Why Gettysburg still resonates
By Major Garrett
/ CBS News
As an America divided over race, government power, individual rights and the essence of its democracy hurtles toward another presidential election, what possible relevance can be found in a 1974 book about an 1863 Civll War battle that became a 1993 feature-length film?
Plenty.
"The Takeout" traveled to Flint Hill, Virginia for a conversation with Ron Maxwell, writer and director of the critically acclaimed movie "Gettysburg" to discuss the film, the Civil War and how three bloody days of battle in southeastern Pennsylvania proved pivotal in that war and the future of the United States.
Trending News
"It permeates our society in terms of the lives we lead, in terms of our politics, in terms of our art and culture, in terms of our language and literature," Maxwell said of the Civil War. "It lives with us."
The episode highlighted Gettysburg but also touched on Maxwell's other Civil War movies, "Copperhead" and "Gods and Generals." It was recorded in Maxwell's library.
"Gettysburg" is built around the novel "The Killer Angels," written by Michael Sharaa. The novel won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction in 1975, and Maxwell spent more than 15 years trying to bring the story of Gettysburg and the rich array of Civil War commanders to life on film. The movie was a bestseller in VHS and DVD formats and is used in history lessons in classrooms throughout the country.
"The Civil War is such an emotional, devastating event in our history," Maxwell said. "When you consider 700,000 men who were killed outright, another million-and-half wounded terribly wounded, you must approach this with some sense of humility and understanding (of) the tremendous loss that was suffered, the tremendous sacrifice that that generation suffered. Our ancestors, paid a horrific price to sort things out because prior generations couldn't figure out how to sort things out nonviolently."
A century and a half later, the war between the states still resonates as a cautionary tale of what happens when political leaders give up on trying to reconcile their differences.
"There is a profound lesson there for us. We have to solve our problems with civility," he continued. "When we stop listening to one another, when we start dehumanizing one another, this is the hell that can result."
Maxwell noted the Civil War preserved the Union and led to the abolition of slavery — settling two of the biggest issues at the heart of the conflict. But it didn't end all the nation's conflicts, and President Lincoln's Gettysburg address remains a startling reminder of what else was at stake in the Civil War — the very existence of our government. The war, Lincoln said, was a test of a nation "conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal" and would prove whether "that nation, or any nation so conceived, and so dedicated, can long endure."
"All the underlying issues are still there," Maxwell said. "Does sovereignty lie in the state or in the national government? Does sovereignty lie with the individual or with the government?
"Every single debate we've had about the size of government, what government should do, what it shouldn't do, what it should leave to the states are still there. We're still debating all those things in the present moment. The other issue of race is very much part of the discussion in America. It is with us. How do we resolve this question? We're still working on that. All these issues that came to a violent confrontation in the Civil War are still with us and still part of the American character."
For more of Major's conversation with Ron Maxwell, download "The Takeout" podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher or Spotify. New episodes are available every Friday morning. Also, you can watch "The Takeout" on CBSN Friday at 5 p.m., 9 p.m. and 12 a.m. ET, and Saturday at 1 p.m., 9 p.m. and 12 a.m. ET. For a full archive of "The Takeout" episodes, visit www.takeoutpodcast.com. And you can listen to "The Takeout" on select CBS News Radio affiliates (check your local listings).
Producers: Arden Farhi, Katiana Krawchenko, Jamie Benson, Sara Cook and Ellee Watson
CBSN Production: Alex Zuckerman, Eric Soussanin and Grace Segers
Show email: [email protected]
Twitter: @TakeoutPodcast
Instagram: @TakeoutPodcast
Facebook: Facebook.com/TakeoutPodcast
First published on August 23, 2019 / 5:59 AM
© 2019 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.
YouTube shuts over 200 channels with disinformation on Hong Kong protests
The decision follows the suspension of hundreds of thousands of Twitter and Facebook accounts tied to the Chinese government
3H ago 
What you can do to help the burning Amazon rainforest
The Amazon is the largest rainforest in the world and vital to combating climate change — and it's on fire with no end in sight
6H ago 
New Zealand speaker cradles baby during debate
The speaker held the baby for his colleague, who had just come back from paternity leave after welcoming his son's birth
12H ago
Amazon fires caused by humans, environmentalists say
The rainforest protection group Amazon Watch says farmers, emboldened by the government, intentionally set the forest ablaze
12H ago 
Taliban says ending Afghanistan war "is very necessary"
U.S.-Taliban peace talks have been taking place in the Gulf Arab state of Qatar, where the group has a political office
18H ago 
Dramatic emergency landing after smoke fills jetliner's cabin
Seven people were taken to hospitals after Hawaiian Airlines flight from Oakland landed in Honolulu and was evacuated using emergency chutes
10M ago 
Trump surrogate in Iowa compares him to Mother Teresa
Tana Goertz, who worked on Trump's 2016 campaign, made the comment to reporters Wednesday night after a Women for Trump event in West Des Moines
3H ago 
Man who preyed on gay men during 8-month killing spree is executed
Gary Ray Bowles received the death penalty for the 1994 murder of a man, who was his sixth and final known victim
6H ago 
Missing chef found dead in NYC hostel
Andrea Zamperoni, who is in the U.S. on a work visa, didn't show up for his shift at the iconic New York City restaurant Monday
7H ago 
New York woman catches fish with 2 mouths
The catch was made in Lake Champlain, which is rumored to have its own Loch Ness-like sea monster
7H ago
Trump surrogate in Iowa compares him to Mother Teresa
Tana Goertz, who worked on Trump's 2016 campaign, made the comment to reporters Wednesday night after a Women for Trump event in West Des Moines
3H ago 
Remember when governors used to win the presidency?
