Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words

Victor Davis Hanson: When I Cruised Iraq in an Abrams Tank

10 snips
Jan 2, 2026
Victor Davis Hanson, an esteemed historian and classicist at the Hoover Institution, shares captivating insights from his life and work. He vividly recounts the intricacies of farming in California's Central Valley, discussing everything from dry-farming techniques to the evolution of irrigation. Hanson dives into military history, comparing Abrams tanks with Soviet designs and reflecting on their battlefield performance. Additionally, he explores the cultural impact of the Dust Bowl through personal stories about Okie communities, blending history with heartfelt memories.
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ANECDOTE

From Dry Farm To Irrigated Valley

  • Victor Davis Hanson recalls his family starting as dry farmers who planted wheat and oats in the fall and harvested after winter rains.
  • He describes later tapping Kings River laterals, burying ditches in concrete pipes, and transitioning to furrow and then drip irrigation.
INSIGHT

Dams Reshaped Valley Farming

  • Dams and reservoir projects transformed San Joaquin Valley agriculture by providing controlled irrigation and power generation.
  • Hanson links dam construction and aquifer pumping to shifts in crops, acreage, and groundwater decline.
ANECDOTE

Grandpa Loved The Tractor Revolution

  • Hanson recounts his grandfather praising the Ford Ferguson tractor and the shift from horses to mechanized tractors in the 1920s–30s.
  • He names specific tractors they owned and remembers driving the Ford 3000 as a child.
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