177: An Epilogue to the New Deal and CCC Deep Dive with Neil Maher

Apr 7, 2025

Join Lindsey Cormack, a Political Science expert and former Director of the Diplomacy Lab, and Neil Maher, a renowned historian and author focused on environmental and political themes. They discuss the New Deal's legacy, diving into the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and its significant impact on the environment and economy. The conversation also touches on how the CCC shaped American parks and citizen engagement, revealing untold stories of enrollees and their lasting influence on public service. It's a captivating journey through history's lessons!

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INSIGHT

Banking Distrust

The Great Depression was so severe that Americans trusted their mattresses more than banks.
This distrust stemmed from the lack of deposit insurance, a concept not established until 1933.

INSIGHT

Shifting Economic System

The economic system during the Great Depression greatly differs from today.
Deposit insurance and significant government intervention in banking were not yet established practices.

ANECDOTE

Recessions and Presidential Intervention

Recessions were common, but presidents weren't always expected to intervene.
The Great Depression's severity made Americans question democracy and capitalism.

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A discussion of the recent HTDS narrative episodes on FDR and the New Deal. Think of it as a book club for additional insights into these latest chapters of the HTDS chronological story of America.

Professor Greg Jackson is joined by Professor Lindsey Cormack to discuss the government's response to the Great Depression and the legacy of the New Deal. They explore the causes of the Depression, the government's initial missteps, and the eventual successes of programs like the CCC.

The episode also features an interview between Professor Cormack and historian Neil Maher, who wrote a book about the CCC. They discuss the history of the CCC, its impact on the environment and the economy, and its legacy today.

Lindsey Cormack is an Associate Professor of Political Science at Stevens Institute of Technology and the former Director of the Diplomacy Lab. She is the creator of DCInbox, a comprehensive digital archive of Congress-to-constituent e-newsletters, and the author of How to Raise a Citizen (And Why It’s Up to You to Do It) and Congress and U.S. Veterans: From the GI Bill to the VA Crisis.

Neil M. Maher is a Professor of History and Master Teacher in the Federated History Department at the New Jersey Institute of Technology and Rutgers University-Newark. He is an award-winning author, instructor, and public speaker interested in the environmental and political history of the United States. Maher’s scholarship and teaching explore how the natural environment has mediated power relationships between people over time. His most recent books include Apollo in the Age of Aquarius (Harvard University Press, 2017) and Nature’s New Deal: The Civilian Conservation Corps and the Roots of the American Environmental Movement.

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