PrintBookmarkE-Mail This Page

Knox Podcasts

Voices of people and events from the campus of Knox College

The Real Issue - The Real Debates Podcast Series with Rodney Davis and Douglas Wilson
Released in July 2008, the 150th Year Anniversary of the Debates

Ottawa - August 21, 1858
The debates between Stephen Douglas and Abraham Lincoln began August 21, 1858, in Ottawa, in north-central Illinois. Douglas opened with a series of questions about slavery that showcased his skill as an aggressive debater and put Lincoln on the defensive."
Freeport - August 27, 1858
The second debate was held in Freeport, in heavily Republican northwest Illinois. Here, in response to a question from Lincoln, Douglas stated that slavery was acceptable if voters approved -- a position, called the Freeport Doctrine, that historians believe later cost Douglas the Presidency.

Right Click to Download This Audio File (MP3)
Jonesboro - September 15, 1858
The third debate was in Jonesboro, and marks a new phase in the series. Even though the area is Democratic, Douglas is not popular. Lincoln, meanwhile, has nothing to lose by being aggressive, and is able to gain confidence in responding to Douglas's attacks.

Right Click to Download This Audio File (MP3)
Charleston - September 18, 1858
Davis and Wilson place the fourth debate at Charleston in the same phase as the prior one at Jonesboro. Douglas repeats his charge that Lincoln supports "negro equality." While Lincoln acknowledges inequality, he also argues that belief in inequality does not justify slavery.

Right Click to Download This Audio File (MP3)
Galesburg - October 7, 1858
Davis and Wilson see the Galesburg debate on October 7 as a turning point in the series, when Lincoln began to make an issue of Douglas's position on the morality of slavery. It was possibly the best-attended debate, with an estimated audience of more than 10,000 at Old Main on the Knox College campus.

Right Click to Download This Audio File (MP3)
Quincy - October 13, 1858
A week after the Galesburg debate, Douglas at Quincy repeats his position that "each state has a right to do as it pleases on the subject of slavery." Lincoln combines moral and political arguments, when he states that slavery can be ended "when all men who believe that slavery is wrong [will] stand and act with us..."

Right Click to Download This Audio File (MP3)
Alton - October 15, 1858
At the seventh and final debate, Douglas, who has visibly weakened in the six-month series, repeats his familiar race-baiting accusations, while Lincoln builds toward a conclusion that frames the argument over slavery in terms of "the eternal struggle between... right and wrong."

Right Click to Download This Audio File (MP3)
Conclusion
In this concluding Lincoln-Douglas Debate podcast, Rodney Davis and Douglas Wilson talk about the debates, and how they edited the debate texts for their book The Lincoln-Douglas Debates: The Lincoln Studies Center Edition.

Right Click to Download This Audio File (MP3)

Professor Emeritus William E. Brady Memorial

William E. Brady Recitation
Professor Brady is fondly remembered for reciting classic poetry. Listen to his recitation of "Ode On a Grecian Urn."
William E. Brady Recitation
Professor Brady is fondly remembered for reciting classic poetry. Listen to his recitation of "As I Walked Out One Evening."

Right Click to Download This Audio File (MP3)
Robert Hellenga Honors Bill Brady
Robert Hellenga shares memories of long-time colleague and friend Bill Brady at a memorial service held in Kresge Hall on June 8, 2008.

Right Click to Download This Audio File (MP3)
Robin Metz Honors Bill Brady
Robin Metz shares memories of long-time colleague and friend Bill Brady at a memorial service held in Kresge Hall on June 8, 2008.

Right Click to Download This Audio File (MP3)
Michael Crowell Honors Bill Brady
Michael Crowell shares memories of long-time colleague and friend Bill Brady at a memorial service held in Kresge Hall on June 8, 2008.

Right Click to Download This Audio File (MP3)
Edward Niehus Honors Bill Brady
Edward Niehus shares memories of long-time colleague and friend Bill Brady at a memorial service held in Kresge Hall on June 8, 2008.

Right Click to Download This Audio File (MP3)
Douglas Wilson Honors Bill Brady
Douglas Wilson shares memories of long-time colleague and friend Bill Brady at a memorial service held in Kresge Hall on June 8, 2008.

Right Click to Download This Audio File (MP3)

Commencement 2008

Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright Presented the 2008 Commencement Address
Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright presented the commencement address to the Knox Class of 2008.
Matthew CessnaMatthew Cessna Delivered the 2008 Senior Speaker Address
Mathew Cessna was the senior class speaker for the Knox 2008 Commencement, following former Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright.

