In the hours before Election Day, historian David McCullough reflects on America's past -- including our founding fathers' campaign tactics. Morley Safer reports.
I just realized that today is 90 years since David McCullough was born. So I decided to search UA-cam and found this interview. It's chock full of great content, and truly demonstrates Mr. McCullough's genius as a historian. He studied history in depth and it gives him the ability to provide perspective on today's events. And it's masterful how he can connect with history through being at historical places, the next best thing to actually being there. While it's wistful he's no longer with us, his brilliance will definitely shine for a long time to come.
The way McCullough tall about the founders, their individual traits, and those defining moments is truly facinating... it literally gets me excited just sitting here. If I become a teacher I hope to give the same feeling to my class about history
Good luck to you, Patriot. My high school history teacher brought history alive by dressing as Lincoln and delivering the Gettysburg Address, talking about history as if he was telling us a story, and teaching us that history is real. It’s so much more than people, places, and dates. I pray you pursue your dream and make a difference in this world!
Fellow so called patriots our Founding fathers were evil racist owners of fellow human beings. I see no value in extolling their so called virtues. They were absolute scumbags
Mccullagh is what I call a simple historian, as he can say in a few pages what takes another author 100 pages to convey. If you are looking for easy to read and understand history, please reference his work.
Proud to be an American living in Philadelphia, where all these historic places are within walking distance and FREE to enjoy. For a more realistic, human (and fun) understanding of the people and events surrounding that 1st week in July, watch a movie called "1776", a MUSICAL based on David McCullough's book.
WHAT? The musical 1776 was written several decades before McCullough's book! It was written by the playwright Peter Stone and Sherman Edwards wrote the score. This was back in 1969! Neither man had ever heard of David McCullough! smh
I was born in Philadelphia in 71 but your precious City kick me in my family out because we were Jewish and we were told never to come back because Jews were not allowed in the city limits of Philadelphia the closest we are allowed to live near the city is in Delaware county so what do you think about your city now!!!!!!😀😀😀
@@waltking9141 Its incredibly important we do not sugar coat or romanticize history. Sadly, Americans have a bad habit of doing this (coming from an American who adores America).
@@waltking9141What? One of the first Jewish temples in the country is located in Philadelphia on 5th St between Market and Arch. Also the Museum of American Jewish History is on the corner of 5th and Market. So whoever told your family Jews aren't welcome in Phila. lied to you.
I actually read Truman's biography. All 800 something pages of it. Great read! I'm wondering how we got from Truman to Trump. Maybe the country really is in decline this time.
“Far best is he who knows all things himself; Good, he that hearkens when men counsel right; But he who neither knows, nor lays to heart Another’s wisdom, is a useless wight.” Hesiod Aristotle; Nicomachean Ethics; Book I. Section 4.
“Politicians should take heed of Truman’s 1948 campaign. Truman ran by being himself. He said ‘I am going to go out there and say what I mean“. Can you imagine?“ That’s precisely how Donald Trump got elected. The only person in the history of the United States to be elected to office despite not having a history as a politician or in the military. People loved it. They may not of agreed with everything he said, but they were drawn to his raw authenticity. Yep politicians despise that authenticity so much that they needed to get rid of him as soon as possible. Because he showed them up. And when I say “them” I’m talking about left right and center.
Obama is smart. Definitely smarter than Bush. No question. But I am not sure if he has the temerity to do the things that we need that maybe unpopular.
Obama smart? Forgive me but he has the intellect of ant. We ended up with him because dubya had the intellect of a dead ant. We ended up with dubya because Clinton was crooked(although arguably the most intelligent modern president although I still can't stand him or understand his overwhelming charisma). Modern politicians are almost completely party hacks. Wake up.
@@writerconsidered I'm worried about the great teachers being lost in nursing homes, alone. Is what I was getting at during the time of my previous comment. -R.W.N II
6:40 The Vice President doesn't preside over the House of Representatives. He/She presides over the Senate under the Constitution, Article 1, Section 3, Paragraph 4. What is he talking about? I guess his research staff does most of the writing for his books at this point...
I had no idea that McCullough and Safer are great fans of Donald Trump! When they described Truman's personality traits that they so loved and admired, they were describing President Trump.
I just realized that today is 90 years since David McCullough was born. So I decided to search UA-cam and found this interview. It's chock full of great content, and truly demonstrates Mr. McCullough's genius as a historian. He studied history in depth and it gives him the ability to provide perspective on today's events. And it's masterful how he can connect with history through being at historical places, the next best thing to actually being there. While it's wistful he's no longer with us, his brilliance will definitely shine for a long time to come.
The way McCullough tall about the founders, their individual traits, and those defining moments is truly facinating... it literally gets me excited just sitting here. If I become a teacher I hope to give the same feeling to my class about history
Good luck to you, Patriot.
My high school history teacher brought history alive by dressing as Lincoln and delivering the Gettysburg Address, talking about history as if he was telling us a story, and teaching us that history is real. It’s so much more than people, places, and dates.
I pray you pursue your dream and make a difference in this world!
Fellow so called patriots our Founding fathers were evil racist owners of fellow human beings. I see no value in extolling their so called virtues. They were absolute scumbags
RIP to the interviewer and interviewee. Both of them have left us this great history clip!
A true giant…Thanks for everything, Mr. McCullough..May you Rest In Peace…
outside of Morgan Freeman, the best narrating voice of our time. Just love that voice!
I met Mr. McCullough on several occasions and he was just as you see him, a wonderful man.
