IPPH On Air Sharon Pratt

In episode nine of the Founding Fathers' Legacy Series, Former Washington DC Mayor Sharon Pratt continues her exploration of America's first president, George Washington. She speaks with historical writer David O. Stewart about Washington's persona and political rise, as well as his experience leading an army.

Check out David O. Stewart's book here: https://davidostewart.com/books/george-washington-the-political-rise-of-americas-founding-father/

In episode eight of the Founding Fathers' Legacy Series, Former Washington DC Mayor Sharon Pratt dives into the life of America's first president, George Washington. She speaks with professor and Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award winning historian, Joseph J. Ellis. Professor Ellis discusses George Washington's public persona, his view on the presidency and his role in bringing the capital to Washington D.C. He also discusses Washington's involvement in slavery and how he was perceived by others, including the other Founding Fathers.

Check out Joseph Ellis' book here: https://www.amazon.com/His-Excellency-Washington-Joseph-Ellis/dp/1400032539

For the final episode on Thomas Jefferson, Former D.C Mayor, Sharon Pratt hosts the "Where Do We Go From Here Symposium" live from Monticello, the home of Thomas Jefferson.

The Series examines the education, philosophical influences, personal experiences, and the economic influences on these three Founding Fathers. The Series hosts 4-5 audio podcasts per President highlighting their education, their wives, their early careers, and their economic influences. With each President, the final episode is at their home (Montpelier, Monticello, and Mount Vernon.)

A historic discussion with panelists:
Former Mayor Sharon Pratt, IPPH Founding Director
Michael Steele, Former RNC Chair, "MSNBC" political analyst, and former Lt. Gov. Maryland
Niya Bates, Ph.D. candidate, Department of History & Department of African American Studies, Princeton University
Lisa A. Francavilla, Ph.D., Senior Managing Editor, Papers of Thomas Jefferson: Retirement Series, International Center for Jefferson Studies
John A. Ragosta, Ph.D./J.D., Interim Saunders Director, Robert H. Smith International Center for Jefferson Studies at Monticello
With funding from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation & MFS Investments

Coming up next: George Washington.

In episode seven of the Founding Fathers' Legacy Series, Former Washington D.C Mayor Sharon Pratt speaks with Gayle Jessup White to examine Thomas Jefferson's legacy, his descendants and America’s complex racial history.

Gayle Jessup White is the Public Relations & Community Engagement Officer at Monticello, Thomas Jefferson’s legendary estate, and a direct descendant of Jefferson. She speaks with Sharon Pratt about her quest to research her connection to Thomas Jefferson after hearing stories passed down from her father's family that they were descendants of Thomas Jefferson.

Gayle Jessup White is also the author of "Reclamation: Sally Hemings, Thomas Jefferson, and a Descendant's Search for Her Family's Lasting Legacy." The book chronicles her remarkable journey to understand and reclaim her heritage and ensure the nation lives up to the ideals advocated by her legendary ancestor.

In episode six of the Founding Fathers' Legacy Series, Former Washington D.C Mayor Sharon Pratt dives into the life of Thomas Jefferson. Of all the founding fathers, he stood out as perhaps the most controversial and the most confounding. In this episode, she speaks with Professor Robert MacDonald about the complicated and powerful impact of the third president on our founding and our early years as a nation. Professor MacDonald discusses how Jefferson was unique among the Founding Fathers, what his greatest influences were, and Jefferson's bitter relationship with John Adams. They also discuss Jefferson's complicated relationship with slavery and how the man who wrote the words “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” did not provide liberty to the enslaved children he fathered with Sally Hemmings until they became adults. While we can see his limitations, we can also look to him for inspiration.

Professor Robert MacDonald teaches history at the United States Military Academy at West Point. He is the author of multiple books on Thomas Jefferson, including "Confounding Father: Thomas Jefferson’s Image in His Own Time" and "Thomas Jefferson’s Lives: Biographers and the Battle for History."

Join us in the next episode when we speak with Gayle Jessup White, a descendant of Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings, as we explore Jefferson through the prism of America’s racial divide.

For the final episode on James Madison, Former D.C Mayor, Sharon Pratt hosts the "Where Do We Go From Here Symposium" live from Montpelier, the home of James Madison.

The historic discussion includes guests:
Michael Steele (Former RNC Chair, MSNBC political analyst and former Lt. Gov., Md)
James French, Chair, Montpelier Foundation Board of Directors
Professor Hasan Jeffries, Associate Professor of History, The Ohio State University, and Vice Chair Montpelier Foundation
Dr. Tyson Reeder: Assistant Professor and Assistant Editor, Papers of James Madison, The University of Virginia
Dr. Holly Cowan Shulman, Associate Professor for Studies in Women and Gender at the University of Virginia and author “Dolley Madison: Her Life, Letters, and Legacy.”

Coming up next: Thomas Jefferson and the role he played in establishing the Nation’s Capital in the South, along the banks of the Potomac.