Institute! JOIN as a Patreon supporter and receive a FREE Friends & Fellow Citizens mug at the $25 membership level! NEW MERCH STORE! Click HERE to pre-order your podcast mug now! IMPORTANT NOTE/DISCLAIMER: All views expressed by the host are presented in his personal capacity and do not officially represent the views of any affiliated organizations. All views by guests are solely those of the interviewees themselves and may or may not reflect the views of their affiliated organizations, the host, and/or Friends & Fellow Citizens.

While John Morton does not have the same recognition as other famous signers (like the one before him, Ben Franklin), he may have contributed to one of Pennsylvania's nicknames. Hear how Morton seized his "Keystone moment" when so much was on the line for the PA delegation and the Second Continental Congress. Also, a major announcement for our Patreon members! Support the Show. Visit georgewashingtoninstitute.org to sign up for our e-mail list! The site is the one-stop shop of all things Friends & Fellow Citizens and George Washington Institute! JOIN as a Patreon supporter and receive a FREE Friends & Fellow Citizens mug at the $25 membership level! NEW MERCH STORE! Click HERE to pre-order your podcast mug now! IMPORTANT NOTE/DISCLAIMER: All views expressed by the host are presented in his personal capacity and do not officially represent the views of any affiliated organizations. All views by guests are solely those of the interviewees themselves and may or may not reflect the views of their affiliated organizations, the host, and/or Friends & Fellow Citizens.

NEW Patreon update! Full versions of all interview episodes will soon be available to every paid member! More details next month! How can we better prepare young people to best transition into public service careers? Whether you are interested in applying for internships, already an applicant, curious about how young people are getting involved, and/or know someone who is looking to start a career in public service, this is an episode for you! Our guest Rachel Rohrbach is a Florida prosecutor with numerous internship experiences at places such as the White House and Capitol Hill. In this in-depth discussion with Sherman, she shares her passions for two major political issues and offers sound advice for those who seek that extra stepping stone to serve the public good. LinkedIn - Rachel Rohrbach Support the Show. Visit georgewashingtoninstitute.org to sign up for our e-mail list! The site is the one-stop shop of all things Friends & Fellow Citizens and George Washington Institute! JOIN as a Patreon supporter and receive a FREE Friends & Fellow Citizens mug at the $25 membership level! NEW MERCH STORE! Click HERE to pre-order your podcast mug now! IMPORTANT NOTE/DISCLAIMER: All views expressed by the host are presented in his personal capacity and do not officially represent the views of any affiliated organizations. All views by guests are solely those of the interviewees themselves and may or may not reflect the views of their affiliated organizations, the host, and/or Friends & Fellow Citizens.

Today (July 13, 2024) is a tragic day in American history. A former president and current major presidential candidate Donald Trump was tragically shot at a Trump rally near Butler, PA earlier this afternoon. Luckily by the grace of God, he is expected to be all right. But sadly, one rally attendee lost his life. We are better than this. Please continue to pray for our nation. There is no place for political violence in our country. Americans from all different walks of life need to come further together and bring more unity and peace to our land. God bless you, and may God bless the United States of America. Photo source: Associated Press Support the Show. Visit georgewashingtoninstitute.org to sign up for our e-mail list! The site is the one-stop shop of all things Friends & Fellow Citizens and George Washington Institute! JOIN as a Patreon supporter and receive a FREE Friends & Fellow Citizens mug at the $25 membership level! NEW MERCH STORE! Click HERE to pre-order your podcast mug now! IMPORTANT NOTE/DISCLAIMER: All views expressed by the host are presented in his personal capacity and do not officially represent the views of any affiliated organizations. All views by guests are solely those of the interviewees themselves and may or may not reflect the views of their affiliated organizations, the host, and/or Friends & Fellow Citizens.

Oscar Underwood, a Democrat U.S. Senator from Alabama 1915-1927, gained so much political capital during the Wilson administration and was considered a potential candidate for POTUS or VP. But his stance against the most powerful white supremacist group forced him to make his party go on record whether the party platform supports or opposes radicalism and extremism. While his effort was not successful in 1924, lessons from his courageous stance could teach us about the perils of giving in to the crazies of our time. Support the Show. Visit georgewashingtoninstitute.org to sign up for our e-mail list! The site is the one-stop shop of all things Friends & Fellow Citizens and George Washington Institute! JOIN as a Patreon supporter and receive a FREE Friends & Fellow Citizens mug at the $25 membership level! NEW MERCH STORE! Click HERE to pre-order your podcast mug now! IMPORTANT NOTE/DISCLAIMER: All views expressed by the host are presented in his personal capacity and do not officially represent the views of any affiliated organizations. All views by guests are solely those of the interviewees themselves and may or may not reflect the views of their affiliated organizations, the host, and/or Friends & Fellow Citizens.

