335: America at the Crossroads: How Power Passes

Guest

Jeff Ikler is the Director of Quetico Leadership and Career Coaching. “Quetico” (KWEH-teh-co). He works with leaders in all aspects of life to identify and overcome obstacles in their desired future. He came to the field of coaching after a 35-year career in educational publishing. Prior to his career in educational publishing, Jeff taught high school U.S. history and government.

Jeff has hosted the “Getting Unstuck—Cultivating Curiosity” podcast for almost 7 years. The guests and topics he explores are designed to help listeners think differently about the familiar and welcome the new as something to consider.

He is also the co-host of the Cultivating Resilience – A Whole Community Approach to Alleviating Trauma in Schools, which promotes mental health and overall wellness.

Jeff co-authored Shifting: How School Leaders Can Create a Culture of Change. Shifting integrates leadership development and change mechanics in a three-part change framework to help guide school leaders and their teams toward productive change.

Summary

In this reflective episode, I draw parallels between today's democratic challenges and two pivotal historical examples. Through my experiences teaching about World War II, I explore how America fought against tyranny abroad while struggling with discrimination and division at home. Using the documentary "The Twisted Cross," I taught students how Hitler's legal rise to power was fueled by hate and blame.

I then explore the 1960 presidential election through the book and documentary "The Making of the President 1960," highlighting how Kennedy and Nixon's contentious campaign ultimately ended in a peaceful transfer of power—symbolized by a handshake in the snow.

As America faces another crucial election, these historical lessons remind us that while democracy has always faced internal and external threats, the peaceful transition of power remains fundamental to our system of government.

Key Takeaways

• While America's founding documents champion lofty ideals of equality and freedom, our experience during World War II reveals an ongoing struggle to fully embrace these principles in practice.

• Hitler's legal rise to power through targeted messaging of hate and blame demonstrates how easily average citizens can be manipulated into supporting a 'big lie,' serving as a stark warning about democracy's vulnerability to internal erosion.

• The 1960 election's culminating 'handshake in the snow' between former President Eisenhower and incoming President Kennedy exemplifies how the peaceful transfer of power, even amid fierce political competition, stands as the cornerstone of democratic governance.