Listening to America

Clay Jenkinson and Lindsay Chervinsky discuss ten things about an event rather than an individual: the crossing of the Delaware River by George Washington and the Continental Army in a surprise attack on Christmas night, 1776. Mentioned on this episode . Support the show by joining the  1776 Club  or by  donating  to the Thomas Jefferson Hour, Inc. You can learn more about Clay's cultural tours an...

David Nicandri joins us to discuss the possible discovery of the HMS Endeavour, Captain James Cook's famous research vessel. The ship was used by Cook on his first voyage of discovery to the Pacific Ocean between 1768 and 1771. Mentioned on this episode . Support the show by joining the  1776 Club  or by  donating  to the Thomas Jefferson Hour, Inc. You can learn more about Clay's cultural tours a...

Clay Jenkinson and Lindsay Chervinsky discuss James Monroe, America's fifth president. He is perhaps best remembered for issuing the Monroe Doctrine, a policy of opposing European colonialism in the Americas while asserting America's dominance in the western hemisphere. Over the course of his political career, Monroe served as a U.S. Senator, Secretary of State, governor of Virginia, and ambassado...

Jason Miyares became the 48th Attorney General of Virginia on January 15, 2022. Clay Jenkinson spoke with him shortly before he took office to discuss a number of subjects including Jefferson's philosophical importance to America, his own thoughts on public service, and the story of his mother's immigration to America in 1965.  Mentioned on this episode: @JasonMiyaresVA , Democracy in America by A...

Clay welcomes James L. Powell, author of Dead Pool: Lake Powell, Global Warming, and the Future of Water in the West . They discuss whether there will be enough water to sustain the great desert cities of of the American Southwest, and some citizens reluctance to accept scientific facts about global warming. Powell explains his alarm about the urgent threat saying that it will come not from the ri...

Clay Jenkinson is joined by Beth Hoffman, author of Bet the Farm: The Dollars and Sense of Growing Food in America . Hoffman and her husband left successful careers in San Francisco for a new life as farmers in Iowa. Mentioned on this episode: Bet the Farm: The Dollars and Sense of Growing Food in America , Beth Hoffman's blog , @BethFoodAg Support the show by joining the 1776 Club  or by  donatin...

Lindsay Chervinsky joins us to discuss the Marquis de Lafayette. Lafayette was only 19 years old when he arrived in America, and had no combat experience, and yet his service helped win the American Revolution. Inspired by the ideals of the American Revolution, and with the help of Jefferson, he wrote the Declaration of the Rights of Man which today remains enshrined in France's constitution. You...

Clay is joined by Darren Staloff, the author of Hamilton, Adams, Jefferson: The Politics of Enlightenment and the American Founding . In this incisive book, Staloff writes that America owes its guiding political traditions to three Founding Fathers whose lives embodied the collision of European enlightenment with the founding of America. You can order Clay's new book at  Amazon ,  Target ,  Barnes...

Patrick Henry is often referred to as "the voice of the Revolution." He played a vital role in helping to launch the Revolution and was a leading anti-federalist, but he and Jefferson found themselves in strong disagreement. This week, Clay speaks with John Ragosta, the author of Patrick Henry: Proclaiming a Revolution . You can order Clay's new book at  Amazon ,  Target ,  Barnes and Noble , or b...

Lindsay Chervinsky joins Clay Jenkinson this week for the next in a series of programs titled "Ten Things". The conversations center on historical figures from the founding era, and ten things you may or may not know about them.   This week: Ten Things about Abigail Adams. You can order Clay's new book at  Amazon ,  Target ,  Barnes and Noble , or by contacting your independent bookstore.  The Lan...

This week, a special conversation between the creator of the Thomas Jefferson Hour, Clay Jenkinson, and his daughter Catherine, home from England for the holidays. Among other things, they discuss Henry Laurens, an American Founding Father, a president of the Continental Congress and signatory to the Articles of Confederation who the British held prisoner in the Tower of London. You can order Clay...

We take a look back at the many conversations we had during this past year. We hear from President Jefferson on a number of subjects, including the events surrounding January 6th, President Jefferson's inauguration, Shays' Rebellion, and hear from Jefferson Hour contributors Lindsay Chervinsky, Pat Brodowski, Beau Wright, Brad Crisler and Joseph Ellis. You can order Clay's new book at  Amazon ,  T...

Lindsay Chervinsky joins Clay Jenkinson this week for the first of a series of programs titled "Ten Things." The conversations center on historical figures from the founding era, and ten things you may or may not know about them. You can order Clay's new book at  Amazon ,  Target ,  Barnes and Noble , or by contacting your independent bookstore.  The Language of Cottonwoods  is out now through  Ko...

