The Chris Hedges Report Podcast with Adam Hochschild on his new book American Midnight: The Great War, A Violent Peace, and Democracy's Forgotten Crisis
The Chris Hedges Report Podcast with Adam Hochschild on his new book American Midnight: The Great War, A Violent Peace, and Democracy's Forgotten Crisis
With Democrats determined to obliterate Pres. Trump---when the swat-clad, armed, FBI agents raided Mar-A-Lago in the summer, I wonder if he had been home (they knew he wasn't), and denied them entrance, would they have violently shot him?
Even Woodrow Wilson, a human that I have precious little love for, recognized what WWI would bring to what passed for democracy in America.
And Mitchell Palmer, Wilson's attorney general and the impetus behind the Palmer Raids, had been a darling of labor and of American progressives, in the years before The Great War came to America.
Huge give-aways to banks with the creation of the Federal Reserve and of course he lied, which is to be expected from coin operated politicians, about the war.
The best book on unions during this period and before and after is "Dynamite" by Luis Aramic.
For more on the trial of Big Bill Haywood in the early twentieth century, do read Big Trouble by Anthony Lukas. Nothing like it. Lukas committed suicide.
Big Trouble: A Murder in a Small Western Town Sets off a Struggle for the Soul of America
by J. Anthony Lukas
4.15 · Rating details · 446 ratings · 66 reviews
Hailed as "toweringly important" (Baltimore Sun), "a work of scrupulous and significant reportage" (E. L. Doctorow), and "an unforgettable historical drama" (Chicago Sun-Times), "Big Trouble" brings to life the astonishing case that ultimately engaged President Theodore Roosevelt, Supreme Court justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, and the politics and passions of an entire nation at century's turn.
After Idaho's former governor is blown up by a bomb at his garden gate at Christmastime 1905, America's most celebrated detective, Pinkerton James McParland, takes over the investigation. His daringly executed plan to kidnap the radical union leader "Big Bill" Haywood from Colorado to stand trial in Idaho sets the stage for a memorable courtroom confrontation between the flamboyant prosecutor, progressive senator William Borah, and the young defender of the dispossessed, Clarence Darrow.
"Big Trouble" captures the tumultuous first decade of the twentieth century, when capital and labor, particularly in the raw, acquisitive West, were pitted against each other in something close to class war.
"Lukas paints a vivid portrait of a time and place in which actress Ethel Barrymore, baseball phenom Walter Johnson, and editor William Allen White jostled with railroad magnate E. H. Harriman, socialist Eugene V. Debs, gunslinger Charlie Siringo, and Operative 21, the intrepid Pinkerton agent who infiltrated Darrow's defense team. This is a grand narrative of the United States as it charged, full of hope and trepidation, into the twentieth century."
A must read for an expansive and mind absorbing understanding of the role of unions and bosses in the mining industries.
The book also paints a portrait of the use of Pinkertons and the rise of fascism both at the work place and within the country.
Taken together, Dynamite and Big Trouble are some of the best and most enjoyable reads about the class struggle out there.
Once again -- an outstanding interview !! I would be interested in comments on another book -- From West to East: California and the Making of the American Mind -- by Stephen Schwartz
Thank you and a question:
Sam Bankman-Fried committed multiple illegal and major crimes – see a good description below:
https://youtu.be/dsPNjskCHr8 -- Michael Saylor Destroys Sam Bankman-Fried of FTX & Alamida Res.
-- What are examples prior sentences for similar, although much smaller scale, crimes ?
-- Why was he invited as a celebrated guest speaker at November DealBook Summit (interviewed by NYT journalist Andrew Sorkin) ?
-- When he will be investigated for his huge and brazen frauds and – by whom (how many victim types and overseeing bodies?
With Democrats determined to obliterate Pres. Trump---when the swat-clad, armed, FBI agents raided Mar-A-Lago in the summer, I wonder if he had been home (they knew he wasn't), and denied them entrance, would they have violently shot him?
Do’s Passos USA trilogy is a must read
This is a magnificent work of American history. I recently reviewed it for California Review of Books.
https://calirb.com/american-midnight-the-great-war-a-violent-peace-and-democracys-forgotten-crisis-by-adam-hochschild/
Even Woodrow Wilson, a human that I have precious little love for, recognized what WWI would bring to what passed for democracy in America.
And Mitchell Palmer, Wilson's attorney general and the impetus behind the Palmer Raids, had been a darling of labor and of American progressives, in the years before The Great War came to America.
Wilson was to his times what Clinton was to his.
Huge give-aways to banks with the creation of the Federal Reserve and of course he lied, which is to be expected from coin operated politicians, about the war.
The best book on unions during this period and before and after is "Dynamite" by Luis Aramic.
For more on the trial of Big Bill Haywood in the early twentieth century, do read Big Trouble by Anthony Lukas. Nothing like it. Lukas committed suicide.
Big Trouble: A Murder in a Small Western Town Sets off a Struggle for the Soul of America
by J. Anthony Lukas
4.15 · Rating details · 446 ratings · 66 reviews
Hailed as "toweringly important" (Baltimore Sun), "a work of scrupulous and significant reportage" (E. L. Doctorow), and "an unforgettable historical drama" (Chicago Sun-Times), "Big Trouble" brings to life the astonishing case that ultimately engaged President Theodore Roosevelt, Supreme Court justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, and the politics and passions of an entire nation at century's turn.
After Idaho's former governor is blown up by a bomb at his garden gate at Christmastime 1905, America's most celebrated detective, Pinkerton James McParland, takes over the investigation. His daringly executed plan to kidnap the radical union leader "Big Bill" Haywood from Colorado to stand trial in Idaho sets the stage for a memorable courtroom confrontation between the flamboyant prosecutor, progressive senator William Borah, and the young defender of the dispossessed, Clarence Darrow.
"Big Trouble" captures the tumultuous first decade of the twentieth century, when capital and labor, particularly in the raw, acquisitive West, were pitted against each other in something close to class war.
"Lukas paints a vivid portrait of a time and place in which actress Ethel Barrymore, baseball phenom Walter Johnson, and editor William Allen White jostled with railroad magnate E. H. Harriman, socialist Eugene V. Debs, gunslinger Charlie Siringo, and Operative 21, the intrepid Pinkerton agent who infiltrated Darrow's defense team. This is a grand narrative of the United States as it charged, full of hope and trepidation, into the twentieth century."
A must read for an expansive and mind absorbing understanding of the role of unions and bosses in the mining industries.
The book also paints a portrait of the use of Pinkertons and the rise of fascism both at the work place and within the country.
Taken together, Dynamite and Big Trouble are some of the best and most enjoyable reads about the class struggle out there.
Once again -- an outstanding interview !! I would be interested in comments on another book -- From West to East: California and the Making of the American Mind -- by Stephen Schwartz
Many thanks in advance, Boris
Outstanding as usual. Thank you Chris.
BRAVO. !!
The rail strike article is here, on Chris's Substack. All articles appear here first.
You’re right. I missed it. Thanks for the post!