In the presidential elections since 2008, governors have made early departures from both Democratic and Republican primaries. Why is this happening?
7H ago 
3 arrested for violent threats against Planned Parenthood this month
Jacob Cooper, 20, was the third man arrest this month for threatening extremely violence against a Planned Parenthood
9H ago 
DNC rejects resolution calling for climate change debate
A party committee rejected a resolution that would have allowed candidates to participate in a climate-focused debate
9H ago 
Real ID mandatory for air travel in 2020
The clock is ticking for consumers to get a REAL ID-compliant form of identification to board a flight in the U.S.
10H ago 
Miley Cyrus denies cheating on Liam Hemsworth
"You can say I am a twerking, pot smoking , foul mouthed hillbilly but I am not a liar," she says
3H ago 
Woodstock at 50, in the words, and music, of those who were there
A half-century after a mass of humanity converged on a farm in Bethel, N.Y. for three days of peace and music, musicians and concert-goers recall a unique moment for their generation
Aug 4 
Taylor Swift plans to re-record earlier songs. Here's why
Preview: Superstar tells "CBS Sunday Morning" she'll re-record the masters of her earlier songs to offset the impact of the sale of her original music label
Aug 22 
Sean Spicer joins "Dancing with the Stars" cast
ABC's hit show "Dancing with the Stars" is about to get a lot spicier in its 28th season
Aug 21 
The Obamas' first film, "American Factory," debuts on Netflix
Documentary explores impact of globalization, centering on a closed Ohio plant that reopens under Chinese management
Aug 21
YouTube shuts over 200 channels with disinformation on Hong Kong protests
The decision follows the suspension of hundreds of thousands of Twitter and Facebook accounts tied to the Chinese government
3H ago 
Phone carriers will block some robocalls for free
AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon will start offering blocking software and move to halt fake caller ID numbers
8H ago 
Instagram says there's "no truth" to new hoax post, so don't share it
The fake notice has already fooled many of your friends and many celebrities
6H ago 
Facebook will let users see how company tracks them
Users will be able to disconnect their account from data Facebook gathers elsewhere on the web—after a wait period
Aug 21 
More than 20 Texas local governments hit by ransomware attack
Cyberattack typically spreads through malicious links in emails and has crippled a string of cities in recent years
Aug 21
What you can do to help the burning Amazon rainforest
The Amazon is the largest rainforest in the world and vital to combating climate change — and it's on fire with no end in sight
6H ago
New York woman catches fish with 2 mouths
The catch was made in Lake Champlain, which is rumored to have its own Loch Ness-like sea monster
7H ago 
Sharks gather for annual underwater mating dance
Every year, sharks gather for their annual underwater mating dance and scientists are there to catch them
11H ago 
Rocket launches GPS satellite into orbit for Air Force
The new satellite is the second in a new generation of advanced navigation beacons
19H ago 
Humanoid robot "commands" Russian rocket test flight
The humanoid robot is known as Skybot F-850 and as FEDOR; the test flight was needed to clear an upgraded Soyuz booster to launch human crews to the space station
22H ago
3 arrested for violent threats against Planned Parenthood this month
Jacob Cooper, 20, was the third man arrest this month for threatening extremely violence against a Planned Parenthood
9H ago 
Vaping affects blood vessels after just one use, study finds
Healthy non-smokers who vaped just once showed signs of reduced blood flow in their femoral artery
14H ago 
Vaping teen spends 10 days on a ventilator after lungs fail
"The major point that I would like to get across to parents is that e-cigarettes are not safe"
19H ago 
Reported illness among vapers reaches 150 possible cases
Health officials are now looking into more than 150 possible cases in 16 states
Aug 21 
Study raises concerns about microplastics in drinking water
"If you ask somebody whether they'd like their water with or without plastic, I doubt you'd get any answer other than, 'hold the plastic, please!'"