Every time I listen to Mr. McCullough I learn something. So knowledgeable,, so smooth, so wonderful!
Would love to take a live class with David McCullough
This is so precious. Bless you for sharing this.🙂🙂😉
Fine writer and man, loves USA
David McCullough was such a national treasure. Great video especially on Philly at night.
So much history. David McCullough is an institution. Great stuff here.
I’m sorry he died
Love David McCullough.
If only David McCullough was my history teacher....
As a Philly resident, I have to say he's right.
“One must wait until evening to know how splendid the day has been”
Sophocles
Mccullagh is what I call a simple historian, as he can say in a few pages what takes another author 100 pages to convey.
If you are looking for easy to read and understand history, please reference his work.
'The Book of Abigail and John: Selected Letters of the Adams
Family'...he was reading Adams' famous letter to Abigail, written
on July 3, 1776.
Amazing interview!!
Had to come here after last night historic election.
David McCullough is such an adorable cute wise old elderly man.
“If he (Washington) had been a fool or a self-indulgent lazy glory hound, he could’ve been disastrous.” Remind you of anybody?
🍊
American treasure.
I call him friend, have been right there with him and his family, great guy.
Proud to be an American living in Philadelphia, where all these historic places are within walking distance and FREE to enjoy. For a more realistic, human (and fun) understanding of the people and events surrounding that 1st week in July, watch a movie called "1776", a MUSICAL based on David McCullough's book.
WHAT? The musical 1776 was written several decades before McCullough's book! It was written by the playwright Peter Stone and Sherman Edwards wrote the score. This was back in 1969! Neither man had ever heard of David McCullough! smh
I was born in Philadelphia in 71 but your precious City kick me in my family out because we were Jewish and we were told never to come back because Jews were not allowed in the city limits of Philadelphia the closest we are allowed to live near the city is in Delaware county so what do you think about your city now!!!!!!😀😀😀
@@waltking9141 Its incredibly important we do not sugar coat or romanticize history. Sadly, Americans have a bad habit of doing this (coming from an American who adores America).
@@waltking9141 That's nuts. My Grand-Aunt was Jewish and lived peacefully in Philadelphia all her life.
@@waltking9141What? One of the first Jewish temples in the country is located in Philadelphia on 5th St between Market and Arch.
Also the Museum of American Jewish History is on the corner of 5th and Market. So whoever told your family Jews aren't welcome in Phila. lied to you.
I actually read Truman's biography. All 800 something pages of it. Great read! I'm wondering how we got from Truman to Trump. Maybe the country really is in decline this time.
The History Man🥂
GOD BLESS DAVID MCCULLOUGH AND HIS ENTIRE FAMILY; VIVA LA FRANCE; REMEMBER LAFAYETTE!!!
"The PIONEERS" IS REQUIRED READING FOR ALL AMERICANS!!!!
Damn, what would he think now??
I wonder if 60 minutes would show this episode now
Legend
RIP...Old Sage
Journey through history with Morley Safer.
“Far best is he who knows all things himself;
Good, he that hearkens when men counsel right;
But he who neither knows, nor lays to heart
Another’s wisdom, is a useless wight.”
Hesiod
Aristotle; Nicomachean Ethics; Book I. Section 4.
What book was david reading from near the end?
Michael Cortez ...he was reading the words of John Adams. Perhaps a letter.
1:24-1:40 That sort of thing happens a lot.
“Politicians should take heed of Truman’s 1948 campaign. Truman ran by being himself. He said ‘I am going to go out there and say what I mean“. Can you imagine?“
That’s precisely how Donald Trump got elected. The only person in the history of the United States to be elected to office despite not having a history as a politician or in the military. People loved it. They may not of agreed with everything he said, but they were drawn to his raw authenticity. Yep politicians despise that authenticity so much that they needed to get rid of him as soon as possible. Because he showed them up. And when I say “them” I’m talking about left right and center.
Dream Big!...
❤
Pittsburgh man
Obama is smart. Definitely smarter than Bush. No question. But I am not sure if he has the temerity to do the things that we need that maybe unpopular.
nujac321 sadly, he didn't.
Obama smart? Forgive me but he has the intellect of ant. We ended up with him because dubya had the intellect of a dead ant. We ended up with dubya because Clinton was crooked(although arguably the most intelligent modern president although I still can't stand him or understand his overwhelming charisma). Modern politicians are almost completely party hacks. Wake up.
That's not Martha's Vineyard, looks like a Octogenairan home.
What makes you think its not?
@@writerconsidered I'm worried about the great teachers being lost in nursing homes, alone. Is what I was getting at during the time of my previous comment.
-R.W.N II
Is this his life story?
I'm sorry if I was ever out of line j
Who typed the subtitles? A second grader?
That's me, I am David McCullough,
6:40 The Vice President doesn't preside over the House of Representatives. He/She presides over the Senate under the Constitution, Article 1, Section 3, Paragraph 4. What is he talking about? I guess his research staff does most of the writing for his books at this point...
Steve Ramsey - That was a bonehead error.
I had no idea that McCullough and Safer are great fans of Donald Trump! When they described Truman's personality traits that they so loved and admired, they were describing President Trump.
Oh God. *Eye roll*
Bwahaha McCullough opposed Trump from the start
You should read up on what he says about trump. Hint it isn't pretty.
Sounds like President Trump :)
Lincoln did train stop speeches, so did TR. To say Washington over Lincoln is a travesty of understanding history.