Episode 12: Advise and Impeach
March 31, 2021
Professor Michael Gerhardt joins Akhil and Andy for a post-mortem on impeachment, fresh off his role as counsel to Senator Leahy, presiding officer for the Senate trial, and tells us of his new book, “Lincoln’s Mentors.”
“Amarica’s Constitution” welcomes our guest, Professor Michael Gerhardt, who pulls himself away from his work as Congress’ go-to expert on the impeachment to share a postmortem with us from the inside. He should know – he was retained by the presiding officer, Senator Leahy, as counsel for the impeachment. His new book, “Lincoln’s Mentors,” is out, and we can’t ever resist a Lincoln discussion. Andy and Akhil have been teasing about EverScholar – today they let us know what all the fuss is about; see for yourself at everscholar.org.
Show Notes:
2019 – House Impeachment Inquiry Hearing – testimony of Professor Michael Gerhardt along with Noah Feldman, Pamela Karlan, and Jonathan Turley
Episode 11: Nullification Nullity
March 24, 2021
In the fourth set of readings from “The Words that Made Us,” Akhil and Andy discuss Andrew Jackson, who mirrored the Constitution: a powerful champion of Union, a disgraceful enabler of slavery.
Andrew Jackson takes the stage in this, the fourth of four sets of readings from Akhil’s forthcoming (May) book, “The Words That Made Us.” Jackson’s complex makeup, combining qualities from Washington and Jefferson, is revealed, and his status as America’s first truly Western president is explained, as is the shadow that his utter failure on slavery casts. Still, his championing of Union is one of the great Constitutional episodes of the early Republic, and Akhil gives a vivid description of this, the Nullification Crisis. Somehow this leads to the insight that The Crown is like The Godfather. Go figure. The podcast is sponsored by EverScholar (everscholar.org), where a few spots remain for an amazing, immersive learning experience in Greece this August.
Show Notes:
Episode 10: Jefferson Ben Amar
March 17, 2021
Thomas Jefferson takes the stage as we preview “The Words That Made Us;” he winds up sharing the stage with his cousin, just as he did in the nineteenth century.
As “The Words That Made Us” approaches its May release, we continue to explore new perspectives on the early Presidents. Akhil’s disillusionment with Jefferson is explained, and the rise of the third President’s cousin and near-usurper makes for some surprising moments. We return to the visual for examples of particularly blatant painting propaganda, and a future guest makes a cameo.
Show Notes:
Presidential pose portrait 1 of 3 – 1792 portrait of Alexander Hamilton by John Trumbull.
Presidential pose portrait 2 of 3 – James Madison portrait by David Edwin 1809 -1817.
Presidential pose portrait 3 of 3 – James Monroe, 1822 portrait by John Vanderlyn.
“Before” portrait of Thomas Jefferson, painted in London in 1786 by Mather Brown.
“After” portrait of Thomas Jefferson – as President, 1800, by Rembrandt Peale.
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Episode 9: Sedition and Perdition
March 10, 2021
The inimitable John Adams makes for a fascinating subject in the second of four sets of readings from Akhil’s forthcoming tome, “The Words That Made Us.”
We continue “Presidential Month” with the second set of readings – this time on John Adams – from the forthcoming (in May) “The Words That Made Us.” Adams’ unique combination of bombast, verbosity, grandiloquence, ubiquity, and insecurity, makes him an author’s dream. It also left him extraordinarily thin-skinned, and the notorious Sedition Act was the result. Akhil and Andy take a grand tour of Adams’ constitutional misadventures.
Show Notes:
Episode 8: The Unanimous Man
March 3, 2021
Professor Amar begins a preview of his soon to be released book, “The Words That Made Us,” with a reading and discussion on America’s first First Man: George Washington.
Akhil’s new book, “The Words That Made Us,” will be available in May. This widely anticipated tome has already garnered a starred review from Kirkus Reviews. In this episode Akhil provides a preview, with reading and commentary from Chapter 7 – “Washington.” Although all Americans know that Washington was the first president, they may not know quite why the first American electors elected him unanimously – twice. Akhil provides a reading, and Andy and Akhil discuss.
Show Notes:
The First First Family portrayed. Referenced extensively by Prof. Amar in his reading, in this episode.
“George Washington,” painted by John Trumbull, 1780, with William Lee, Washington’s enslaved personal servant.
General George Washington Resigning His Commission; Painted by John Trumbull, 1824. U.S. Capitol Rotunda.
Episode 7: Succession Inquisition
February 24, 2021
How America screwed up Presidential succession, then fixed it (sort of), then screwed it up again. And how to fix it, Amar style, of course.
How does Akhil dislike the Presidential Succession Act? Andy tries to count the ways. This Constitutional disaster-in-waiting is definitively dissected. We could have had President Pelosi being sued by would-be President Pompeo, with your 401k turning into a 201F. Show notes on the website include the three incarnations of the Act since the Founding, and some tips on counting from the experts.