History with David Rubenstein

Series / 3 Seasons

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.

26m 40s / TV-14

Alex Prud'homme

S6 E10 / 26m 40s / TV-G

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

S6 E9 / 26m 40s / TV-14

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.

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 / TV-G

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.

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Robert Caro

S6 E6 / 26m 39s / TV-G

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.

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Stacy Schiff

S6 E5 / 26m 40s / TV-G

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.

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Selwyn Vickers

S6 E3 / 26m 40s / TV-G

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.

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Lindsay Chervinsky

S6 E2 / 26m 40s / TV-G

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.

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Ned Blackhawk

S6 E1 / 26m 40s / TV-G

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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