Alumni Achievement Awards 2008

Alumni Achievement Award Winner Richard E. CheneyRichard E. Cheney '43, for his achievements in public relations and psychotherapy. Frank McAndrew, Cornelia H. Dudley Professor of Psychology, presenter.
Alumni Achievement Award Winner Alan B. AndersonAlan B. Anderson '56, for his achievements in civil rights; Konrad Hamilton, Associate Professor of History, presenter.
Alumni Achievement Award Winner Keith BelzerKeith Belzer '85, for his service in law; Robin Metz, Philip Sidney Post Professor of English and Director of the Program in Creative Writing, presenter.
Young Alumni Achievement Award Winner Ander MonsonAnder Monson '97, recipient of the Young Alumni Achievement Award for his achievements in writing; Megan Scott '96, Editor of Knox Magazine and Director of Advancement Communications, presenter.

Homecoming 2007

Homecoming 2007
October 20, 2007, Why did nearly 1,200 alumni come home to Knox? And what were their favorite Knox memories? Listen to the Homecoming 2007 podcast to find out.

Commencement 2007

Former President Bill ClintonFormer President Bill Clinton Speaks at Commencement
June 2, 2007, former United States President William Jefferson Clinton delivered the commencement address to a total of 240 members of the Knox College Class of 2007 in front of Old Main.
Benjamin Jacob HollarsBenjamin Jacob Hollars Senior Class Speaker
June 2, 2007, Knox senior Benjamin Jacob Hollars was the senior class speaker for the Knox 2007 Commencement, following former President Clinton.

Caterpillar Distinguished Lecture 2007

Ambassador Zhou WenzhongKnox Hosts Chinese Ambassador to the United States
May 7, 2007 His Excellency Zhou Wenzhong, Ambassador to the United States from the People's Republic of China, delivered Knox College's 2007 Caterpillar Distinguished Lecture in Global Affairs in Kresge Recital Hall in the Ford Center for Fine Arts.

Student Profile: Krystle Liggins '09

Krystle Liggins '09
March 5, 2007, Some of sophomore Krystle Liggins' most memorable intellectual exchanges at Knox have taken place outside the classroom, while walking back to the dorm, over dinner, or during a convocation ceremony in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. "Knox has a homey feeling. People congregate everywhere," she says. Listen to her talk about her experiences at Knox, including a scholarship-funded trip she took to South Africa at the end of her first year.

Alumni Achievement Awards 2007

Alumni Achievement Award Winner Gene BinderGene "Spanky" Binder '56, for his achievements in higher education. Megan Clayton, coordinator of the Fifty Year Club, presenter.
Alumni Achievement Award Winner Margery Rosen KrausMargery Rosen Kraus '67, for her achievements in business and public affairs; Robert Seibert '63, Robert W. Murphy Professor of Political Science, presenter.
Alumni Achievement Award Winner David P. FridovichDavid P. Fridovich '74, for his service in the armed forces; George Eaton'80, presenter.
Young Alumni Achievement Award Winner Monica BerlinMonica Berlin '95, recipient of the Young Alumni Achievement Award for her achievements in poetry and teaching; Robin O. Metz, Philip Sydney Post Professor of English, presenter.

Homecoming 2006

Homecoming 2006
October 13-14, 2006, Why did nearly 1,000 alumni and friends return to Knox to celebrate Homecoming 2006? Knox Senior Kenji Mori and Junior John Baillie talked with Knox alumni throughout the weekend to find out why they returned to campus. Listen to what alumni had to say!

Commencement 2006

Comedian Stephen ColbertStephen Colbert, Host of "Colbert Report," Presented the 2006 Commencement Address
June 3, 2006, Comedian Stephen Colbert addressed the graduating members of the Knox College Class of 2006 in front of Old Main.

Commencement 2005

Illinois Senator Barack ObamaUnited States Senator Barack Obama Speaks at Commencement
United States Senator Barack Obama (D-Illinois) gave the 2005 Commencement address at Knox College on Saturday, June 4.
Daniel LiebermanDaniel Lieberman Senior Class Speaker
Daniel Lieberman was the Senior Class Speaker at the June 4, 2005, Knox College Commencement.

Upcoming Events

Loading...
undefinedundefinedGive to Knox
undefined
undefined
 
Michael SchneiderI Am KnoxAsian culture is an important part of America's history and its future. I am Michael  Schneider, Associate Professor of History, and...
I AM KNOXI am Knox
Meet More Knox People