Jon Grinspan

Jon Grinspan, Curator of Political History at the Smithsonian and author of *Wide Awake*, teams up with Kevin Waite, Associate Professor at Durham University and author of *West of Slavery*, to uncover the fascinating story of the Wide Awakes. This grassroots movement, formed during the 1860 election, played a crucial role in rallying working-class Americans against slavery. They wore capes and marched by torchlight, not just for free speech but as passionate supporters of Abraham Lincoln. Grinspan and Waite discuss why this movement remains largely untold and its relevance today.