Can We Save American History From Partisan Politics?

This week, guest host Eric Boehm is joined by Colleen Shogan, the former archivist of the United States and head of the National Archives, the federal agency responsible for preserving presidential records and stewarding the nation's historical documents. Shogan explains what the archivist actually does, how the National Archives approaches custodianship of presidential records, and why those materials belong to the public rather than to individual presidents.

The conversation then turns to the country's upcoming 250th anniversary and Shogan's "In Pursuit" essay project, which aims to foster a shared civic memory at a time when history has become a battleground in the culture war. Shogan reflects on how a divided country can commemorate its past without collapsing into partisan narratives, and what it takes to present American history in a way that invites disagreement without descending into zero-sum politics.

Boehm and Shogan also discuss how the Archives became caught up in the Trump documents controversy, why Shogan believes she was fired without explanation, and how disputes over records and transparency have increasingly turned into political flashpoints.

The Reason Interview With Nick Gillespie goes deep with the artists, entrepreneurs, and scholars who are making the world a more libertarian—or at least a more interesting—place by championing free minds and free markets.

0:00—Introduction

0:52—The role of the U.S. archivist

9:54—Celebrating 250 years of history with "In Pursuit"

17:17—The importance of keeping history nonpartisan

22:47—Celebrating the lesser-known U.S. presidents

28:13—Wall Street Journal's criticism of Shogan

37:27—Getting removed by President Donald Trump

40:11—The importance of presidential records

44:51—Politicizing nonpartisan institutions

50:43—President Joe Biden and the Equal Rights Amendment

56:16—Shogan's Washington murder mystery novels

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• The Reason Roundtable: Live in Washington, D.C.! on February 4

• Producer: Paul Alexander
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