The Three Historians: Niall Ferguson, Victor Davis Hanson, and Andrew Roberts | Uncommon Knowledge

Niall Ferguson, Victor Davis Hanson, and Andrew Roberts are senior fellows at the Hoover Institution and among the most prestigious and popular historians in the world. This is the first time they have appeared together in a public forum. Among the topics they cover in this wide-ranging discussion: the recent controversy regarding Winston Churchill’s role in World War II, the false premise of the 1619 Project, the Cold War, World War II, and the role of historians in public life. In addition, they critique recent trends in historical writing and the recent phenomenon in much historical research of self-loathing in Western historical narratives, arguing that these views often distort factual history. The scholars also argue for history’s essential role in democracy and for learning from past mistakes. Ultimately, they conclude with reflections on contemporary global challenges, contrasting the open societies of the West with authoritarian regimes and expressing cautious optimism about the resilience of democratic values.

Recorded on October 17th, 2024

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The opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Hoover Institution or Stanford University.

© 2024 by the Board of Trustees of Leland Stanford Junior University.

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[Zederok]

As a history junkie let me just say this is going to be epic. Thanks for bringing these 3 together all of whom I admire deeply.

[normnielsen]

It is beyond wonderful to have these brilliant minds help us navigate the chaos of popular discourse. Thank you!

[YellowLab]

Dear Mr. Robinson, IMHO you're the finest moderator/educator on the scene in our great country today. You come prepared. Ask insightful, open ended questions that perfectly designed to draw out the thoutful, informational answers from you guest. Then you let them reply without interruption. THANK YOU SIR. These three brillinat, thoughtful and great historians, combined with your unmatched genius at moderating make this, for me, possibly the finest and most educational You Tube video I've viewed in memory. Sir Roberts mentioned we in the US had diminished leadership from A Lincoln to T Rossevelt. IMHO I think we're at the dawn of "The Golden Years of America" with a Bull Moose 2.0 leadership with a historically extraordinary team of brilliant and capable lovers of America.

[chrissergeant]

BA Campbell University '87, been an Emergency Room RN for over 30 years, pine tree farmer in rural south Georgia, hey it's a long story. Where I went to school it was all essay and or oral exams. Not the best student, I still have a love of politics, and history. I follow these lectures with great interest and love. Thank y'all for preserving Western Civilization.

[mickey_rose]

Blessed to have these three scholars keeping us sane, and keeping us from drifting into the void of revisionist history.

[jimdeiner]

I have several times posted that Peter Robinson is the hands down best interviewer out there. I always watch his Uncommon Knowledge. In addition, these three amazing historians and just fantastic minds are ... amazing!

Wonderful production, thank you.

[strelnikoff]

Best YouTube channel on geopolitics by far

[timobanon]

Hoover consistently produces content that I would be blessed to pay a large ticket price for, yet offers it for free here. Thank you, again and again. Excellent work, sirs.

[CRMWTY]

This is an all-time, amazing lineup. Can’t wait to watch this! Thank you gentlemen.

[KellyBarron-ck]

To the three brilliant gentlemen involved….
thank you.
This discussion underscores why I have read history for all of my reading life.
Outstanding.

[csanglican]

As someone two months younger than VDH, who majored in history (but spent my professional life in I.T.), this conversation was close to Nirvana for me. I must add that it takes someone of Peter Robinson's caliber to marshal and shape such a collection of wisdom. Thank you, gentlemen, and thank you, Hoover Instituion.

[therezaa.soares]

This is such a precious gift. Thanks for keeping critical thinking on history alive.

[countalma]

At 18:00 min. A. Roberts says "and then they shot 14 thousand polish officers at Katyn". By "they", does he mean the Germans?! The whole conversation before that was about the war crimes the Germans committed. The massacre at Katyn was performed by the Red Army! And the number of executed Polish officers was over 20 thousand.

[modelenginerding]

Thank you for hosting this. We badly need long form discussion, and I think it is making a difference. Kotkin and McMaster have done a great service too. Great arguments for unifying Americans despite our flaws.

[emcc]

Deep, but clear an concise. I hope we hear more from this trio.

[sisiphas]

Such a pleasure to listen to these men, a pleasure that is comparable, but less challenging, than reading their books. Thank you.

[RosoMC]

Just a quick clarification - the Katyn Massacre was perpetrated by the Red Army not the Germans. Not that the German occupation of Poland was a cakewalk for the civilians.

[bobgarcia]

What a joy to add to the mix of the day. God bless us everyone!

[sabinafung]

VDH, looking forward to your second book for Trump's stunning political comeback. Brilliant conversations and insights. Kudos to all of you!

[SmokedPOL]

18:00 The Katyn massacre was a series of mass executions of nearly 22, 000 Polish military and police officers, border guards, and intelligentsia prisoners of war carried out by the Soviet Union, specifically the NKVD (the Soviet secret police), at Stalin's order in April and May 1940.