History with David Rubenstein

David Rubenstein’s skillful questioning of acclaimed writers like Robert A. Caro, Ron Chernow, Doris Kearns Goodwin, and many others effectively takes us behind the scenes, enabling a rare insight into the American story and a real sense of how history gets made.

Alex Prud'homme

26m 40s

Some of America's key moments happened over meals, from Jefferson's receptions to Nixon's China diplomacy. Author Alex Prud’homme joins David Rubenstein to explore the political power of the White House kitchen, highlighting meals that shaped history.

  • Alex Prud'homme: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Alex Prud'homme

    S6 E10 - 26m 40s

    Some of America's key moments happened over meals, from Jefferson's receptions to Nixon's China diplomacy. Author Alex Prud’homme joins David Rubenstein to explore the political power of the White House kitchen, highlighting meals that shaped history.

  • Kai Bird: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Kai Bird

    S6 E9 - 26m 40s

    J. Robert Oppenheimer, the physicist behind the atomic bomb, is a divisive figure in American history. Kai Bird provides a compelling account of Oppenheimer’s life, from his New York childhood to his Cold War career, and the moral dilemmas he faced in creating the most destructive weapon in history.

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    Danielle Allen

    S6 E8 - 26m 40s

    John F. Kennedy urged Americans to ask what they could do for their country. Scholar Danielle Allen argues that civic engagement is key to a just society, advocating for "power-sharing liberalism,” a framework where no group holds a monopoly on power, and the people’s voices shape government.

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    Jeffrey Rosen

    S6 E7 - 26m 40s

    What did "the pursuit of happiness" mean to our nation’s Founders, and why was it included in the Declaration of Independence? Constitutional expert Jeffrey Rosen joins David Rubenstein to explore its origins, its link to personal self-government, and its conflict with slavery. Guests are selected by the NY Historical Society. David Rubenstein had no involvement in guest selection in any way.

  • Robert Caro: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Robert Caro

    S6 E6 - 26m 39s

    Irrevocably tied to the tragedy of the Vietnam War, President Lyndon Johnson’s political legacy is also marked by his radical push to reimagine American life. Pulitzer Prize winner Robert A. Caro, author of The Power Broker and The Years of Lyndon Johnson explores how Johnson pushed Congress to establish Medicare, Medicaid, and historic civil rights and reform legislation.

  • Stacy Schiff: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Stacy Schiff

    S6 E5 - 26m 40s

    Samuel Adams, though often overlooked today, was a driving force behind the Revolution and played a key role in the Boston Tea Party, earning him the praise of his contemporaries, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson. Celebrated author Stacy Schiff explores his journey from a failed son of wealth to a tireless revolutionary who united leaders like Hancock and Adams.

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    Steve Inskeep

    S6 E4 - 26m 40s

    In a period of deep and fundamental division, Abraham Lincoln sought
    to unite the nation in the face of insurmountable difference. Steve Inskeep shows how Lincoln’s political skill—humor, storytelling, and self-deprecation—helped him navigate challenges and push his agenda, demonstrating his commitment to the nation’s betterment despite political divides.

  • Selwyn Vickers: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Selwyn Vickers

    S6 E3 - 26m 40s

    The Reconstruction era aimed to grant Black Americans rights like suffrage and citizenship, with hopes of national reconciliation. Despite early progress in education and government, lack of support and Southern resistance led to setbacks. Selwyn Vickers discusses how challenges to justice, citizenship, and equality persist.

  • Lindsay Chervinsky: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Lindsay Chervinsky

    S6 E2 - 26m 40s

    In 1797, President John Adams faced intense challenges, from partisan divides to foreign conflict with France and Britain. With little guidance from George Washington, Adams navigated a divided nation and shaped the presidency for future leaders. Historian Lindsay M. Chervinsky discusses his leadership.

  • Ned Blackhawk: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Ned Blackhawk

    S6 E1 - 26m 40s

    For generations, American history overlooked the role Native communities have played in shaping the nation. Author and Professor Ned Blackhawk rethinks this narrative, centering the history of Indigenous peoples as essential to understanding an American story that predates the Revolutionary War and continues through today.

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