We present a special conversation between Clay Jenkinson and best-selling author, historian and Pulitzer Prize finalist H. W. Brands. They discuss Brand's new book, Our First Civil War: Patriots and Loyalists in the American Revolution . You can order Clay's new book at  Amazon ,  Target ,  Barnes and Noble , or by contacting your independent bookstore.  The Language of Cottonwoods  is out now thr...

This show was recorded on November 22, 2021 with special guest, author Joseph Ellis. We speak about the significance of the date. Then, we answer listener questions about why the British didn't finish off the Continental Army at the beginning of the American Revolution, and King George's legacy through British eyes. Rest in Peace, Phoebe. You can order Clay's new book at  Amazon ,  Target ,  Barne...

In the spirit of the Thanksgiving holiday, we are joined by three favorite friends of the Jefferson Hour this week: Beau Wright, Pat Brodowski and Brad Crisler. You can order Clay's new book at  Amazon ,  Target ,  Barnes and Noble , or by contacting your independent bookstore.  The Language of Cottonwoods  is out now through  Koehler Books . Mentioned on this episode: James Madison: America's Fir...

Jay Cost, author of the new book James Madison: America's First Politician , joins Clay Jenkinson this week to discuss the book and share insights on the politics of Madison and Jefferson's time. You can order Clay's new book at  Amazon ,  Target ,  Barnes and Noble , or by contacting your independent bookstore.  The Language of Cottonwoods  is out now through  Koehler Books . Mentioned on this ep...

We speak with President Jefferson about how the Articles of Confederation led to the creation of our Constitution. Jefferson also answers questions from listeners about how money and credit worked during his time, and what the pursuit of happiness meant to him. Later in the show we hear from Lindsay Chervinsky and former ND Senator Heidi Heitkamp. You can order Clay's new book at  Amazon ,  Target...

Professor Joseph Ellis joins us this week for further discussion about his new book, The Cause: The American Revolution and Its Discontents . For more than two centuries, historians have debated the history of the American Revolution, disputing its roots, its provenance, and above all, its meaning. The Cause is the product of Ellis' lifetime of writing about America's founding era. The book enligh...

We welcome back Dr. Lindsay M. Chervinsky to discuss her recent post "How Did the Senate End Up With Supermajority Gridlock?" She and Clay talk about the filibuster and congressional gridlock which they both feel is the product of decades of legislative machinations and not what the Constitution, nor the framers, intended. You can order Clay's new book at  Amazon ,  Target ,  Barnes and Noble , or...

President Jefferson answers questions submitted by listeners on a wide range of topics including Monticello, West Point and the military, the three fifths clause, separation of church and state, and James Monroe. You can order Clay's new book at  Amazon ,  Target ,  Barnes and Noble , or by contacting your independent bookstore.  The Language of Cottonwoods  is out now through  Koehler Books . Men...

The creator of The Thomas Jefferson Hour, Clay Jenkinson, is joined this week by his good friend Russ Eagle. Russ shares the true story of Clay's recent climb of Mount Whitney and also discusses the works of John Steinbeck. Both Clay and Russ comment on what Thomas Jefferson might have thought of Steinbeck's work. You can order Clay's new book at  Amazon ,  Target ,  Barnes and Noble , or by conta...

We spend this week answering listener questions, including one asking us to discuss Jack Jouett. On June 3, 1781, Jouett made a 40-mile "midnight ride" on horseback to Charlottesville, Virginia and gave advance warning to Thomas Jefferson and Virginia legislators that the British were coming. Jouett's extraordinary ride that night enabled them to escape to safety. You can order Clay's new book at ...

Clay Jenkinson and David Nicandri discuss Thomas Jefferson's fascination with the mammoth, and his hope that Lewis and Clark would find living specimens. As it turns out, Nicandri and Jenkinson have an equal fascination. Also discussed is the changing influence written history has on us. You can order Clay's new book at  Amazon ,  Target ,  Barnes and Noble , or by contacting your independent book...

This week, an in-depth and revealing conversation with Joseph Ellis about his new book, The Cause: The American Revolution and its Discontents, 1773-1783 . You can order Clay's new book at  Amazon ,  Target ,  Barnes and Noble , or by contacting your independent bookstore.  The Language of Cottonwoods  is out now through  Koehler Books . Mentioned on this episode:  Joseph J. Ellis: The Cause: The...