Book- A Disease in the Public Mind: Why We Fought the Civil War by Thomas Fleming.

Thomas Fleming, historian and author of over 40 books, joins Ken Clark on 'The Pritzker Military Library Presents' to discuss his latest work, A Disease in the Public Mind: A New Understanding of Why We Fought the Civil War. Fleming argues that the Civil War was not inevitable but the result of a 'disease in the public mind'—a collective delusion fueled by racial fear, ideological extremism, and media manipulation. Drawing on historical figures like John Brown, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Abraham Lincoln, he traces how deeply entrenched beliefs about race, slavery, and national identity created a self-sustaining cycle of paranoia and violence. The book reveals that peaceful emancipation was possible, as demonstrated by the British West Indies and New York’s gradual abolition model, but was derailed by radical abolitionist rhetoric, sensationalist journalism, and the fear of race war—particularly after events like Nat Turner’s rebellion and the Haitian Revolution. Fleming emphasizes that Lincoln’s true legacy lies not in emancipation alone, but in his unwavering commitment to preserving the Union and healing the nation, even as he faced relentless pressure from abolitionists and vengeful factions. The episode concludes with a powerful reflection on Lincoln’s final vision of reconciliation, symbolized by his walk through the ruins of Richmond, where he declared that enemies must never again be called by that name.