![]() ![]() And we found ourselves with a president of the United States who seemed unable to condemn neo-Nazis and Klansmen for violating a fundamental part of the American creed. JON MEACHAM: The idea came after the terrible events in Charlottesville last August when the neo-Nazis and the Klansmen were demonstrating, and the counterprotester Heather Heyer was killed. This book is called "The Soul Of America." Where did the idea come from - the idea of the book? His new book is "The Soul Of America: The Battle For Our Better Angels." ![]() ![]() He's written several presidential biographies, including "American Lion: Andrew Jackson In The White House" which won the Pulitzer Prize. Jon Meacham is a distinguished visiting professor at Vanderbilt University and a contributing writer for The New York Times Book Review. But he finds optimism in the nation's repeated ability to somehow find its way through crisis and embrace its guiding principles. Progress in America is uneven, he writes, and it's clear he's troubled by the present occupant of the Oval Office. It explores how enlightened presidential leadership helped us overcome divisions and move in the direction of greater tolerance and equality. His new book examines moments in American history when the nation was divided by partisan fury and racial strife. Our guest presidential historian Jon Meacham says if you're troubled by the state of our national discourse and the controversies surrounding our president, you might benefit from a look at the past. I'm Dave Davies in for Terry Gross who's preparing for a WHYY event today. ![]()
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