Dana Bash On America’s Deadliest Election, The Cautionary Tale of Historic Political Violence
Join Michael in his conversation with Dana Bash about her important new book, America’s Deadliest Election: The Cautionary Tale of the Most Violent Election in American History. This book tells the story of the 1872 Louisiana Governor’s race and the lessons it holds for the present.
From CNN’s Chief Political Correspondent Dana Bash, the fast-paced story of the extraordinary election that led to hundreds of murders, warfare in the streets of New Orleans, two governors of Louisiana—and changed the course of politics in our country.
The Election of 1872 was the most contentious in American history. After both parties complained of corruption, neither candidate would concede, two governors claimed office, and chaos erupted. Rival newspapers engaged in a bitter war of words, politicians plotted to overthrow the government, and their supporters fought in the streets and attempted assassinations. The entire country watched in grim fascination as the wounds of the Civil War were ripped open and the promise of President Grant’s Reconstruction faltered in the face of violent resistance and the birth of the Ku Klux Klan.
In this riveting book, Dana Bash and David Fisher tell the incredible, little-known story of the election that pushed democracy to the breaking point, and sparked historic events including:
The Colfax Massacre, in which at least 150 Black men were killed by white supremacists
The extraordinary train race from New York to New Orleans for control of the state government
The election of the first black Congressman from Louisiana in the face of violent resistance
The Supreme Court ruling that ended Reconstruction and became the foundation of Southern segregation, changing the American legal system for the next century
The violent election of 1872 serves as a warning for today's divided politics.
Readers will find eerie parallels to today's divided political landscape and leaders willing to seize power no matter the cost. An eye-opening warning of what's at stake and what it takes to protect our democracy, this is a must-read tale of America's deadliest election.
About Our Guest
Dana Bash is CNN’s chief political correspondent and anchor of Inside Politics weekdays at noon ET, and co-anchor of State of the Union with Jake Tapper. Based in Washington, D.C., Bash covers campaigns, Congress, and frequently moderates CNN’s political town halls. She has led coverage of pivotal events, including moderating debates during the 2020 election cycle and anchoring special Election Night coverage when CNN projected Joe Biden's victory.
An acclaimed journalist, Bash received the National Press Foundation’s 2019 Sol Taishoff Award for Excellence in Broadcast Journalism. She has launched impactful series, such as Being…, which dives into personal stories of influential figures, and Badass Women of Washington, spotlighting trailblazing women.
Bash played a significant role in CNN’s 2016 presidential primary debates and conducted key interviews with figures like Donald Trump, Senators Bernie Sanders, Ted Cruz, and Marco Rubio. Known for breaking Capitol Hill news, she notably reported House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy’s decision not to run for Speaker and interviewed Speaker John Boehner on his final day. A George Washington University graduate, Bash continues to be a leading voice in American political journalism. Follow her on Twitter @DanaBashCNN.
