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 Secrets of Statecraft
Secrets of Statecraft is a bimonthly podcast hosted by Distinguished Visiting Fellow Andrew Roberts that explores the effect that the study of history has had on the careers and decision making of public figures. The podcast also features leading historians discussing 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.”
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Episodes
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
The View From Inside Israel with Tom Gross | Secrets of Statecraft | Andrew Roberts | Hoover Institution
Tom Gross is an influential British journalist and Middle East commentator who provides cutting-edge analysis on the unfolding Israel-Gaza struggle.
Jan 24, 2024•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 33
Once More Unto the Breach, with Eliot Cohen | Secrets of Statecraft | Andrew Roberts | Hoover Institution
Former State Department Counsellor Eliot Cohen on how William Shakespeare can explain the rise, rule, and fall of present day leaders.
Nov 10, 2023•50 min•Ep. 32
The varied career (but unvarying principles) of Robert O’Brien | Secrets of Statecraft | Andrew Roberts | Hoover Institution
Robert O’Brien has had a large number of demanding jobs, but none more so than being President Trump’s national security advisor.
Aug 30, 2023•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 31
Rabbi Meir Soloveichik on exceptional Jewish Leadership | Secrets Of Statecraft | Andrew Roberts | Hoover Institution
The rabbi of America’s oldest Jewish congregation discusses his new book, Providence and Power .
Aug 15, 2023•55 min•Ep. 30
Getting Inside the Mind of Vladimir Putin | Secrets Of Statecraft | Andrew Roberts and Michael McFaul | Hoover Institution
Mike McFaul, President Obama’s ambassador to Moscow, drew on history to discover what makes Putin tick.
Aug 01, 2023•45 min•Ep. 29
Tony Abbott Speaks Out | Secrets Of Statecraft | Andrew Roberts | Hoover Institution
Former prime minister of Australia Tony Abbott is in characteristically forthright form when discussing the past, present, and future of Western institutions.
Jul 12, 2023•54 min•Ep. 28
Lord (Charles) Powell recalls his service as Margaret Thatcher’s closest advisor | Secrets Of Statecraft | Andrew Roberts | Hoover Institution
Lord (Charles) Powell recalls his service as Margaret Thatcher’s closest advisor during her three historic premierships.
Jun 27, 2023•46 min•Ep. 27
Defending Democracy: The Life’s Work of George Robertson | Secrets Of Statecraft | Andrew Roberts | Hoover Institution
Lord (George) Robertson, Secretary-General of NATO, talks about steering the organization through some of its most perilous moments.
Jun 06, 2023•45 min•Ep. 26
Alexander Downer’s Continual Crisis Management | Secrets Of Statecraft | Andrew Roberts | Hoover Institution
The longest serving foreign minister in Australian history, Alexander Downer used his past experience to navigate a series of major crises, including 9/11.
May 15, 2023•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 25
The Past is Prologue for Lord Julian Fellowes | Secrets Of Statecraft | Andrew Roberts | Hoover Institution
The Oscar-winning creator of Gosford Park and Downton Abbey speaks about history, creativity and noblesse oblige .
Apr 26, 2023•44 min•Ep. 24
The Trials of Bill Barr | Andrew Roberts | Hoover Institution
Over a quarter of a century separated William P. Barr’s terms as the 77th and also the 85th Attorney General of the United States, serving under two very different presidents.
Apr 10, 2023•46 min•Ep. 23
The Past is Ever-Present for Bret Stephens | Andrew Roberts | Hoover Institution
Bret Stephens, the Pulitzer-winning New York Times journalist, on the influence of the past on himself, his family, the Jewish people, and America.
Mar 28, 2023•48 min•Ep. 22
John Bolton’s World Tour | Andrew Roberts | Hoover Institution
Former US Ambassador to the UN and National Security Adviser John Bolton considers the global challenges to the West.
Mar 10, 2023•43 min•Ep. 21
Nick Thomas-Symonds and the History of the Labour Party | Andrew Roberts | Hoover Institution
British historian and biographer Nick Thomas-Symonds MP is in Sir Keir Starmer’s shadow cabinet and will play a key role in any future Labour government. Here he speaks about the giants of Labour Party history: Ramsay MacDonald, Clement Attlee, Aneurin Bevan, and Harold Wilson.
Feb 28, 2023•41 min•Ep. 20
History Matters to Sir Trevor Phillips | Andrew Roberts | Hoover Institution
Sir Trevor Phillips is the founder of the Policy Exchange’s History Matters project, the UK chairman of the Index on Censorship, and was longest-serving equalities commissioner in British history. Here he gives his characteristically trenchant views on the subjects of history, race, and free speech.
Feb 14, 2023•44 min•Ep. 19
Simon Sebag Montefiore Goes Into the World | Andrew Roberts | Hoover Institution
British historian Simon Sebag Montefiore has written a new history of the World, which analyzes the last 10,000 years of global events through the prism of famous (and often infamous) families.
Jan 05, 2023•43 min•Ep. 18
The Tory Philosophy of Michael Gove | Andrew Roberts | Hoover Institution
Michael Gove is that rare thing in politics, a genuine intellectual who is also a very effective politician. One of the longest-serving conservative cabinet ministers, he has served under four prime ministers and twice stood for the premiership himself, but his real metier is as a Tory thinker.
Dec 14, 2022•32 min•Ep. 17
The Architect: Karl Rove on Politics and History | Andrew Roberts | Hoover Institution
Karl Rove started his career as a political consultant, eventually helping George W. Bush get elected Governor of Texas and later, President of the United States. In this conversation, Rove discusses his rise through the business of politics, his days in the White House, and his current career as a historian.
Nov 09, 2022•44 min•Ep. 16
David Cameron’s Relationship with History | Andrew Roberts | Hoover Institution
David Cameron was well prepared to be the British prime minister from 2010 to 2016, after receiving a first-class education at the hands of top historians. He explores how much his schooling in history affected the decisions he took when called upon to make it.
Oct 25, 2022•37 min•Ep. 15
Unwrapping the Enigma, Mystery and Riddle: Stephen Kotkin Explains Russia to Andrew Roberts | Hoover Institution
Understanding the psyche of Russia and the Russians has bewildered Westerners for generations; foremost expert Stephen Kotkin gives some penetrating insights into how to do it.
Oct 11, 2022•45 min•Ep. 14
H. R. McMaster in Peace and War
Distinguished combat commander Lieutenant General H. R. McMaster speaks about his time as President Trump's National Security Adviser, American mistakes during the Vietnam War, his belief in learning from the past to help to think strategically about the present, and finally he discusses what the Biden Administration is getting wrong and right about the Russo-Ukrainian War.
Sep 28, 2022•40 min•Ep. 13
How History Shaped Dr. Condoleezza Rice
From murderous Jim Crow–era Birmingham, Alabama, via the assassinations of John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King, to the defeat of Soviet Communism, the past has had a powerful influence over the worldview of Dr. Condoleezza Rice, former national security advisor and secretary of state. She also comments on the life and career of the late Mikhail Gorbachev.
Sep 06, 2022•39 min•Ep. 12
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