Michael Kazin talked about his book A Godly Hero: The Life of William Jennings Bryan, published by Knopf. In his book Professor Kazin profiles the personal and professional life of three-time presidential candidate William Jennings Bryan (1860-1925). The author argued that while many scholars have written Mr. Bryan off as a white supremacist, he was in fact a devoted husband and father whose political influence changed the course of American politics for good. Although he is best known for leading the prosecution in the Scopes trial over the teaching of evolution, he was also an advocate for child labor laws and women’s suffrage. 

Professor Kazin talked about the beginnings of the sometimes-bitter split between evangelical Christianity and progressive politics in the lecture “William Jennings Bryan; or, How Evangelical Christianity and Progressive Politics Parted Ways.” He also responded to questions from members of the audience.