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 ...
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French history podcast, by a Frenchman. Learn all about France's history: Charlemagne, The Hundred Years’ War, Jeanne d’Arc, New France, Louis XIV, the Révolution, Napoléon and much more! Artwork by Lucia Ceta.
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Prime Minister of the Hellenic Republic
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The Iranian Mindset | Secrets of Statecraft | Andrew Roberts | Hoover Institution
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Iranian-born Shay Khatiri, senior fellow of the Yorktown Institute, explains the (warped) thinking of the Teheran regime.By Hoover Institution
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Paul Gregory’s ‘Friendship’ with Lee Harvey Oswald | Secrets of Statecraft | Andrew Roberts | Hoover Institution
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The distinguished economist Paul Gregory recalls his time spent with Lee Harvey and Marina Oswald.By Hoover Institution
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La Fayette's USA Tour of 1824 - The Hero Returns
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To commemorate the 200th anniversary of La Fayette's grand tour of the USA in 1824, we have a special episode featuring guest Elizabeth Reese. Elizabeth is a public historian whose work focuses on the American Revolution and the Early Republic. She recently published a book on the famed Marquis' visit to America: "Marquis de Lafayette Returns - A T…
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Robert Service on Lenin, Trotsky & Stalin | Secrets of Statecraft | Andrew Roberts | Hoover Institution
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The great historian of Russian history compares and contrasts the three monsters of the Russian Revolution.By Hoover Institution
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A Tory Good and True | Secrets of Statecraft | Andrew Roberts | Hoover Institution
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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.By Hoover Institution
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Around The World With Dan Hannan | Secrets of Statecraft | Andrew Roberts | Hoover Institution
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Lord Hannan draws on his 21 years as a member of the European Parliament for this scholarly and masterly overview of world affairs.By Hoover Institution
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Jules Verne is one of the most influential authors who ever lived, from every country and genre. He is the most translated author in the world after Agatha Christie and is by far the most translated French author. Verne's vision, stories and characters still resonate with us today, whether as part of new fictional storylines, or as cultural beacons…
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Con Coughlin: Getting Into the Minds of Monsters | Secrets of Statecraft | Andrew Roberts | Hoover Institution
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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 …By Hoover Institution
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Nicolas Sarkozy's 'Certain Idea of France' | Secrets of Statecraft | Andrew Roberts | Hoover Institution
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Recorded on June 4, 2024. President Nicolas Sarkozy on the weight of history on his shoulders when he ruled France from 2007 to 2012.By Hoover Institution
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The French Wars of Religion - Faith in Destruction
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On one side, the Catholic majority, unwavering in their devotion to Rome. On the other, the Huguenots, French Protestants inspired by the teachings of Jean Calvin. Caught in the crossfire of this religious divide was the monarchy, struggling to maintain order amidst growing tension. But their efforts often only fuelled the flames of conflict. And s…
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A Continental Tour d’Horizon with Zeinab Badawi | Secrets of Statecraft | Andrew Roberts | Hoover Institution
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The history of Africa over the past seven millennia, and this time from an African perspective.By Hoover Institution
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The State of Israel with Dan Senor | Secrets of Statecraft | Andrew Roberts | Hoover Institution
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Dan Senor, host of the “Call Me Back” podcast, discusses the war in Gaza and where it might go from here.By Hoover Institution
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The Mission of Tzipi Hotovely | Secrets of Statecraft | Andrew Roberts | Hoover Institution
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The Israeli Ambassador to London speaks up eloquently and frankly for her embattled country.By Hoover Institution
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Napoléon : the Man and his Books, with Louis Sarkozy
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When we talk about Napoléon, we often talk about battles or politics, but we don't talk nearly enough about the man. Some dismiss him as a proto-Hitler, others adore him as they would a god. But few actually try to crack open the mysteries of the Napoleonic mind. Author Louis Sarkozy did just that, by studying Napoléon Bonaparte and his most import…
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Toby Young Speaks Freely | Secrets of Statecraft | Andrew Roberts | Hoover Institution
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Toby Young, director of the splendid Free Speech Union, discusses his campaign to defend freedom of expression.By Hoover Institution
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We often see history as a succession of dates, events, wars and political machinations. But we should not forget that history is also forged by culture and by art. Art reflects society's values and aspirations, but also helps create them and move people forward. It also elevates us and makes us better in many ways. Among the many art forms availabl…
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Conrad Black’s Extraordinary Magnum Opus | Secrets of Statecraft | Andrew Roberts | Hoover Institution
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Conrad Black discusses his epic thousand-page history of the Ancient World up to the death of Emperor Augustus.By Hoover Institution
