David McKean and M. Todd Bennett, "The Flag Was Still There"
Summary
Host Peter Slenn interviews David McCain and Todd Bennett, authors of *The Flag Was Still There*, about their book analyzing U.S. history through five 50-year anniversaries of the Declaration of Independence. They discuss how each jubilee from 1826 to 2026 marked inflection points, highlighting changes in population, economy, and technology. The conversation covers specific eras, including the Civil War’s impact on the 1876 Centennial, the political tensions of 1926, and the healing spirit of the 1976 Bicentennial.
Topics discussed
Introduction: Host Peter Slenn and guests David McCain and Todd Bennett
Book concept: A longitudinal study of US history in 50-year intervals
Growth in population and GDP from 1776 to present day
The dangers of 1776 and the aspirational nature of the Declaration
The 1876 Centennial: The first major national celebration and world's fair
Guest backgrounds: State Department historian and former Senator
1826 Semiquincentennial: Deaths of Jefferson and Adams and political turmoil
1876 Centennial: Post-Civil War optimism, innovation, and exclusion
1926 Sesquicentennial: Industrialization, immigration quotas, and the KKK
1926 parallels to today: Technology, isolationism, and political tension
1976 Bicentennial: Healing from Vietnam, Watergate, and social change
1976 celebrations: Ford's presidency and patriotic kitsch
2026 Semi-Quincentennial: Current inflection point and enduring ideals
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