Associate editor and professor of history at Indiana University, John Nieto-Phillips speaks with Professor James Meriwether about his article, "'Worth a Lot of Negro Votes': Black Voters, Africa, and the 1960 Presidential Campaign." When John F. Kennedy telephoned Coretta Scott King to express sympathy for her jailed husband, he had little idea that his two-minute call would move to center stage in the 1960 presidential election. That call, James H. Meriwether argues, has obscured Kennedy's broader efforts to secure the support of black voters while not alienating white voters in the no longer "solid South." Kennedy drew on the growing transnational relationship black Americans had with an ancestral continent undergoing its own freedom struggles, revealing that he was more interested in Africa than in civil rights. Africa, the newest frontier for Kennedy, became a place where he could show his Cold War credentials, find common ground with black American voters, and strengthen his chances to win the presidency.

Harvey Sicherman of the Foreign Policy Research Institute, Walter A. McDougall of the University of Pennsylvania, Lowell Dittmer of the University of California at Berkeley, and Robert G. Sutter of Georgetown University examine U.S. policy toward East Asia during the George W. Bush administration; and consider the impact which the 2008 presidential campaign and the upcoming change in leadership might have on policy.

Video and audio options area available.

This lecture, created by the Abraham Lincoln Historical Digitization Project, examines several years of Abraham Lincoln's life, including Lincoln's continued opposition of Stephen Douglas's political views; his rise to presidential candidacy; the fevered presidential race that followed; the secession of Southern states in reaction to his election; and his First Inaugural Address. This lecture continues from the lecture "Lincoln's Biography, Part Seven: Debating Douglas on the National Stage, 1857-1858."

To view this documentary, scroll to "Multimedia Slideshows," and select "The Campaign of the Century, 1859-1861."

This lecture, created by the Abraham Lincoln Historical Digitization Project, follows Abraham Lincoln's early political career, from established Midwestern lawyer to elected President of the United States. It focuses on the heightening tensions between North and South that served as the background to Lincoln's rise to the Presidency, and ends with the beginning of the Civil War. This lecture continues from the lecture "Lincoln's Biography: Introduction, Part One."

Professors Sidney Milkis and Marc Landy trace the rise of Abraham Lincoln to his presidential nomination and the simultaneous rise of the Republican party.

To listen to this lecture, scroll to the Tuesday, July 13th, 10:50 am-12:20 pm session; and select the corresponding RealAudio link to the left.

Professors Sidney Milkis and Marc Landy trace the 1800 presidential election of Thomas Jefferson. They focus particularly on the development of the party system at the time, and the fierce party politics between the Jeffersonian Republicans and the Federalists.

To listen to this lecture, scroll to the Monday, July 12th, 4:30 pm-6:00 pm session; and select the corresponding RealAudio link to the left.

Professor Mackubin T. Owens looks at the issue of the Southern states' secession prior to the Civil War. He considers whether Lincoln was justified in declaring war on the seceding states and what the arguments were both in favor of and against secession.

To listen to this lecture, scroll to the Wednesday, June 23rd, 10:45 am-12:15 pm session; and select the corresponding RealAudio link to the left.

Older versions of this lecture, from newer to older, can be found here and here.

Professor Lucas E. Morel looks at the presidential campaign and election of 1860, in which Abraham Lincoln was elected President. The lecture also includes some examination of the 1858 Senate campaign debates between Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas.

To listen to this lecture, scroll to the Wednesay, June 23rd, 9:00 am-10:30 am session; and select the RealAudio image or link in the gray bar to the left of the main body of text.

Older versions of this lecture, from newer to older, can be found here and here.