Morning Joe takes a look at the American presidency on Friday, July 6 with presidential historian Doris Kearns Goodwin, Random House's Jon Meacham and Princeton professor Evan Thomas.
Also joining the discussion is Mike Barnicle and Nancy Gibbs and Michael Duffy, authors of "The President's Club."
The show takes a look at the history of president's in war time, which presidents would qualify for Mount Rushmore if it were created today, Abraham Lincoln and the Battle of Gettysburg, the importance of the president's club and how the job of president changes the person during their time in office.
We'll be starting the show at 6 a.m. EST!
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REAGAN, ON Rushmore? ABSOLUTELY NOT! the man was the beginning of the end of this country! QUIT drinking the kool-aid Joe.
Sorry to disagree but he did an amazing job, not only for America but for many others around the world. He came in at one of our lowest points and brought us out of the Carter fiasco that had threatened to really put our country in the tank.
You mean like the Iran -Contra Affair? Sending under cover CIA operatives into South America to buy cocaine to smuggle back into the U.S. and sell to our kids while promoting the "Just Say No" effort and the "War on drugs," and using that money to buy used U.S. weapons and armaments to sell back to our enemies in Iran after the Congress said specifically that was off limits? Yeah the Carter effort to save the hostages was a fiasco, idiot!
Perhaps you're referring to the introduction of the supply-side economic scam that has lasted 30 years resulting in the loss of hundreds of millions of U.S. Jobs, our manufacturing industries, as well as dropping the U.S. from rating in the top three in virtually every single category in the westernized industrial nations to the lower twenties in all those same categories.
That's the problem with watching Fox a fake news channel that is the same as reading the Weekly World News or the National Enquirer. Wake up sweet dreamer!
I am one of those common men that God made so many of. I believe there were two "game changers" in the modern ere, Franklin D. Roosevelt and Ronald W. Reagan. One deserves to be on Rushmore because of all he did for me and those like me, lifting so many of us out of abject poverty and providing opportunities. He wears the mantle of greatness. He can be called a humanitarian. The other, though nearly as influential, does not because his influence brought us to where we are today, a starkly divided nation, in wealth, in opportunity, in educational opportunities, in legal and political power. He made us what we are today, a divided nation. That is Ronald Wilson Reagan's legacy. He gave all for the one percent and I have to say I am disappointed with Delores Kearns Goodwin's assertion that he belongs on Rushmore. Of course, she is of that one percent (yes, she worked hard for it, didn't dig any ditches, though) and that is all this humble 99 perceter sees on media, the opinion of the one percent. The middle class is nearly a thing of the past, Reagan made it so. He is the first of a line of Republican "dividers" who disrespected the Declaration of Independence with their policy of giving everything to the rich and waiting for it to "trickle down." Nixon proposed it, Reagan believed it. Sad, sad, sad for our once great nation...
Thank You! You stated the truth much more eloquently than I.
Remember Act Up of the late 80's it existed because this man was an intolerant and hateful man. Great President I don't think so Evil President most definitely.
Thank you Mika you are my hero! The biographers seem far too romantic with their recollections of some of these men.
Enjoying the program. Would like to hear a disclaimer when mentioning presidents (and others) bad points that they (ex: slave owners) were coming from a place where this was the norm. They were in the middle of a transition period. Critique them for how they behaved based on the mores of the time.
Please ask Ms. Goodwin straight up if the rumors of her affair with LBJ are true? If so, I find it impossible for her to be objective about what I believe was one of the most evil men to ever grace the office of president. Lot of brave men perished to satisfy this egomaniac. How arrogant do you have to be to force someone to smell your crap while you're taking a dump just to get your point across?
I can understand Goodwin's bias, but I don't think that John Meachem was old enough to have had sex w/JFK. (though he may dream it). Of course, Dems have zero standards for their leaders, so to trumpet a reprobate as a savior is standard operating procedure.
The show this morning, whether you agree with the depictions or not, is absolutely wonderful. This is one of those shows where you are sorry if you missed a minute and it should be rebroadcast.
The only one in recent years worthy of this honor is Ronald Reagan!
Because his hair would look good sculpted in rock, after all the Republican base voted for his hair.
What you did this AM Mika was quite admirable for someone...anyone sitting in a chair on that show. I am pleasantly surprised and hope you're intelligence will finally be recognized and valued with your viewers. One can't ignore the value of Kennedy's decision concerning the Cuban Missile Crisis, but when will the "Good Ol' Boys" begin to stick their necks out for a more humanistic approach to solving differences? And one can't exclude the crowd that sucks up to Joe S. each and every day. I am disappointed that Doris Kearns Goodwin couldn't find it in her heart to agree with you when we all know that "she knows" the "truth."
It seems that the "Boys" continue to protect bad behavior and haven't progressed in hundreds of years. "Nobody's perfect" is and will continue to be a lame excuse when we are seeking progress towards peace and we have to rely on our "heroes" with "power."
Good luck Mika. You're gonna need it.
I have followed this show off and on for years. I usually stop
when the substance dwindles due to sneaky re-taping, too many
commercials, joe s immaturity, side kick predictability, etc. BUT,
the President series show is pure gold. I had the privilege to hear
historians share sobering thoughts, aged like fine wine or distilled like
a luscious sauce reduction. And, I hate to say it but Joe does his homework.
The SOB shows historical and cultural recall. This is Emmy status production.
Make every Friday dedicated to round table historians. If I had to put together a
a panel, can't go wrong with thomas, goodwin, and mecham. I'd add Michael
Beschloss and Walter Issacson to a rotation, and ...golly, there are many historians, like these fine folks, who know how to add wisdom with no need to be instruments of ideology. Kudos x 10.