For many, James Madison is known as the Father of the Constitution. But how did he become that Founding Father who shaped American institutions and politics far beyond his time? Dr. Lynn Uzzell, a Madison scholar and Associate Professor of Political Science at Bethel University, shares the real lessons and experiences that taught the Founder himself about the realities of government and human beings. Check out lynnuzzell.com for more information about her work! Support the Show. Visit georgewashingtoninstitute.org to sign up for our e-mail list! The site is the one-stop shop of all things Friends & Fellow Citizens and George Washington Institute! JOIN as a Patreon supporter and receive a FREE Friends & Fellow Citizens mug at the $25 membership level! NEW MERCH STORE! Click HERE to pre-order your podcast mug now! IMPORTANT NOTE/DISCLAIMER: All views expressed by the host are presented in his personal capacity and do not officially represent the views of any affiliated organizations. All views by guests are solely those of the interviewees themselves and may or may not reflect the views of their affiliated organizations, the host, and/or Friends & Fellow Citizens.

Arguably the most famous American scientist, diplomat, postmaster, and so much more, Benjamin Franklin embodied America as an experiment. What distinguished him as a signer of the Declaration of Independence which he helped edit? ICYMI, take a listen to Ep. 122 feat. Valerie Durham: https://ffc.buzzsprout.com/1255184/12791628-122-a-gathering-of-free-minds-for-festive-fun-at-freedomfest Support the Show. Visit georgewashingtoninstitute.org to sign up for our e-mail list! The site is the one-stop shop of all things Friends & Fellow Citizens and George Washington Institute! JOIN as a Patreon supporter and receive a FREE Friends & Fellow Citizens mug at the $25 membership level! NEW MERCH STORE! Click HERE to pre-order your podcast mug now! IMPORTANT NOTE/DISCLAIMER: All views expressed by the host are presented in his personal capacity and do not officially represent the views of any affiliated organizations. All views by guests are solely those of the interviewees themselves and may or may not reflect the views of their affiliated organizations, the host, and/or Friends & Fellow Citizens.

Revolutions are tumultuous episodes of history when the past and the present battle to fundamentally shape the future. How did the 'lawyers' revolution' and the American legal and political systems define and redefine the meanings and context of our laws? Dr. Williamjames Hoffer, Professor of History at Seton Hall University, tells the story of the Caning of Charles Sumner, the Plessy v. Ferguson case, and the 'lawyers' revolution' that refocus contemporaries on the political and legal aspirations and complexities of our nation. Check out the following books by Williamjames! The Clamor of Lawyers: The American Revolution and Crisis in the Legal Profession Plessy v. Ferguson: Race and Inequality in Jim Crow America The Caning of Charles Sumner: Honor, Idealism and the Origins of the Civil War To Enlarge the Machinery of Government: Congressional Debates and the Growth of the American State, 1858-1891 Support the Show. Visit georgewashingtoninstitute.org to sign up for our e-mail list! The site is the one-stop shop of all things Friends & Fellow Citizens and George Washington Institute! JOIN as a Patreon supporter and receive a FREE Friends & Fellow Citizens mug at the $25 membership level! NEW MERCH STORE! Click HERE to pre-order your podcast mug now! IMPORTANT NOTE/DISCLAIMER: All views expressed by the host are presented in his personal capacity and do not officially represent the views of any affiliated organizations. All views by guests are solely those of the interviewees themselves and may or may not reflect the views of their affiliated organizations, the host, and/or Friends & Fellow Citizens.

Nowadays, American conservative political leaders have foreign policy platforms that call for greater toughness against China. But they are not the first generation of conservatism that wanted stronger U.S. foreign policy and security in the wake of Communist China. Learn more about two formerly prominent but now forgotten Members of Congress, CA Sen. William Knowland and MN Rep. Walter Judd, who warned about the dangers of the Chinese Communist Party and sowed the seeds for U.S. support of Taiwan. Thumbnail picture: U.S. Rep. Walter Judd (R-MN 1943-1963) Support the Show. Visit georgewashingtoninstitute.org to sign up for our e-mail list! The site is the one-stop shop of all things Friends & Fellow Citizens and George Washington Institute! JOIN as a Patreon supporter and receive a FREE Friends & Fellow Citizens mug at the $25 membership level! NEW MERCH STORE! Click HERE to pre-order your podcast mug now! IMPORTANT NOTE/DISCLAIMER: All views expressed by the host are presented in his personal capacity and do not officially represent the views of any affiliated organizations. All views by guests are solely those of the interviewees themselves and may or may not reflect the views of their affiliated organizations, the host, and/or Friends & Fellow Citizens.

