In his new book, “Behind Closed Doors: In the Room with Reagan and Nixon,” Ken Khachigian offers a compelling insider’s account of his most private moments with Ronald Reagan and Richard Nixon during revolutionary changes in our economy, politics, communications, foreign policy, and culture. Newt’s guest is Ken Khachigian. He was the chief speechwriter and trusted political adviser to President Ronald Reagan. He also served in President Richard Nixon’s White House.

In his new book, “Behind Closed Doors: In the Room with Reagan and Nixon,” Ken Khachigian offers a compelling insider’s account of his most private moments with Ronald Reagan and Richard Nixon during revolutionary changes in our economy, politics, communications, foreign policy, and culture. Newt’s guest is Ken Khachigian. He was the chief speechwriter and trusted political adviser to President Ronald Reagan. He also served in President Richard Nixon’s White House.

Join Newt Gingrich, former U.S. Speaker of the House and Ph.D. historian, for the most diverse, informative, and entertaining podcast available. Every episode is an education.

Join Newt Gingrich, former U.S. Speaker of the House and Ph.D. historian, for the most diverse, informative, and entertaining podcast available. Every episode is an education.

Newt's World

Episode 743: In the Room with Reagan and Nixon

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/5d840779-9a8d-4c53-ba12-b1d401137d9c/transcript

Newt talks with historian Laurence Jurdem about his new book, “41: George H. W. Bush and the End of the American Establishment.” They discuss Bush’s upbringing in a patrician, duty-bound family culture shaped by his parents and elite institutions such as Phillips Academy and Yale. Bush’s wartime service as the youngest U.S. Navy fighter pilot in World War II, and other formative experiences deepened his sense of mission and sacrifice. Bush’s decision to reject a conventional Connecticut finance career and instead pursue a career in the West Texas oil industry was motivated by a desire for risk, independence and a desire for entrepreneurial achievement. They discuss Bush’s political evolution from an ambitious Senate candidate to President. In assessing Bush’s legacy, Jurdem contends that Bush represents the culmination and “end of the American establishment”: a multi-generational elite of highly experienced, institutionally loyal leaders whose credibility was later undermined by events such as the financial crisis and the Iraq War under subsequent administrations.

Newt talks with historian Laurence Jurdem about his new book, &ldquo;41: George H. W. Bush and the End of the American Establishment.&rdquo; They discuss Bush&rsquo;s upbringing in a patrician, duty-bound family culture shaped by his parents and elite institutions such as Phillips Academy and Yale. Bush&rsquo;s wartime service as the youngest U.S. Navy fighter pilot in World War II, and other formative experiences deepened his sense of mission and sacrifice. Bush&rsquo;s decision to reject a conventional Connecticut finance career and instead pursue a career in the West Texas oil industry was motivated by a desire for risk, independence and a desire for entrepreneurial achievement. They discuss Bush&rsquo;s political evolution from an ambitious Senate candidate to President. In assessing Bush&rsquo;s legacy, Jurdem contends that Bush represents the culmination and &ldquo;end of the American establishment&rdquo;: a multi-generational elite of highly experienced, institutionally loyal leaders whose credibility was later undermined by events such as the financial crisis and the Iraq War under subsequent administrations.

Episode 980: George H. W. Bush and the End of the American Establishment

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/0cf9a5a5-07ac-47cd-81e2-b452014f58b6/transcript

Newt talks with Steve Brusatte, paleontologist and bestselling author of “The Story of Birds: A New History from Their Dinosaur Origins to the Present.” They discuss a recent fossil discovery in China, a gigantic, long-necked dinosaur found at a construction site that may approach the largest known dinosaur sizes. Brusatte compares these massive sauropods—potentially 100 feet long and 50–60 tons—to modern aircraft. Brusatte reflects on his role advising Jurassic World filmmakers, contrasting his technical academic work with the opportunity to reach mass audiences through films and popular books. They also discuss the modern scientific consensus that birds are living dinosaurs: a surviving, flight-capable branch of the dinosaur family that flourished after the mass extinction. Brusatte likens dinosaur diversity to that of mammals today, emphasizing that many dinosaurs were small and that birds are the dinosaur equivalent of bats—highly specialized, small-bodied fliers within a larger group. He notes that while non-avian dinosaurs died out in the asteroid impact, birds represent the last remnant of this once-dominant lineage. They discuss how birds have become extraordinarily successful: while there are about 6,500 mammal species, there are likely 10,000–15,000 bird species, meaning roughly twice as many bird species as mammals today.

