Historian Sean Wilentz on “The Politicians & the Egalitarians”

    Listen 00:48:43

    Guest: Sean Wilentz

    Partisanship is blamed for all kinds of problems in our political system.  The powerful parties and career politicians are blocking our country’s progress, many argue. And it turns out this is an old concern; our founding fathers were also worried about hyper-partisanship damaging the young nation.  But according to Princeton University historian SEAN WILENTZ, the power of political parties and the fighting between them has benefited our democracy from the very beginning.  He makes this case in his new book, The Politicians & the Egalitarians: The Hidden History of American Politics.  Marty talks to him about party politics in our history and in the presidential race today.

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