♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ you are watching book tv on c-span2 with top nonfiction books and authors every weekend. book tv, television for serious readers. >> i am so pleased to have with us this evening, senator mcbride associate managing historian of the smith paper project author of tonight's book, joseph smith for president in conversation with him is the t harry williams professor of american history at lsu and author of the best

selling book white trash, welcome both of you. i am so excited to have you with us. and we are all looking to hearing from you. >> thank you so much is good to be with you. and it is good to be talking with you, nancy. [laughter] >> let's get into it spencer. your book looks at the early years of the mormons, more specifically missouri and illinois. and the smith presidential run in 1844. what i found most fascinating about your interpretation of joseph smith and the more of a community is how it brings the toolbox of democracy. what i mean by toolboxes all of the various legal and political strategies for pleading their case to the state. joseph smith went to the white

house and spoke directly with president martin van buren parade this is a funny moment in your book dismissed as effective should a set short and fat. [laughter] clearly smith was unimpressed by the president and congress, he was not alone. so here to discuss smith's a white house and then address the larger issue of exactly how it smith and the mormons viewed the role of the federal government and states power. >> guest: absolutely. as i immerse myself in the surviving documents that joseph smith left behind it became clear to me he is not a political animal by nature. this was not a man who aspired to be in political leadership. while that's kind of the common line i am not a politician i'm only doing what they want me too think that's true for joseph smith. the mormons were content to be

left alone. it's when they were not left alone joseph smith was forced 2ingage the federal political system. after the mormons have been expelled with state extensions extermination was get out of the state or you will be exterminated. joseph smith traveled to washington d.c. they realized we had all this land taken from us in missouri when members of our religious committee were killed, raped, abused, something needs to be done. they would prepare a petition to congress, joseph smith goes to meet with van buren hoping to get van buren to take the mormons side and used to sway with congress. and van buren does not demonstrate any prejudice against the mormons for their beliefs. it's pure political calculation. he says your cause is just i can do nothing for you. essentially if i help you i'm going to lose reelection because i will lose the state of missouri.

and so van buren recognizes the injustice with were powerless to help you. in the united states senate had a committee hearing in the senate judiciary committee considering should the mormons get reparations or not but the federal government have any role to play here? this is one of the reasons i wrote the book. this is like this a forgotten part of a constitutional history. part of our collective historical amnesia. the bill of rights did not apply to the individual states prior to the 14th amendment. and we forget that. but all of a sudden we see joseph smith who is not a constitutional scholar, who is not a great legal mind but the leader of a small religious minority group finds himself almost by accident on the vanguard of those saying hey there's something wrong here. there's something wrong if

estate can expel a religious minority in the federal government says our hands are tied. that is really were joseph smith comes in. as the crux of his petitioning society of the states rights doctrine that on the surface has nothing to do with religion. it's very much used to manipulate the government to protect slavery. but no one else is looking, this is going to hurt religious minorities. joseph smith is when these early americans that says hey i love my country but there's something wrong with the constitution let's fix it. and when congress refuses to help, when the president refuses to help joseph smith does not give up he petitions every single year until his death. at the heart of his petition effort as a constitutional reform, the bill of rights need to apply to the individual states released to protect the people when the state failed to do so. >> host: you make a very

convincing case about the dangers of states per the story we miss part when it is so narrowly drawn this could be employed in a variety of ways. when the group isn't designated as a minority in the governor of missouri claims mormons are danger to the state, danger to the nation and all about his extreme language calling them traitors, calling them a danger. that follows up with the next question i had. part of the reason they are and abused minority book shows repeatedly await which violent mobs rather than being an anomaly are actually seen as a democratic practice.

this alone should be very troubling to your reader. reminds us we have mobs today that we have to take this seriously. criminal justice in america the average americans were prone to take the law into their own hands and to write their own laws extralegal pressures. and if we think about the mormons, not only do they threaten to be exterminated we know smith himself was murdered by a mob. which included some of the militia men sent to guard his cell. if you could expand on the dangers the very serious dangers they face, and in a

sense why that made van buren different meta- hard-to-find. >> guest: >> you talk about your writing to this idea is violence is a hallmark of democracy is not an exception at present from the beginning. so what we look at the american founding and we see enshrined in these documents lofty rhetoric of freedom the reality is far from it. those who had freed it and had almost universally often await protestant men. often had bob violence to retain the laws are written in a realistic way that everyone deserves freedom for they don't actually one that to come into play. on the privileged position threatened and the laws to not let them win.