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The China threat: from TikTok to Taiwan | Secrets of Statecraft | Andrew Roberts | Hoover Institution
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Congressman Mike Gallagher on why the West should take the threat of China seriously, from TikTok to Taiwan.By Hoover Institution
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The Sagacity of Elliott Abrams | Secrets of Statecraft | Andrew Roberts | Hoover Institution
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Elliott Abrams has had the ear of Republican presidents from Reagan to Trump. Here is what he told them...By Hoover Institution
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The First World War. The French Experience
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For France, the Great War is a serious and deep wound that she partially inflicted on herself. It is painful and has never fully healed. It is something personal, felt by all strata of the nation. From the humblest peasant to the richest industrialist, no layer of French society was spared in the great slaughter that the trenches were. The country …
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Matt Pottinger Sounds the Alarm in Asia | Secrets of Statecraft | Andrew Roberts | Hoover Institution
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Former Deputy National Security Adviser and China expert Matt Pottinger takes a clear-eyed view of the threats to peace in Asia.By Hoover Institution
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The View From Inside Israel with Tom Gross | Secrets of Statecraft | Andrew Roberts | Hoover Institution
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Tom Gross is an influential British journalist and Middle East commentator who provides cutting-edge analysis on the unfolding Israel-Gaza struggle.By Hoover Institution
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Nathanael Greene and La Fayette, Partners in Freedom. With Salina B. Baker.
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In this unique episode, we engage in a conversation with Salina B. Baker, an accomplished author of historical fiction, who has received multiple awards for her work. Additionally, she is a historian specializing in the American Revolution and Victorian America. She has just released an outstanding novel titled "The Line of Splendor: A Novel of Nat…
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Liberté, égalité, fraternité. This is the French Republic’s motto. Liberty and equality are also in the first article of the "Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen" of 1789. The French are very proud of that heritage, of France’s struggle during and after the Revolution. They think of their homeland as the cradle of liberty in Europe,…
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Once More Unto the Breach, with Eliot Cohen | Secrets of Statecraft | Andrew Roberts | Hoover Institution
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Former State Department Counsellor Eliot Cohen on how William Shakespeare can explain the rise, rule, and fall of present day leaders.By Hoover Institution
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The Seven Years' War. The Great French Disaster
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This particular conflict goes by multiple names and definitions. While it is globally recognized as the Seven Years' War, it is more commonly referred to in America as the French and Indian War, and in Canada as the War of Conquest. These wars are all interconnected and are part of a vast global struggle between the two superpowers of the mid-eight…
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Richelieu and Louis XIII, France’s Dynamic Duo?
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King Louis XIII and the Cardinal de Richelieu. These two men are quite important and deserve to be better known. The Cardinal is probably the most known of the two, because of his policies, wars and his long lasting impact on French institutions and Europe's destiny. Louis XIII is often perceived as the weaker of the two, the king who merely signed…
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The varied career (but unvarying principles) of Robert O’Brien | Secrets of Statecraft | Andrew Roberts | Hoover Institution
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Robert O’Brien has had a large number of demanding jobs, but none more so than being President Trump’s national security advisor.By Hoover Institution
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Nouvelle-France, the French in North America
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The Nouvelle France (New France) is the French colonization of North America. And by this I mean North America, not just Canada. Over a couple of centuries, the French established settlements all over North America, especially along the St-Lawrence and Mississippi River but also in Nova Scotia, Florida, Louisiana and more. New France basically exis…
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Rabbi Meir Soloveichik on exceptional Jewish Leadership | Secrets Of Statecraft | Andrew Roberts | Hoover Institution
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The rabbi of America’s oldest Jewish congregation discusses his new book, Providence and Power.By Hoover Institution
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Getting Inside the Mind of Vladimir Putin | Secrets Of Statecraft | Andrew Roberts and Michael McFaul | Hoover Institution
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Mike McFaul, President Obama’s ambassador to Moscow, drew on history to discover what makes Putin tick.By Hoover Institution
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We delve into the life and reign of King François I (Francis the First), who ruled France from 1515 to 1547. Despite facing significant challenges and experiencing notable failures during his rule, François I remains one of the most renowned French monarchs. He is particularly associated with the Renaissance in France and has left a lasting legacy,…
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Tony Abbott Speaks Out | Secrets Of Statecraft | Andrew Roberts | Hoover Institution
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Former prime minister of Australia Tony Abbott is in characteristically forthright form when discussing the past, present, and future of Western institutions.By Hoover Institution
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Lord (Charles) Powell recalls his service as Margaret Thatcher’s closest advisor | Secrets Of Statecraft | Andrew Roberts | Hoover Institution