Too often, Americans understandably anticipate modern technology but voice frustration over potholes. So what are some of the issues that are preventing the U.S. from having decent roads and technological advancements in our infrastructure? Kirbie Ferrell, a Texas A&M Bush School graduate and Policy Analyst at The Eno Center for Transportation, gives a snapshot of where we are on our infrastructure and how good methods like responsible deployment can better implement the technology we invent. Support the Show. Visit georgewashingtoninstitute.org to sign up for our e-mail list! The site is the one-stop shop of all things Friends & Fellow Citizens and George Washington Institute! JOIN as a Patreon supporter and receive a FREE Friends & Fellow Citizens mug at the $25 membership level! NEW MERCH STORE! Click HERE to pre-order your podcast mug now! IMPORTANT NOTE/DISCLAIMER: All views expressed by the host are presented in his personal capacity and do not officially represent the views of any affiliated organizations. All views by guests are solely those of the interviewees themselves and may or may not reflect the views of their affiliated organizations, the host, and/or Friends & Fellow Citizens.

John Adams called him "a greater and better Man that Dr. Franklin..." So who was this pioneer of medicine, education, and science? Learn how Dr. Benjamin Rush, Franklin's protégé, laid the foundation for modern mental health care and became an avid advocate for causes such as abolitionism, public education, and health care for the poor. Support the Show. Visit georgewashingtoninstitute.org to sign up for our e-mail list! The site is the one-stop shop of all things Friends & Fellow Citizens and George Washington Institute! JOIN as a Patreon supporter and receive a FREE Friends & Fellow Citizens mug at the $25 membership level! NEW MERCH STORE! Click HERE to pre-order your podcast mug now! IMPORTANT NOTE/DISCLAIMER: All views expressed by the host are presented in his personal capacity and do not officially represent the views of any affiliated organizations. All views by guests are solely those of the interviewees themselves and may or may not reflect the views of their affiliated organizations, the host, and/or Friends & Fellow Citizens.

Around 4am on February 24, 2022, Russia launched a tragic attack against Ukraine that began the first major European conflict since World War II. The causes and effects of the invasion have disrupted the state of U.S. national security and global world order. Dr. Kateryna Shynkaruk, an experienced diplomat and academic who is a Senior Lecturer at Texas A&M's Bush School DC, first discusses her firsthand experiences evacuating her home country. She also shares her thoughts about the conduct of Russian President Vladimir Putin, characteristics of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and the state and future of the conflict in Ukraine. "UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE" - Highly recommended video feat. Dr. Shynkaruk and former Bush School Dean (and F&FC guest) Gen. (ret.) Mark Welsh Support the Show. Visit georgewashingtoninstitute.org to sign up for our e-mail list! The site is the one-stop shop of all things Friends & Fellow Citizens and George Washington Institute! JOIN as a Patreon supporter and receive a FREE Friends & Fellow Citizens mug at the $25 membership level! NEW MERCH STORE! Click HERE to pre-order your podcast mug now! IMPORTANT NOTE/DISCLAIMER: All views expressed by the host are presented in his personal capacity and do not officially represent the views of any affiliated organizations. All views by guests are solely those of the interviewees themselves and may or may not reflect the views of their affiliated organizations, the host, and/or Friends & Fellow Citizens.

While the XYZ Affair was not about deciphering secret codes, one could decipher some of the contentious eras of polarization and partisanship in American politics. Learn how this diplomatic episode between the Adams administration and French envoys divided the young nation, led to the buildup of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, and almost led to a major conflict in the 1790s. Learn more about MA signer Elbridge Gerry in Ep. 71! Thumbnail photo: Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord, French Foreign Minister Support the Show. Visit georgewashingtoninstitute.org to sign up for our e-mail list! The site is the one-stop shop of all things Friends & Fellow Citizens and George Washington Institute! JOIN as a Patreon supporter and receive a FREE Friends & Fellow Citizens mug at the $25 membership level! NEW MERCH STORE! Click HERE to pre-order your podcast mug now! IMPORTANT NOTE/DISCLAIMER: All views expressed by the host are presented in his personal capacity and do not officially represent the views of any affiliated organizations. All views by guests are solely those of the interviewees themselves and may or may not reflect the views of their affiliated organizations, the host, and/or Friends & Fellow Citizens.