Rice to host ‘Historical Perspectives on the 2024 Presidential Election’ featuring Douglas Brinkley and Caleb McDaniel

Oct. 22 discussion will explore key forces shaping American politics

Oct. 22 Humanities Innovations event

Two of America’s most esteemed historians will offer unique insights into the 2024 presidential election at Rice University’s School of Humanities just two weeks before voters cast their ballots. Douglas Brinkley, nationally recognized presidential historian and the Katherine Tsanoff Brown Professor of Humanities, and Caleb McDaniel, Pulitzer Prize-winning historian and the Mary Gibbs Jones Professor of Humanities, will lead a discussion titled “Historical Perspectives on the 2024 Presidential Election” Oct. 22.

Oct. 22 Humanities Innovations poster

This highly anticipated event, part of the Humanities Innovations series, promises to be a significant academic and civic moment for the broader Houston community. With former President Donald Trump running against current Vice President Kamala Harris, Brinkley and McDaniel will provide historical context and analysis of this pivotal election.

Who: Douglas Brinkley, Caleb McDaniel, Kathleen Canning and Fay Yarbrough
What: “Historical Perspectives on the 2024 Presidential Election” discussion
When: Tuesday, Oct. 22 at 7 p.m.
Where: Stude Concert Hall, Shepherd School of Music

“This is an extraordinary opportunity to hear from two scholars whose expertise spans the breadth of American history,” said Kathleen Canning, dean of the School of Humanitiesand one of the event moderators. “Their deep understanding of past presidential elections and the key forces shaping American politics will enrich the audience’s understanding of this critical moment in history.”

Brinkley has been in high demand this election season, frequently offering his insights on CNN, MSNBC and CBS. His extensive work studying American presidents, climate change and environmental history positions him as a vital voice in understanding the broader implications of presidential leadership during times of national and global change. The Chicago Tribune has hailed Brinkley as “America’s new past master” and his books, including “The Great Deluge” and “Silent Spring Revolution,” have received critical acclaim. He is also a trustee of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and a contributing editor at Vanity Fair.

“I’m looking forward to engaging in a nonpartisan discussion about the upcoming presidential election,” Brinkley said. “This is a historic moment for our democracy, and it’s essential that we approach it with both open hearts and open minds. By reflecting on the history of elections and the role of voting in shaping our nation, we can better understand the challenges we face today and the lessons we can draw from our past.”

McDaniel, a Rice historian and recipient of the 2020 Pulitzer Prize in History, will offer his insights on the long struggle for freedom and justice in America. His prize-winning book “Sweet Taste of Liberty: A True Story of Slavery and Restitution in America” has cemented his place as a leading voice in the field of 19th-century American history. McDaniel’s focus on the Civil War era and the struggle over slavery will offer a historical framework for understanding the ongoing challenges of democracy and racial justice in today’s political landscape.

“Historians cannot predict the future, but they can provide perspective on the present by sharing what is known about the past,” McDaniel said.

The conversation will be moderated by Canning and Fay Yarbrough, professor of history and associate dean of humanities. Canning, a scholar of modern Europe and Germany, has led Rice’s School of Humanities since 2018 and is known for her work on citizenship and democracy in interwar Germany. Yarbrough’s expertise on the history of Native and African American interactions during the 19th century will add another layer of depth to the conversation. Her recent book “Choctaw Confederates: The American Civil War in Indian Country” reflects her ongoing research into the intersection of Native and Southern history.

Co-sponsored by The Progressive Forum of Houston, this event is near capacity. For more information about the Humanities Innovations event series, email humanities@rice.edu.

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