patrons and mob violence. they see it not as persecution but a legitimizing force to save democracy. these mobs, maybe in your mind you have visions of pitchforks and guns, justifying their mob violence essentially telling themselves in the public we are not in the wrong here. we're doing this to save democracy. a metric that mobs in missouri did they were driving the mormons out there danger to democracy per day pledged their lives, the fortunes of the sacred honor. the night proceeded to shoot, burn, hang, and rape the name of democracy. until this is a really

troubling part of the american past. this extra legal violence was seen not as an aberration for the democratic system but as a key element. and as you mention this to lives with us to this day. housing thought is valid but recent events have caused me too reevaluate that idea of extralegal violence of taking matters into your own hands when you do not get your way. that is troubling. mormons have become a case study of it for it's an case study in early america. mobs undemocratic in the name of democracy. >> think about generally six, they invoke 1776 and mobs were used against abolitionists. they would rely on the common law and claim they have the

right to defeat public nuisance to attack anything that was a threat. often these mobs see the mob itself is the will of the people. think that is the most troubling thing. who really is the people? we think about the constitution, who are we talking about? that is really big. they are representing the people. they are exercising their rights but this is a problem with the right language for its often about someone using their rights to trump somebody else's rights. in most cases the majority trembling on the right the characters that come up in the book, i think we discuss as we described him and i agree he's kind of a con man and a mayor. was bennett.

he ends up being a thorn in joseph smith's side. rights and expose in 1840 to one of things i thought most interesting because it's very resonant of this time in america. he not only portrayed smith as a traitor but he portrays a someone is going to conquer the western territory. as a sad reminder the same argument that was used. and many other filibusters that are popular in the 19th century. the land to be lit up. unfold to the immense labyrinth of prophetic dominion. i think even at this stage what did the mormons tell us

about the tension surrounding empire building in the 19th century customer and how this rhetoric of conquest, sometimes it's endorsed other times is seen as a danger. i thought maybe you could comment a little bit about that. particularly in relation to bennett. >> absolutely. chauncey bennett was most colorful characters produce interesting directives for broader audience not just those immersed in more of a history. those who know more of a history arty know john c bennett is as fun to get the reaction from readers who did not see it coming. whenever you have a new religious movement and one that gathers the community you attract seekers but you also attract people with nefarious goals or intentions. john c bennett is the latter. chauncey bennett was a quartermaster in illinois state militia. he had respectability.

for someone who always seems to be on the defensive, here someone of authority who taken aside wants to support his church and want to support him. there are signs that should've been made aware of that he did not see with chauncey bennett a lot of trouble because chauncey bennett begin seducing women and abu claiming he is permitted to do so by joseph smith when he said excommunicate from and forced to resign as mayor and then becomes our biggest critic on nationwide tour. as you mentioned focus on the biggest risk he says at the united states does not quell the more of a monster as he called it, the west was at risk. this speaks the long language of manifest destiny and empire.

the americans how they western territory as inevitably there is produce theirs by right. sea to shining sea that reality of the geopolitical situation was, as much as they wanted to claim a right to this land, the claimant was contested. russia could move in and russia was encroaching on the west coast. the republic of texas was a threat. all the sudden the british are back in north america they're going to fill up the west. there was this concern even as americans believe the western portion of what we know as the united states, was inevitably going to be theirs. they knew it was not certain. so john c bennett invokes this fear that the latter day saints are going to essentially move west and set up their own empire to rival

the united states for if you want to make that bogeyman even more scarier in the minds of americans tell them fill believe with the native americans. the minority group will team up with the native americans, freeing people of color. they are going to cause a slave revolt that's enough to scare americans into action. when chauncey bennett makes those claims he knows what he is doing. he knows this is a touchy spot for americans. so he presents the mormons as the bogeyman that are going to undo manifest destiny. >> host: the other surprising thing is smith and the more of a community draft an extremely powerful charter in illinois. you call it a city state on the hill. this is kind of shocking to me. first of all, they get all