Newt talks with Steve Brusatte, paleontologist and bestselling author of &ldquo;The Story of Birds: A New History from Their Dinosaur Origins to the Present.&rdquo; They discuss a recent fossil discovery in China, a gigantic, long-necked dinosaur found at a construction site that may approach the largest known dinosaur sizes. Brusatte compares these massive sauropods&mdash;potentially 100 feet long and 50&ndash;60 tons&mdash;to modern aircraft. Brusatte reflects on his role advising Jurassic World filmmakers, contrasting his technical academic work with the opportunity to reach mass audiences through films and popular books. They also discuss the modern scientific consensus that birds are living dinosaurs: a surviving, flight-capable branch of the dinosaur family that flourished after the mass extinction. Brusatte likens dinosaur diversity to that of mammals today, emphasizing that many dinosaurs were small and that birds are the dinosaur equivalent of bats&mdash;highly specialized, small-bodied fliers within a larger group. He notes that while non-avian dinosaurs died out in the asteroid impact, birds represent the last remnant of this once-dominant lineage. They discuss how birds have become extraordinarily successful: while there are about 6,500 mammal species, there are likely 10,000&ndash;15,000 bird species, meaning roughly twice as many bird species as mammals today.

Episode 979: Steve Brusatte on “The Story of Birds”

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/2bebe1b5-1d8e-48f8-8832-b44d000e44cb/transcript

Newt talks with Weifeng Zhong, of the America First Policy Institute, about President Trump’s visit to Beijing and his meetings with Xi Jinping. They describe Chinese diplomatic style as highly choreographed, such as the airport reception and elaborate youth choirs that are used to project confidence and set the stage for pressing core issues like Taiwan. Zhong argues that China’s slowing, export-dependent economy and severe demographic pressures from the one-child policy make closer economic ties with the U.S. necessary. Trump’s large delegation of top U.S. business leaders, especially from technology, semiconductor, and AI sectors, is seen as both a bid for market access and a reflection of where U.S.– China tensions are most acute. Their discussion turns to Chinese dishonesty in areas such as arms transfers to Iran, support for Russia in the Ukraine war, fentanyl exports, COVID transparency, and propaganda in state-controlled media, emphasizing the need to read beyond official narratives. On Taiwan, Zhong argues that Xi’s lack of major achievements and the loss of Hong Kong as a credible model make “reunification” with Taiwan central to the Chinese Communist Party’s search for legitimacy.

Newt talks with Weifeng Zhong, of the America First Policy Institute, about President Trump&rsquo;s visit to Beijing and his meetings with Xi Jinping. They describe Chinese diplomatic style as highly choreographed, such as the airport reception and elaborate youth choirs that are used to project confidence and set the stage for pressing core issues like Taiwan. Zhong argues that China&rsquo;s slowing, export-dependent economy and severe demographic pressures from the one-child policy make closer economic ties with the U.S. necessary. Trump&rsquo;s large delegation of top U.S. business leaders, especially from technology, semiconductor, and AI sectors, is seen as both a bid for market access and a reflection of where U.S.&ndash; China tensions are most acute. Their discussion turns to Chinese dishonesty in areas such as arms transfers to Iran, support for Russia in the Ukraine war, fentanyl exports, COVID transparency, and propaganda in state-controlled media, emphasizing the need to read beyond official narratives. On Taiwan, Zhong argues that Xi&rsquo;s lack of major achievements and the loss of Hong Kong as a credible model make &ldquo;reunification&rdquo; with Taiwan central to the Chinese Communist Party&rsquo;s search for legitimacy.

Episode 978: Trump and Xi in China

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/c6311f8a-24bb-405f-921a-b44a015a7c1d/transcript

Episode 743: In the Room with Reagan and Nixon

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