Ready Set Lead Ep 4

A new hope. That’s what the United States was to the world in 1776. But are we now headed into an era of darkness? Does the US have the capacity to move the country forward in 2021 and beyond?

Tune in to this episode of Ready, Set, Lead! as we welcome presidential historian and author of The Cabinet, Dr. Lindsay Chervinsky, to talk about the Republic, the impulses to create an empire, the use of force, and whether or not we’re headed to the dark side. 

“All leadership is flawed. It’s incredibly important to tell the whole story and the full story.”                                                                                              - Dr. Lindsay Chervinsky

Dr. Lindsay Chervinsky loves to study power and how people use it. She sheds light on the era of President Washington and how it has impacted both the modern American political system and the world as a whole. Lindsay shares her candid thoughts on a wide range of topics including whether we should grade our leaders on a historical curve, the use of the term “cabinet”, and the context and consequences of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. She speaks on why the 2022 mid-term elections are a major turning point for the US and shares an inspirational quote that puts all of this into perspective.

“Bipartisanship can be a real asset but you have to manage it carefully.”   - Dr. Lindsay Chervinsky

Episode Timeline: What You’ll Learn & Questions Answered

00:00 Intro

00:40 Introducing Dr. Lindsay Chervinsky

02:03 Why study George Washington and the cabinet?

03:13 Historical sites and experiences that have impacted Lindsay the most

06:45 Interesting aspects of Washington’s political savviness and optics

10:11 Slave owners vs. Non-slave owners: Should leaders be graded on a historical curve? 

14:08 Is a diversity of opinion a strength to a president and to the nation? How do you reconcile the search for loyalty from President Washington and the benefits of having a diversity of opinion?

19:12 Why the term “cabinet” wasn’t used regularly by the administration & the phrase they used instead

20:09 Why have presidents after Roosevelt been so hesitant to formally declare wars?

22:51 The relationship between President Washington and his VP Adams & Examples of President/Vice President relationships that helped and hurt the US

28:04 US withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan 

30:04 Evaluating the negative ramifications of John Jay’s Treaty: What would George Washington say?

34:00 How would Washington respond to Russia’s interference in the US elections?

36:03 How enlightened can a nation be if it does not stand with free people and other nations around the world?

37:56 Do we have the capacity to move the country forward in 2021? & Why the 2022 mid-term elections are a major turning point for the US

41:05 Outro

About Dr. Lindsay Chervinsky:

Dr. Lindsay Chervinsky is a historian of Early America, the presidency, and the government — especially the president’s cabinet. She shares her research by writing everything from op-eds to books, speaking on podcasts and other media, and teaching every kind of audience. She is the author of The Cabinet: George Washington and the Creation of an American Institution.  Available at Amazon and independent booksellers.