Tim Bouverie and the Diplomacy of World War II | Andrew Roberts | Hoover Institution
British historian Tim Bouverie discusses the knotty diplomatic dilemmas faced by Churchill, Roosevelt, and Stalin.
Jun 18, 2025•43 min•Ep. 63
The Secrets of Statecraft
Secrets of Statecraft is a bi-monthly podcast hosted by Andrew Roberts which explores the effect that the study of History has had on the careers and decision-making of public figures, and which will also ask leading historians about the influence that the study of History had on their biographical subjects. The title is taken from Winston Churchill’s reply on Coronation Day 1953 to a young American who had asked him for life-advice, to whom he said ‘Study History, study History, for therein lie all the secrets of statecraft.’
Episodes
“Well, He Got Beheaded”: Caroline, Countess of Derby, on her Husband’s Family’s Illustrious History | Andrew Roberts | Hoover Institution
Caroline Stanley, Countess of Derby, is an English aristocrat, art historian, and philanthropist. Affectionately known as “Cazzy,” she is married to Edward Stanley, 19th Earl of Derby, and serves as the chatelaine of Knowsley Hall, the ancestral seat of the Stanley family in Merseyside. In this conversation, which also delves into topics ranging from medieval politics to family connections with William Shakespeare, she primarily discusses her edition of the remarkable travel journals of the 14th...
Jun 02, 2025•57 min•Ep. 62
Statecraft In An Age Of Strongmen | Andrew Roberts | Hoover Institution
In this unique return visit to Secrets of Statecraft, New York Times columnist Bret Stephens discusses why defending Ukraine is in America’s interest, and reflects on the perils of Western flirtation with authoritarian figures. Recorded on May 16, 2025.
May 16, 2025•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 61
Daniel Samet on the Realpolitik Behind US-Israeli Relations | Andrew Roberts | Hoover Institution
A new book, U.S. Defense Policy toward Israel: A Cold War History , takes on the revisionists over what happened in the Cold War. Recorded on April 16, 205.
Apr 18, 2025•52 min•Ep. 60
Motorcycles and Meritocracies with Governor Mitch Daniels | Secrets of Statecraft | Andrew Roberts | Hoover Institution
Mitch Daniels is the former Director of the Office of Management and Budget under Ronald Reagan, the former Governor of Indiana, and the former President of Purdue University. He discusses his life, his influences, and his passion for hogs (of the Harley-Davidson variety). Recorded on March 21, 2025.
Apr 02, 2025•47 min•Ep. 59
General Lord Dannatt on the Korean War | Secrets of Statecraft | Andrew Roberts | Hoover Institution
The former head of the British Army, Richard Dannatt, discusses an important war that is often forgotten. Recorded on February 6, 2025.
Mar 25, 2025•48 min•Ep. 58
Jon Meacham on What Makes a Great President | Secrets of Statecraft | Andrew Roberts | Hoover Institution
America’s foremost presidential historian examines the motivations and careers of Thomas Jefferson, Andrew Jackson, Abraham Lincoln, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and George H. W. Bush. Recorded on January 24, 2025.
Feb 04, 2025•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 57
Ayaan Hirsi Ali on the Threat to the West | Secrets of Statecraft | Andrew Roberts | Hoover Institution
The bravest of all the free speech campaigners, Ayaan Hirsi Ali, speaks out eloquently on tribalism, Islam, immigration, Trump, her conversion to Christianity, and what it’s like being married to a quite well-known historian.
Jan 22, 2025•51 min•Ep. 56
Churchill’s Vicar on Earth | Secrets of Statecraft | Andrew Roberts | Hoover Institution
Richard Langworth is the senior fellow at the Hillsdale Churchill Project at Hillsdale College, Michigan, and knows more about Winston Churchill than any person living (including me, annoyingly).
Jan 08, 2025•49 min•Ep. 55
The World View of General James Mattis | Secrets of Statecraft | Andrew Roberts | Hoover Institution
A global tour d'horizon with the former Marine Corps commander and Secretary of Defense General Jim Mattis.
Dec 06, 2024•54 min•Ep. 54
Radek Sikorski Unleashed | Secrets of Statecraft | Andrew Roberts | Hoover Institution
The Polish foreign minister Radek Sikorski is characteristically blunt about his former friend Viktor Orban, the chances of nuclear war in Ukraine, and his enemy Vladimir Putin. Recorded on October 26, 2024.
Nov 20, 2024•42 min•Ep. 53
John Bew Applies History to Foreign Policy-Making | Secrets of Statecraft | Andrew Roberts | Hoover Institution
Professor John Bew’s knowledge as the biographer of Lord Castlereagh and Clement Attlee and the historian of Realpolitik was put to good use when he became the senior foreign policy advisor to no fewer than four British prime ministers. Recorded on October 18, 2024.
Nov 06, 2024•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 52
The Courage of Sir Bill Browder | Secrets of Statecraft | Andrew Roberts | Hoover Institution
How Bill Browder reacted when Vladimir Putin murdered Browder’s friend and lawyer Sergei Magnitsky. Recorded on October 11, 2024.
