Professor Emeritus of History, Columbia University
Professor Emeritus of History at Columbia University and author of Joseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling, a biography about the founder of Mormonism; Visiting Professor in Mormon Studies at Claremont Graduate University (Fall, 2008)
Mitt Romney and Religion in America's Public Life Massachusetts Senator John Kennedy became America's first Catholic president after a speech in which he said no Catholic prelate would tell him what to do in the White House. In Texas today, less than 100 miles from where Kennedy made his address, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney said he does not define his presidential candidacy by his Mormon religion. He promised that if he's elected "no authorities of [his] church… will ever exert influence on presidential decisions." With a Constitutional ban on religious tests for public office, is it political bigotry to question any candidate's faith, or does Mormonism raise specific questions some voters have the right to ask? Did Romney tell them what they wanted to know?
Should the Private Beliefs of Candidates be Subject to Public Debate? Critics are taking a close look at the mormon religion and questioning its doctrines. Should a candidate’s private beliefs be used as a measure to determine performance in public office? Will Romney’s religion be an obstacle as he tries to woo the Christian right?
The Public Debate and Private Beliefs of Presidential Candidates John F . Kennedy supposedly answered "the religion question" 47 years ago with his successful run for the presidency. Today, the relig ion question has come up again, only this time the candidate isn't a C atholic. Mitt R omney is a front - runner in the R epublican field and a practicing Mormon whose religious beliefs are facing increasing examination. What role will religion play in the race? Can R omney overcome apprehensions about his religion? Will conservative C hristian leaders endorse him? Is it fair to judge a politician's public performance on his personal beliefs, beliefs that are outside the cultural mainstream?
The Trump agenda: where's the beef? President Trump says big things are happening. After celebrating a House bill on health care, he doesn’t yet have Senate agreement. With James Comey’s public testimony scheduled tomorrow, the President today tweeted his selection of a new FBI Director. Is the Chief Executive all style and no substance? Later, terror attacks in Iran and conflicting claims about who’s behind them.
Human Rights in the era of Donald Trump President Trump’s UN Ambassador, Nikki Haley, said today the US might pull out of the United Nations’ Human Rights Council. Serious violators of human rights are members of the Council itself–and a US resignation could make things worse. Later on today’s show, now that he’s into his second term, comedian turned US Senator Al Franken is telling jokes again.
Janesville and the American Dream Janesville, Wisconsin is the hometown of Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan. But he couldn’t prevent the closing of the General Motors factory after 100 years. On this Memorial Day rebroadcast of To the Point, we hear what’s happened to what once was a model of American middle-class unity.