these added protections. it's an amazing document on its own term. seems to go against all of the hostility. white was so-called a dangerous religious minority granted such expanded powers. why did the legislature and illinois tolerate this? speak to a becomes a key moment in the history of joe smith and abu. and eventually lead to some of their undoing and that same place. the mormons without going to go to washington d.c. going to go to d.c. the federal government's way to take our side. when they do all will be right again pray when they refuse to get involved the mormons are a little bit elevated in terms

they say we are going to hope that illinois is going to be better. but just in case we need to put safeguards at the local city level to protect our rights so this does not happen again. there could not have been a more opportune time and illinois politics. illinois was long a democratic stronghold but the way they're making and roads young whigs such as abraham lincoln writing to prominence. democrats like steven a douglas or also writing into prominence they're not big national name ship but there there in illinois politics. they saw this group of mormons who tended to vote together as a way of essentially protecting their power. and so they all wanted to do this as a favor to the mormons. thinking it was currying favor at them. to every power that was in the novel charter comic each one

existed in some other city charter. the mormons were not inventing these. what makes the novel charter so unique is it aggravates all these powers. no city had all them. these powers we are talking but has a community militia which is connected to the state militia. but eventually took 25 100% militia on the standing army of united states was at the same time with 8000 men. that's how big the more of a militia was. they have these rights to habeas corpus which means he city council come up someone from outside of naboo tried to arrest joseph smith or someone else they could review the arrest warrant and deem void or unjust. there's all these powers they give into it. abraham lincoln, douglas they all congratulate the more of a leader on this charter is a good thing. but within the next five years, once animosity on the

mormons increases that charter becomes the target. that charter sees to protect the charter too much for the mormons it necessary. some ways it's undemocratic that they sit necessary as democracy not been working for them. but when things get bad in illinois, as they eventually do, the charter becomes a target of their opponents they want to revoke naboo's charter. let's not dismiss presidential run. it is surprising and some cents outlandish. but not surprisingly outlandish. it shows different people and different expectations of what the government could do. could you explain why smith thought why he made that final step that a presidential run would help the presidential

community? and beyond that how did they fashion the platform and shape his public image as a candidate? and finally when things i kept thinking about of town was more of a missionary work like a political campaigning because they relied on that as a way to get the word out. talk about his presidential bid. >> kind of talked about the beginning opposition to the states rights doctrine stays at front of mind there still seeking reparations from missouri. it appears what happened in missouri's going to happen again and illinois. and joseph smith once protection pretty rights to the five men expected to run for president rate henry clay, i don't think anyone under to be president more valid than henry clay.

he is the perennial candidate, van buren, richard johnson, louis taft, and john c calhoun. he wrote each one the same letter essentially saying what will be your policy towards us as a people if you are elected? the implication being if you answer this right you have the more more of a vote specialist concentrate about in illinois. they offer sympathy but that ultimately saved the doctrine prevents him from doing anything that's what should be. that really irritates joseph smith. but perhaps even more henry clay gives the most politician answer you can imagine pretty expensive sympathy and understanding says i don't want to go into the office making any promises. i do not want to be held to any statements i make during the campaign. that seems to irritate joseph smith even more. so in january 1844 the church

of jesus christ latter day saints meet in nauvoo and said what we do? we call a third party candidate joseph smith is going to be that candidate were going to try to elect him. hanging over this whole endeavor is was a question of is he serious? there's no way joseph smith was going to win pray there's no one who is not a wig guard democrat was to win the election buried no third-party president in 1844, part of it is a pr going to raise awareness of the more of a plight. and maybe in running a real campaign they can force one party or the other to adopt some these things into their platform. so often third party that what the ultimate goal is. peers to be very serious about this. he sees this as a necessary

step to do everything he knows how to do to help his people. and of course is this idea of a stronger federal government empowered to help minority groups. he is not a one issue candidate. put forth this pamphlet he circuit throughout the country called general smith's views on the policies and parts of the 96 government. he condemns it in the very first paragraph lamenting slavery. he says or something wrong all men are created equal men, women and children are enslaved because the color of the skin that covers their soul is different than ours. a culturally total abolition of slavery is very pragmatic purchase of enslaved men and women, which on a pragmatic level makes sense but also ideologically in conflict with

itself. the idea these men and women should be free because they are people. yet you pay their enslavers because their property. but he has a pragmatic solution to a terrible situation. he calls for criminal justice reform, closing the penitentiary seen the claim to be reforming men, ultimately they are creating a permanent criminal class. he calls for the annexation of texas and for taking all of oregon territory and expansion into canada and mexico. seeing imprisonment entirely unjust. he calls for these radical ideas he calls her new radical bank which is a hot button issue and had been for a long time. he sitting this bank be paid $2 a day there not get rich by leaving this bank.