Oct 23, 2024•45 min•Ep. 51
Nataliya Bugayova Explains How Ukraine Can Still Win | Secrets of Statecraft | Andrew Roberts | Hoover Institution
Nataliya Bugayova, Non-Resident Russia Fellow at the Institute for the Study of War, shares her latest in-depth knowledge on how the Russo-Ukrainian War is going. Recorded on September 9, 2024.
Oct 09, 2024•34 min•Ep. 50
Lord Matt Ridley Gives Us Reasons To Be Cheerful | Secrets of Statecraft | Andrew Roberts | Hoover Institution
The esteemed science writer and author of The Rational Optimist , Matt Ridley, gazes into the future of mankind. Recorded on September 16, 2024.
Sep 25, 2024•53 min•Ep. 49
The Iranian Mindset | Secrets of Statecraft | Andrew Roberts | Hoover Institution
Iranian-born Shay Khatiri, senior fellow of the Yorktown Institute, explains the (warped) thinking of the Teheran regime.
Sep 11, 2024•43 min•Ep. 48
Paul Gregory’s ‘Friendship’ with Lee Harvey Oswald | Secrets of Statecraft | Andrew Roberts | Hoover Institution
The distinguished economist Paul Gregory recalls his time spent with Lee Harvey and Marina Oswald.
Aug 28, 2024•41 min•Ep. 47
Robert Service on Lenin, Trotsky & Stalin | Secrets of Statecraft | Andrew Roberts | Hoover Institution
The great historian of Russian history compares and contrasts the three monsters of the Russian Revolution.
Aug 09, 2024•49 min•Ep. 46
A Tory Good and True | Secrets of Statecraft | Andrew Roberts | Hoover Institution
Nick True was until recently leader of the House of Lords and Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal. His Toryism hails from an earlier and better age, but still has modern relevance.
Jul 29, 2024•45 min•Ep. 45
Around The World With Dan Hannan | Secrets of Statecraft | Andrew Roberts | Hoover Institution
Lord Hannan draws on his 21 years as a member of the European Parliament for this scholarly and masterly overview of world affairs.
Jul 18, 2024•49 min•Ep. 44
Con Coughlin: Getting Into the Minds of Monsters | Secrets of Statecraft | Andrew Roberts | Hoover Institution
Con Coughlin, veteran war correspondent and Daily Telegraph foreign & defense editor, has written the biographies of Ayatollah Khomeini, Saddam Hussein and Bashir Al-Assad. And he’s also gone drinking with Hunter S. Thompson …
Jul 02, 2024•52 min•Ep. 43
Nicolas Sarkozy's 'Certain Idea of France' | Secrets of Statecraft | Andrew Roberts | Hoover Institution
Recorded on June 4, 2024. President Nicolas Sarkozy on the weight of history on his shoulders when he ruled France from 2007 to 2012.
Jun 17, 2024•35 min•Ep. 42
A Continental Tour d’Horizon with Zeinab Badawi | Secrets of Statecraft | Andrew Roberts | Hoover Institution
The history of Africa over the past seven millennia, and this time from an African perspective.
Jun 05, 2024•49 min•Ep. 41
The State of Israel with Dan Senor | Secrets of Statecraft | Andrew Roberts | Hoover Institution
Dan Senor, host of the “Call Me Back” podcast, discusses the war in Gaza and where it might go from here.
May 21, 2024•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 40
The Mission of Tzipi Hotovely | Secrets of Statecraft | Andrew Roberts | Hoover Institution
The Israeli Ambassador to London speaks up eloquently and frankly for her embattled country.
May 10, 2024•41 min•Ep. 39
Toby Young Speaks Freely | Secrets of Statecraft | Andrew Roberts | Hoover Institution
Toby Young, director of the splendid Free Speech Union, discusses his campaign to defend freedom of expression.
Apr 12, 2024•42 min•Ep. 38
Conrad Black’s Extraordinary Magnum Opus | Secrets of Statecraft | Andrew Roberts | Hoover Institution
Conrad Black discusses his epic thousand-page history of the Ancient World up to the death of Emperor Augustus.
Mar 27, 2024•43 min•Ep. 37
The China threat: from TikTok to Taiwan | Secrets of Statecraft | Andrew Roberts | Hoover Institution
Congressman Mike Gallagher on why the West should take the threat of China seriously, from TikTok to Taiwan.
Mar 15, 2024•46 min•Ep. 36
The Sagacity of Elliott Abrams | Secrets of Statecraft | Andrew Roberts | Hoover Institution
Elliott Abrams has had the ear of Republican presidents from Reagan to Trump. Here is what he told them...
Feb 23, 2024•33 min•Ep. 35
Matt Pottinger Sounds the Alarm in Asia | Secrets of Statecraft | Andrew Roberts | Hoover Institution
Former Deputy National Security Adviser and China expert Matt Pottinger takes a clear-eyed view of the threats to peace in Asia.
Feb 03, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 34
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