Aug 21 
Fading corporate profits heighten U.S. recession fears
A decline in company earnings suggests the economy is losing speed, adding to recession fears
13H ago 
Overstock.com CEO out after revealing affair with Russian agent
Patrick Byrne said he resigned because his presence "may affect and complicate all manner of business relationships"
7H ago 
Experimental store tracks shoppers with hidden cameras
Hidden cameras track shoppers' movements as they browse the almost 14,000 square feet of merchandise
15H ago 
China trade war costing billions in U.S. tourism spending
Chinese tourists spend more on travel to the U.S. than any other group, but their numbers are waning amid tensions
21H ago 
How much a family with good health insurance spent last year
Employee health care costs have risen twice as fast as wages—those with coverage pay thousands of dollars more
Aug 21
Man who preyed on gay men during 8-month killing spree is executed
Gary Ray Bowles received the death penalty for the 1994 murder of a man, who was his sixth and final known victim
6H ago 
America's deadliest mass shootings
These are the deadliest mass shootings in American history
Aug 5 40 photos
Missing chef found dead in NYC hostel
Andrea Zamperoni, who is in the U.S. on a work visa, didn't show up for his shift at the iconic New York City restaurant Monday
7H ago 
Kodak Black pleads guilty to federal weapons charges
The 22-year-old in Miami was arrested before a scheduled concert performance in May that was marred by several violent incidents
9H ago
3 arrested for violent threats against Planned Parenthood this month
Jacob Cooper, 20, was the third man arrest this month for threatening extremely violence against a Planned Parenthood
9H ago
Rocket launches GPS satellite into orbit for Air Force
The new satellite is the second in a new generation of advanced navigation beacons
19H ago
Humanoid robot "commands" Russian rocket test flight
The humanoid robot is known as Skybot F-850 and as FEDOR; the test flight was needed to clear an upgraded Soyuz booster to launch human crews to the space station
22H ago 
Black hole possibly swallowed neutron star, causing ripples in space
The cosmic collision could be the first example of a black hole colliding with a neutron star — possibly offering new insights into the expansion of the universe
Aug 21 
Spacewalk installs key upgrade to station
The new port will allow two U.S. commercial crew ships to dock at the space station at the same time
Aug 21 
NASA's step forward in new moon plan
NASA has moved a step closer in resuming human space missions since the program was shuttered in 2011. CBS News' Marc Liverman reports from Huntsville, Alabama, where NASA announced it will manage the building of the new human lunar lander.
Aug 18 01:49 
Pictures from the Amazon rainforest fires in Brazil
The Amazon rainforest in Brazil has seen a record number of fires this season
10H ago 11 photos 
Jason Corbett murder: A look at the evidence
In August 2015, former FBI agent Tom Martens and his daughter Molly Corbett admitted killing her Irish-born husband Jason Corbett, insisting they beat him in self-defense with a brick paver and a baseball bat because Jason was choking Molly and threatening to kill her
Aug 17 11 photos 
Michael Gargiulo case: Stabbing deaths of three women linked to suspected serial killer
Investigators link murders of Tricia Pacaccio, Ashley Ellerin and Maria Bruno to same suspect: Michael Gargiulo
Aug 15 13 photos 
The worst movies of 2019
The worst films of the year star big name actors, including Keanu Reeves, Anne Hathaway, and Chris Hemsworth.
Aug 9 51 photos 
The Oddities & Curiosities Expo
A traveling exhibition of gothic and occult art, sideshow performers, and bizarre specimens stopped outside Chicago, where CBS News photographer Jake Barlow took in the odd sights
Jul 22 24 photos 
Popular
2020 candidates do faith outreach in S.C.
Former Vice President Joe Biden's campaign hired a faith outreach director Thursday. He also announced new endorsements from 39 religious leaders. 2020 campaign reporter Lacrai Mitchell joins CBSN to discuss how candidates are reaching out to religious communities to gain black votes in South Carolina.
7H ago 05:05 
"Stand your ground" trial underway in Florida
Witnesses were back in court Thursday in Florida's "Stand your ground" trial. Suspect Michael Drejka is accused of shooting and killing an unarmed black man during a dispute over a parking space last year. Manuel Bojorquez joins CBSN with the latest.
8H ago 04:37 
CBS News obtains ICE review of 2017 detainee suicide
CBS News has obtained an internal review by ICE that reveals how staff violated regulations in the case of a detainee who died by suicide in 2017. Immigration lawyer Andrew Free joins CBSN to discuss the case.
8H ago 06:05 
A climate reckoning in the heartland
A historic flood in March 2019 left much of America's heartland under water. Grain farmers already struggling to bounce back from the Chinese trade war must now grapple with the realities of climate change that threaten to change the future of farming forever. Now, some farmers are implementing practices that could potentially reverse the effects of climate change – and provide a bigger profit. In this CBSN Originals documentary, Adam Yamaguchi travels to Nebraska, where he meets two farmers on different paths, both determined to pass their legacies on to the next generation.
Jul 26 23:07 
Planned Parenthood shooting threat
Three young men have been arrested for threatening mass shootings against Planned Parenthood this month. CBS News reporter Kate Smith joins CBSN to discuss the recent threats against abortion clinics.
8H ago 05:39
