Understanding Our New World | David Kennedy

Paul Simon Public Policy Institute Director John Shaw sits down with Pulitzer Prize-winning historian David Kennedy for a thoughtful discussion on history, presidential leadership, and the current state of American democracy. Drawing on decades of scholarship and teaching, Kennedy reflects on his journey from engineering student to one of America’s most respected historians, emphasizing the importance of clear writing, accessible scholarship, and the historian’s responsibility to help the public better understand the forces shaping the nation. Kennedy offers a compelling examination of the evolution of the American presidency, noting how dramatically the office has expanded beyond the limited executive role envisioned by the nation’s founders. He traces the transformation from a system dominated by congressional influence to today’s highly personalized, primary-driven electoral process, arguing that modern presidential politics has intensified polarization by empowering smaller, more ideologically driven voting blocs. The discussion explores how structural changes in the political system have reshaped both leadership and governance in the United States. A major focus of the conversation centers on presidential leadership during moments of national crisis. Kennedy highlights transformative periods such as the founding era, the Civil War, and the Great Depression and World War II, examining how presidents like Abraham Lincoln and Franklin D. Roosevelt rose to extraordinary challenges. He also discusses contrasting leadership styles, from Roosevelt’s visionary crisis leadership to Dwight Eisenhower’s steady process-oriented approach and John F. Kennedy’s calm communication during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Throughout, Kennedy underscores that effective leadership depends not only on individual ability, but also on historical circumstance, political opportunity, and public trust. The conversation concludes with a sobering but hopeful reflection on America’s current political climate. Kennedy stresses that democracy was never designed to eliminate disagreement, but rather to manage conflict through constitutional norms, compromise, and peaceful transitions of power. At a time of heightened division and political uncertainty, he argues that preserving democratic institutions, including free elections, checks and balances, and the rule of law, is essential. Ultimately, Kennedy makes a powerful case for the enduring value of history in helping citizens better understand leadership, institutions, and the continuing challenges facing American democracy.