Echoes of the Past

Reflections on Erik Larson's "The Demon of Unrest" and its relevance

Things seem to be looking up for the preservation of democracy thanks to Joe Biden’s courageous move to hand the race off to Kamala Harris. It has energized Dems and somewhat demoralized MAGAts, especially after the stupendous thud created by the VP nomination of JD Vance, the Yale ShillBilly. I wonder what the over/under is on how long he lasts before the Orange one kicks him to the curb. As the Mooch said, “It’s just a question of how many Scaramuccis J.D. is going to last.”

Yes, we can enjoy the schadenfreude, but peril lurks. At J.D. Vance’s first rally as the vice-presidential nominee, Ohio state Sen. George Lang said that civil war would be necessary if former president Donald Trump does not win the 2024 presidential election.

“I believe wholeheartedly Donald Trump and Butler County’s J.D. Vance are the last chance to save our country politically. I’m afraid if we lose this one, it’s going to take a civil war to save the country, and it will be saved,” Lang said, as the crowd erupted in raucous applause.

Lang later apologized on Twitter (I refuse to call it X), claiming that the statement “didn’t accurately represent his views.” But it certainly seems to represent those of other Trump supporters and it isn’t a new or isolated occurrence.

So, dear reader let me encourage you to read/listen to an excellent book written by master storyteller Erik Larson. “The Demon of Unrest” is a suspenseful account of the chaos in the months between Lincoln’s election and the Confederacy’s bombardment of Ft. Sumter. Full of tragic errors, miscommunications, inflated egos, and uncontrolled ambitions, personal tragedies and betrayals were rampant.

Larson wrote a political horror story that captures what propelled America toward the edge—a reminder that we often fail to see a disaster coming until it is too late. It reads like a thriller, and it’s all true. There are striking parallels between then and now. Today, we witness similar hubris among politicians and influencers who often display a lack of humility and overconfidence in their ideologies. Biden figured it out. Trump never will.

“The Demon of Unrest” is a nice diversion that doesn’t take you too far away from our current reality. Enjoy.