KC Johnson

We seem to be headed toward a presidential election between an incumbent who twice ran and lost for his party’s nomination before staging a political comeback in 2020 and his predecessor, who seeks to become the first former President to be returned to office in more than 130 years.

Biden and Trump represent extreme versions of the concept of political second chances, but the looming matchup seemed to provide a good opportunity to explore the issue more broadly, through both a national and international lens, focusing on both the executive and legislative branch, and spanning a fairly broad time period.

As always, each session will end with a Q&A period (questions can be submitted in advance, too). Wednesdays at 10.30 live; videos posted by 1.00pm.

Schedule:

Sept. 27:: 18th and 19th Century

Oct. 11: FDR & Churchill

Oct. 25: Rabin, Sharon, Netanyahu

Nov. 8: Legislative Second Chances

Nov. 29: Post-Totalitarian Europe: DeGaulle, Benes, Walesa, Orban

Dec. 13: The Presidency & the Art of the Comeback