this bank will not be designed to enrich investors but it will be designed as a public service to stabilize the economy. it's very progressive. it is very irrelevant. sometimes it borders on naïve and the idea these policies could be enacted so simply. but he is not a one issue candidate although there's one issue that drove him into the race. one advantage she had other kind independent third-party candidates didn't men had gone out and preached religion trying to make converts but he essentially sent them out as election nears. go preach politics. some of them loved it for they felt really comfortable doing that. others only knew how to preach religion. for that there was still preach religion saying hey if i convert somebody they doing the church that's a vote for joseph smith even if i convince somebody.

this is a time when presidential campaigning and all the sudden joseph smith is a part of this evolution. [inaudible] >> it into something about the platform in the political realm. davy crockett was against the death that's a big hot issue goes back to the 1800s. debtors prison and that how it penalizes people. and even the idea of purchasing slaves as the whole issue it is that debate over how to convince slaveowners to give up their slaves. you compensate them for it. so that is what is interesting. he was clearly playing paying attention to what is being debated politically. he's not just on the fringes

and many ways he's trying to put together real platforms that addresses what are the issues that are relevant to people at the time he is running. humane essay he's a political animal but he is a student of two find out what issues people cared about. >> guest: something in writing this book does not appear in the began but became apparent as i wrote it, joseph development the development i need to make my case and they could see the america. by 1844 have to pay political hardball party have to take on these big issues front and center. again it really has developed from the showed up at the white house and the man that runs in 1844.

>> host: this another issue intention in her book one of the undercurrents of hostility as the mormons are constantly attacked as being a group that individuals. the power and the danger. and there is a tension there. held sway over the community there is this belief that is chosen by god the community is hierarchical. it seems to have challenge the idea of individual rights. but we know today americans voted, so why did this image even if we think about, this is something more clear later about the idea notions of individuals in the idea of monogamy, one husband of one wife. so the more of a, the idea of

being a community of political community as well as a religious community seems to threaten or used as a political weapon, seems to be seen as a threat to this american trade individualism. speed you as you mentioned were polygamy comes in, still being practiced pretty secretly. only people in western illinois had a sense of what was going on in nauvoo. in fact received the response to joseph smith's presidential ambition no one is worried he might become president. as the anti- more of a see this as a dangerous sign someone like smith, they see it as a sign of boundless ambition. were beyond people not taking the campaign seriously but the right there's something

dangerous mixing civil and religious authority. this predates this historical united states and documents on religious freedom a letter concerning toleration the idea of the pope could tell him what to do. americans are voted as tribes but even today this is x or can the same on the bout they may not a thing about him or her but they're going to vote for him or her. the tension of people voting together if they are being influenced by a religious leader. that was certainly the case with joseph smith. the block voting and i'll say people in illinois loved it when the mormons voted their way. this does not go away. but even look at the 20th

century with john f. kennedy ran in 1960 gives his famous speech essentially trying to assuage fears there take orders from the pope as president. mitt romney had to do this as a candidate still in the 21st century. directed by religious leaders and their voting is a long-standing worry in america political culture. yet we pick and choose when it worries us. because people don't seem to be worried when leaders today in the evangelical mega- churches tell people how to vote. but they get really worried when religious minority groups vote together at the direction of their leaders. so even we point to the religious leader taking civil authority, americans pick and choose and that bothers them.

