#1203 Benjamin Franklin's Visit

#1203 Benjamin Franklin's Visit

President Thomas Jefferson, as portrayed by humanities scholar Clay S. Jenkinson, is joined in conversation by Benjamin Franklin. Franklin is portrayed by GregRobin Smith, a history scholar, author, actor, and educator. Smith was invited to Bismarck by the North Dakota Humanities Council to speak, as Franklin, at the GameChanger Ideas Festival.

#1202 Income Inequality (Live in Fargo, ND)

#1202 Income Inequality (Live in Fargo, ND)

Bill Thomas of Prairie Public Radio is this week’s host of a live performance of the Thomas Jefferson Hour in Fargo North Dakota. Bill speaks to President Jefferson (as portrayed by humanities scholar Clay S. Jenkinson) about income inequality.

Dakota Access Pipeline

Dakota Access Pipeline

"These people deserve our commiseration. They only wanted to be left alone. They didn't invite Columbus or Henry Hudson or any of the Europeans to come and discover America." 

— Thomas Jefferson, as portrayed by Clay S. Jenkinson

#1201 Religion (Live in Fargo, ND)

#1201 Religion (Live in Fargo, ND)

Bill Thomas of Prairie Public Radio is this week’s host of a live performance of the Thomas Jefferson Hour in Fargo North Dakota. The subject Bill chose to speak with President Jefferson (as portrayed by humanities scholar Clay S. Jenkinson) is religion.

Was Thomas Jefferson a Christian?

Was Thomas Jefferson a Christian?

Clay & David recap Clay's performances at the Fargo Theatre in Fargo, ND with guest host Bill Thomas of Prairie Public Radio. The two shows, taped in front of a live audience, will be broadcast in the upcoming weeks. The first is on the subject of religion. On this 1776 Club episode, Clay & David tackle one of the most-discussed questions on this topic: was Thomas Jefferson a Christian?

Religious Views in Political Campaigns

Religious Views in Political Campaigns

"The public, in my view, have no right to ask about my religious sensibilities any more than they would have the right to invade your privacy and ask about yours."

— Thomas Jefferson, as portrayed by Clay S. Jenkinson

A Quarter, a Library & Animadversions

A Quarter, a Library & Animadversions

Listen in as Clay & David discuss their summers, the commemorative quarter for Theodore Roosevelt National Park, and new projects — including the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library and a new book about conservation. Animadversions on this episode broach subjects such as food, recording quality and bibliophilic materialism.

Political Correctness

Political Correctness

"I believe in robust debate. The truth is best found by discourse: I advance one argument, you counter with a different argument, somebody else with a third perspective. Slowly, as a group, we begin to refine our view."

— Thomas Jefferson, as portrayed by Clay S. Jenkinson

A Time to Listen, Not to Spout

A Time to Listen, Not to Spout

Events of historic importance are slowly unfolding south of Mandan, North Dakota, near the boundary of another nation state, the Standing Rock Indian Reservation. The Dakota Access Pipeline protest has grown into something much larger and more important for the future of white-Indian relations. As we in the non-Indian community look on, it is essential that we try to shut up and just listen for a change.