conrad_blackAs Jay says in this “Q&A,” Conrad Black has lived a “big and tumultuous life.”  He has been a newspaper publisher, a media magnate.  He is a member of the British house of lords.  He spent long, difficult years in the U.S. legal system, including three and a half years in prison.  He is the author of many books, including biographies of FDR and Nixon.  His latest book is a history of Canada (his native land).

Lord Black has a lot to talk about, and he and Jay talk about some of it in this hour.

Topics include Obama, the British elections, and Canada (in particular, American attitudes toward).  Also, prison:  Black did some teaching of his fellow inmates, and Jay considers them lucky to have had the lessons.  Discussion then turns to newspapers:  Is their passing something to mourn?  Also, what does Conrad Black think of Rupert Murdoch?

Jay asks Black to defend FDR on Yalta, which he does with ease.  They further talk about Israel and some other key matters.  Conrad Black has his admirers and detractors, but there is no one else like him.

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There are 13 comments.

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  1. user_477123 Inactive
    user_477123
    @Wolverine

    Looking forward to listening. Mr Black always answers my e-mails. He is courteous and a gentleman. Loved his book on Nixon, a great read.

    • #1
  2. user_75648 Thatcher
    user_75648
    @JohnHendrix

    This was a very educational podcast.

    Thank you Conrad and Jay.

    • #2
  3. Ricochet Contributor
    Ricochet
    @TitusTechera

    John Hendrix:This was a very educational podcast.

    Thank you Conrad and Jay.

    Do you think he’s right about FDR’s grand strategy?

    Do you know whether he ever said anything about whether FDR was at all aware his health was a national & international danger–whether he ever gave any thought to what would happen with Truman succeeding him?

    How about Churchill’s view of FDR’s statesmanship at Yalta & more broadly in the endgame of the war, especially with a view to Stalin? Do you happen to know whether he shared Lord Black’s enthusiasm?

    • #3
  4. user_75648 Thatcher
    user_75648
    @JohnHendrix

    Titus Techera:

    John Hendrix:This was a very educational podcast.

    Thank you Conrad and Jay.

    Do you think he’s right about FDR’s grand strategy?

    Do you know whether he ever said anything about whether FDR was at all aware his health was a national & international danger–whether he ever gave any thought to what would happen with Truman succeeding him?

    How about Churchill’s view of FDR’s statesmanship at Yalta & more broadly in the endgame of the war, especially with a view to Stalin? Do you happen to know whether he shared Lord Black’s enthusiasm?

    This is the first time I’ve heard Conrad’s analysis so I am not prepared to answer your excellent questions.  He did seem to have a thoughtful theory of why things happened as they did.  I’ve got some reading to do before I know the extent I agree with Conrad.  When I do this reading I will try to keep your questions in mind.

    For what it is worth, I had the opinion that FDR wasn’t fully up to his game due to declining health.  Also our leaders have a tendency to naively expect despots to behave better than despot’s can be expected to behave.

    In any case, the decisions made at Yalta established the starting state for the Cold War.  If it weren’t for the Cold War I doubt that anyone would care much about Yalta. Instead Yalta has been re-litigated a number of time because of the Cold War.

    • #4
  5. SteveSc Member
    SteveSc
    @SteveSc

    Excellent guest, great podcast.  What a varied background Mr. Black has.

    • #5
  6. user_473455 Inactive
    user_473455
    @BenjaminGlaser

    Phenomenal talk about the corrupt American judicial system. Something more conservatives should rail about…

    • #6
  7. captainpower Inactive
    captainpower
    @captainpower

    Benjamin Glaser:Phenomenal talk about the corrupt American judicial system. Something more conservatives should rail about…

    Every time I have ocassion to witness court proceedings I think less of our judicial system.

    From the small claims court where the judge stated his long history with unions and labor before ruling in favor of the plumber who didn’t deliver, to the lawyer who lied to a judge about being witness to a signature but got caught without even a slap on the hand, to the criminal proceeding where the prior crimes of the criminal were withheld from the jury.

    I doubt I’ll be lucky enough to avoid the judicial system for the rest of my life, but I can try.

    • #7
  8. user_494971 Contributor
    user_494971
    @HankRhody

    captainpower:

    Benjamin Glaser:Phenomenal talk about the corrupt American judicial system. Something more conservatives should rail about…

    Every time I have ocassion to witness court proceedings I think less of our judicial system.

    I’d write a Ricochet post about this, but I’ve got a sickening vision of fighting it out with half a dozen lawyers in the comments.

    • #8
  9. Ricochet Contributor
    Ricochet
    @TitusTechera

    Hank Rhody:

    captainpower:

    Benjamin Glaser:Phenomenal talk about the corrupt American judicial system. Something more conservatives should rail about…

    Every time I have ocassion to witness court proceedings I think less of our judicial system.

    I’d write a Ricochet post about this, but I’ve got a sickening vision of fighting it out with half a dozen lawyers in the comments.

    You’ve come to a pretty pass if six lawyers scare you; & it’s coming on two centuries since the revolver was bestowed on needful mankind-

    • #9
  10. user_494971 Contributor
    user_494971
    @HankRhody

    Titus Techera:

    Hank Rhody:

    captainpower:

    Benjamin Glaser:Phenomenal talk about the corrupt American judicial system. Something more conservatives should rail about…

    Every time I have ocassion to witness court proceedings I think less of our judicial system.

    I’d write a Ricochet post about this, but I’ve got a sickening vision of fighting it out with half a dozen lawyers in the comments.

    You’ve come to a pretty pass if six lawyers scare you; & it’s coming on two centuries since the revolver was bestowed on needful mankind-

    This is the best comment I’ve read all night.

    • #10
  11. RufusRJones Member
    RufusRJones
    @RufusRJones

    This is one of the most interesting interviews I have ever heard.

    How do we get this country to not be so damn dumb about this stuff?

    • #11
  12. Indaba Member
    Indaba
    @

    Mr. Black, great to hear you discuss these subjects. I wish you did a weekly podcast. Thank you for the National Post and for your columns.

    • #12
  13. Ricochet Coolidge
    Ricochet
    @ToryWarWriter

    Conrad Black seems to be low balling our Canadian civil disturbances.  He seems to be forgetting a couple armed revolts that take place before and after the early years of Confederation.  The Rebellions in the Canadas of 1837, the burning of the library in Ottawa, the North West Rebellion, the Regina Riots, the FLQ crisis.  We are not quite the peaceful country we try to claim to be.

    • #13
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