>> host: this is one of the argument used against women's rights, you can only kinda follow one authority. if women have to file the authority of her husband? or is she an independent actor? is she going to follow the authority of the state? there is nothing democratic about it of these conflicts were contradictory. where the threat lies and why it seems to provoke that kind of fear. it is that kind of fear even the lack of the founders is the fear when you raise the anti- catholicism. it's the fear groups are going to be the puppets of some foreign entity. some dangerous force. that somehow is going to be a force. we never quite free ourselves

it's dry the cold war rhetoric is dry somehow they're being brainwashed. that comes to him the same kind of anti- more of a rhetoric that was so prevalent in the 19th century. okay so where are we? we note destruction of the nauvoo, was a another critic sets up a paper criticizes the mormons. i just set the stage for smith's demise. then first amendment rights than they got caught in a bind. the going to tolerate sin of looking for the argument we called the paper the public nuisance.

why do you think? i know they had a long debate about this. why do you think they finally decide to mobilize their own mob law? very dangerous why did they make that choice? there are people as early as 18411 to expel the mormons from illinois and do so violently. it's a city council to order the destruction of this critical newspaper they debate the legality those are

important legal debates to have. anyone looking back knows that was the wrong move to make. this was not the right move to make. it was never going to end well for joseph smith and the mormons and certainly it doesn't. certainly they can member times when they drafted a proclamation justifying their mob violence. here the mormons is a city council are going through legal channels not outside the law but still very much has the appearance of a mob destroying a printing press. we are on the last question we do need a little bit more time. i wanted to address the coordinator of this talk this is the last question. i think it's very telling. why did senator david atchison of missouri, what did he mean

when in 1854 he wrote u.s. secretary of war jefferson davis, that isn't jefferson davis two becomes president of the confederacy, that they plan to more urbanized the abolition? what does that tell us? again we think about the long term impact of the controversy around the mormons in the way it shapes issues surrounding minority rights, how does that idea that openly said, sure were going to treat them the same way we've used violence, mob violence against the mormons. though such a powerfully revealing letter. if the federal government is powerless protecting minority groups from a mob violence

they condoned reaction. this would bring up in the conclusion. while in 1854 the mormons have moved out to utah territory. missouri is against jill with an unwanted political minority. this time it's the abolition is reading closer and closer to the war. and they are causing problems sitting u.s. senator back in the 1830s is one of the militia men who expel the mormons. burn, hang, and shoot the tenant to the mormons the done with it may be the dude again. they condoned mob violence as a way of dealing with unwanted

minority groups. their words not mine. [laughter] >> host: those are my questions will now move along too q&a from the audience. well done spencer. >> guest: thank you those were good questions. >> host: is so lovely to hear from you. earlier before things started, nancy said she and spencer speak the same historian language, which is very true it was so delightful to hear you ask questions with the kind of knowledge and background that you have, that you know so well that is been such a treat.

if you have questions, please go ahead and put them in the chat, we will filter them up to our guests. we have one from megan, this one was fascinating. can you say more about how the council of 50 and form the presidential run? >> great, great question for the council 50 is an organization it's a secret organization that joseph smith creates in nauvoo right originates created to answer one question, should the mormons moved to texas? even as joseph is running for president he's looking at other options to get around states rights. one of those options was to leave the united states altogether. texas had a problem, their disputed border with mexico. on the best solution was to get settlers they are pretty the settlers came with their

own militia, even better. so the mormons entered secret negotiation with sam houston in texas for they never amount to anything. but the council of 50 is formed for that purpose. then they begin having these questions of politics and religion. this idea that the second coming of jesus christ is going to lead to a millennial government, what is that government going to look like, and do we get a head start the council of 50 then becomes this capital for political questions and davo. essentially another way on the states rights doctrine let's make nauvoo like washington d.c. counselor 50 becomes very much

like a political advisory group among other things. it is also joseph smith appears to be a very moderate voice. and most rooms joseph smith was and he is not a moderate voice. get people to bring up young the go on to utah to get some sense of brigham young's view of politics that is foreshadowing what happens decades later. so the council of 50 becomes a really important feature in nauvoo in those last months of joseph's life. it becomes a place all these questions of politics go to how much did joseph notion factor into their persecution spring practice secretly they

are so sensational they seem difficult to believe. they are sensationalized. so generally speaking it does not have a lot to do with the persecution. what does come into play as many of the people who kind of leave the church that joseph ends up leading and the men that published the newspaper that he ultimately orders destroyed, what they are trying to expose in the nauvoo is the practice of polygamy. joseph smith sees this as a great danger not just how sensationalized polygamy but it's going to bring more attention onto the practice. so eventually when people think of mormons and polygamy, they think of brigham young practicing out in utah, practiced out in the open part it was not practiced like that in nauvoo. his practice by a very small circle in nauvoo.

