The Long View

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Factual: History

History series in which stories from the past shed light on current events

Jonathan Freedland presents the series in which stories from the past are compared with current events.

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The Long View: The Long View of an acrimonious and disputed US election

The Long View of an acrimonious and disputed US election

BBC Radio 4 - The Long View, The Long View of an acrimonious and disputed US election

Jonathan Freedland presents stories from the past and compares them with current events.

Jonathan Freedland compares this year's bitter and disputed US presidential election with the election of 1800 which divided a nation and ended with two very angry losers.

It's been a Presidential race like no other with the internet and social media age insuring a bitter divide between the two sides and acrimonious debate throughout. And even at its conclusion there's dispute over the result. But does that make 2020 unique? Jonathan Freedland is joined by Historian Professor Adam Smith of Oxford University and commentators from both wings of the US spectrum, Kate Andrews and Richard Wolffe to compare today with what happened back in 1800 when another one term President, John Adams, lost an equally divisive election.  And as with today's result Adams was far from content to accept defeat.  Famously, he didn't turn up to the inauguration ceremony of his successor, the Republican-Democrat Thomas Jefferson.
Actor Kerry Shale reads the words of Adams, Jefferson and the extreme press of both sides.  Did Adams come to terms with his loss?  And what damage did the election do to his party, the Federalists who included in their number the now famous star of musical theatre, Alexander Hamilton.

Producer:  Tom Alban

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The Long View

The Long View of an acrimonious and disputed US election

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