A production crew tapes a recent lecture in Steffen Schmidt's political science class that will air on C-SPAN's American History TV. Photo by Bob Elbert
AMES, Iowa – Steffen Schmidt shares his passion for politics with Iowa State students every semester. Now the University Professor of political science is inviting history lovers into his classroom as a part of C-SPAN’s American History TV.
A production crew was recently on campus to tape Schmidt’s class lecture on the history of political parties in the U.S. Schmidt wants students and C-SPAN viewers to understand how political parties rise and fall and reshape themselves based on moments in history. Using examples of campaign tactics from the early 1900s, Schmidt explained how negativity has always been a part of politics.
“Politics is rough. It may not be a blood sport, but it’s definitely a contact sport,” Schmidt said. “There are a lot of things at stake in a political party. If they win they have a lot to gain and if they lose they have a lot to lose, so no wonder it gets so negative.”
C-SPAN has not yet set a date for when the lecture will air, but it will likely be sometime in June. The network’s American History TV features event coverage, lectures and discussions with teachers and historians every weekend on C-SPAN 3.