HEATHER COX RICHARDSON
Leading National Commentator on U.S. History, Award-Winning Author, ”Letters from an American”, Professor of History at Boston College
Heather Cox Richardson captured the internet’s attention in 2019 with her nightly newsletter, Letters from an American. She is a celebrated historian, bestselling author, and Professor of History at Boston College. When the pandemic disrupted her book tour for How the South Won the Civil War: Oligarchy, Democracy, and the Continuing Fight for the Soul of America, Richardson turned a setback into an opportunity, launching a newsletter that would transform America’s political discourse. Her insightful chronicles, which use historical context to shed light on today’s political landscape, have attracted over a million followers on Substack, making it the platform’s largest newsletter. In 2022, Richardson was honored as one of USA Today’s Women of the Year and was invited to the White House to interview President Joe Biden. Her career spans a wide range of historical periods, documented in her award-winning books that cover topics from the European settlement of North America to the history of the Republican Party through the Trump administration. Her latest bestseller, Democracy Awakening: Notes on the State of America, has been praised by Jane Mayer as “a vibrant, and essential history of America’s unending, enraging, and utterly compelling struggle since its founding to live up to its own best ideals.” Richardson’s work is not only popular in print; it has also appeared in esteemed publications like The Washington Post, The New York Times, and The Guardian. Her ability to connect past and present has made her a crucial voice in contemporary political discourse.
Heather Cox Richardson participated as a panelist at The Common Good Town Hall: “Bridging America’s Divides” moderated by John Heilemann and featuring co-panelists; Steven Brill, Frank Bruni, Alyssa Farah Griffin, Congressman David Jolly, George Packer, Congressman Tim Ryan, and Andrew Yang.