it did draw some iron. but the persecutions happen even when people had no idea of the marital practice. great question. someone else has a question two. you mentioned returned missionaries of political helpers for justice smith. what exactly did they do? did they go door-to-door? >> guest: if you see more missionaries today at the hard to miss their white shirts, ties, nametags often do go door-to-door. back then that would travel the country but they would have public meeting straight off the go back to the states from where they were from where they had friends and families for they would go and hold these -- make their preaching religion they would have religious meetings but when they're preaching politics that have political meetings. they held a nominating convention in almost every

state of the union. they gather smith supporters and selected electors just in case he won the popular vote. which was not going to happen. it's one of those signs that are taking this seriously. i voted so many presidential elections i cannot play the name of a single lecture i voted forever. if this was just public relations you do not need to select electors. instead of a religious tract that have general smith views on the policy and powers of the united states government in their hands. this caused problems for some of them. and tennessee, many of the southern states there were laws against distributing abolitionist literature. because the pamphlet called for the end of slavery, they are incidents in tennessee with the more of a missionary is surrounded by mobs not because of their religious beliefs, but because they had a pamphlet they were reading

from that condemned slavery. yet, in kentucky another slave state, kind of foreshadowed the position in the civil war even that there were laws against distributing abolitionist material there is a willingness to at least talk about in kentucky. they did not face the same opposition in kentucky that they did in tennessee. in new york city, the lectionary missionary started campaign newspaper on printers row. write about were peace university is in lower manhattan if anyone knows the geography there. they published a newspaper to get this campaign material out into the newspaper exchange great newspapers used to borrow articles which other reprint them for the mormons are very savvy about this. even though they aren't longshot presidential campaign with no chance they are using every avenue that they can to

reach the public. that was with the life of a lectionary missionary look like. it would canvas with these public meetings and the distribution of the pamphlet. >> host: is good training for that kind of canvassing but that becomes part and parcel with politics now. we have another one from the audience. super natural chosen to be a religious leader impact his credibility to be a presidential candidate? >> guest: yes. that is a good question. joseph smith was a religious leader. but his followers believed him to be a prophet similar to moses or abraham in the bible. and so i think forces of followers, for members of the church of jesus christ of latter day saints, i think this was a benefit the.

of i think for others i don't know if it increase the already existing fear of combining religious and >> leadership. but it did set them up for mockery more easily than say a pastor or a minister of a church ran for office. that set him up for jokes is a man who could speak with god who claims to be informed by god of what is to come. why would he run for president someone so forth. offer journey extra ire as a prophet but certainly set him up for the mockery public sphere about what it means to have such a person run for

political office. >> host: i will ask him and i'm the same question every author curious in your role with the justice smith project, have you found when you have time to finish talking all about the presidential campaign. whenever you need them, essentially you have a research agenda for life if you will one. there's so many aspects of this i would love to write about.

this is a troubled being a historian to actually reading and writing there so many books i'd love to write there's just not enough time. i made when they write another book about joseph smith early more of a history. my initial training is religion and politics i have some ideas related to some of these figures from the founding era. people like thomas paine, joseph priestly i think i would like to explore. the material is there if i ever go back to it. there are so many other projects calling i thinking i am leaning towards one in that area next. split i'm fascinated by what project authors are drawn to they've submitted a manuscript and it comes back from the printer. now is in readers hands.

you have one project before you start a new one. when i think that's true regardless of any creative practice. you ask the parent of any creative kid why they have not finished whatever things they've started. i am so glad both of you were able to join us this evening. thank you, it has been a delight to hear you. and thank you to everyone who joined us this evening. it is a thrill to be coming to you from the actual the oldest independent bookstore. i will put to the book one

more time into the chat. and i do see other couple questions have come in. i will pass on comment to you, one of her audience members says i read your biography it's interesting to think about the partisanship of memories. clearly we aren't the only one to thought it would be great in conversation together. thank you all again. this video will be available on our youtube channel and a couple of days. and again you can order signed copies of the book. thanks well have a great night. ♪ ♪ ♪

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ tonight on her author interview program after words former xerox ceo ursula burns the first black female ceo of a fortune 500 company shares her insight on american business for tonight tomorrow or live historical professor read shall answer her questions about american presidents, slavery and emancipation, call and during her in-depth program or submit your questions via e-mail to booktv@cspan.org. or the social media @booktv. coming up monday it's an extra

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