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Lord (Charles) Powell recalls his service as Margaret Thatcher’s closest advisor during her three historic premierships.By Hoover Institution
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De Gaulle, JFK and the New World Order with Sean J. McLaughlin
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In this special episode, I am joined by Sean J. McLaughlin, historian specialized on the relationship between Charles de Gaulle and John Fitzgerald Kennedy. He is the author of JFK and de Gaulle: How America and France Failed in Vietnam, 1961-1963 (University Press of Kentucky, 2019). Together, we discuss the complex but utterly fascinating relatio…
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French Indochina, from Imperial Jewel to Hell on Earth
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"The pearl of the Empire", that's how the French described their colony of Indochina, comprised of Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. They took over control in the nineteenth century, exploited the place for decades, and finally got kicked out in 1954-55. It is a story of violence and exploitation. Of colonization and war. Of exchanges and legacies. And s…
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Defending Democracy: The Life’s Work of George Robertson | Secrets Of Statecraft | Andrew Roberts | Hoover Institution
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Lord (George) Robertson, Secretary-General of NATO, talks about steering the organization through some of its most perilous moments.By Hoover Institution
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Napoleonic Discussion with Very Special Guests
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In this very special episode, I am joined by a coalition of Napoleonic experts to discuss this fascinating period of history and its legacy. We cover Napoléon's personality, some campaigns, the roles of his marshals, the era's lasting impact, as well as a variety of other topics. A truly interesting and enjoyable discussion. My guests are: Dr. Zack…
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Charles de Gaulle, the famous general who led the French Resistance during the Second World war before becoming President and the father of the current French political system: the Fifth Republic. De Gaulle is a very, very complicated man. You will often read in the same paragraph that he was ultra-conservative, but that he was a troublemaker and f…
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Alexander Downer’s Continual Crisis Management | Secrets Of Statecraft | Andrew Roberts | Hoover Institution
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The longest serving foreign minister in Australian history, Alexander Downer used his past experience to navigate a series of major crises, including 9/11.By Hoover Institution
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The Past is Prologue for Lord Julian Fellowes | Secrets Of Statecraft | Andrew Roberts | Hoover Institution
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The Oscar-winning creator of Gosford Park and Downton Abbey speaks about history, creativity and noblesse oblige.By Hoover Institution
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The Fall of France of 1940, German Victory or French Defeat?
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The Fall of France of 1940, the famous military campaign that saw France being conquered by the German army in a few weeks. This subject is one of the most misinterpreted military events in history. Reading online, you’d believe that the French went to war with sticks to fight German Panzers, or that they fled at the first sign of enemy artillery. …
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The Trials of Bill Barr | Andrew Roberts | Hoover Institution
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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.By Hoover Institution
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The Past is Ever-Present for Bret Stephens | Andrew Roberts | Hoover Institution
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Bret Stephens, the Pulitzer-winning New York Times journalist, on the influence of the past on himself, his family, the Jewish people, and America.By Hoover Institution
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John Bolton’s World Tour | Andrew Roberts | Hoover Institution
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Former US Ambassador to the UN and National Security Adviser John Bolton considers the global challenges to the West.By Hoover Institution
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Napoléon Part II - From Paris to Saint Helena
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December 2nd 1804, Napoléon Bonaparte is crowned Emperor of the French. Over the next decade, he will keep reforming and modernizing France, but he will also fight the rest of Europe. He will become master of the continent, defeating all his enemies on land, only to go too far and to see Europe strike back at him and at France. This is the second p…
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Nick Thomas-Symonds and the History of the Labour Party | Andrew Roberts | Hoover Institution
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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.By Hoover Institution
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History Matters to Sir Trevor Phillips | Andrew Roberts | Hoover Institution
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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.By Hoover Institution
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Napoléon Bonaparte doesn't really need an introduction. He's the most famous Frenchman ever. He's had more books written about him than any other person, except for Jesus Christ. This French general and emperor shook France, Europe and the world at the turn of the nineteenth century. He is also a polarizing figure. Enlightened ruler, or tyrannic di…
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The French Revolution, a Worldwide Tremor
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The French Revolution shook the world from 1789 to 1799 and completely transformed modern European societies. By ricochet, it transformed the whole world. It was a real political tsunami, with immediate and long term consequences. With the following Napoleonic wars, it shaped the Nineteenth century in a way that nobody could foresee only a generati…
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