Elliott Abrams Subscribe iTunes YouTube icon View By Chapter CH. 1 : Scoop Jackson Democrat Elliott Abrams recalls how he got involved in politics and his work for Senator Henry M. Jackson. 00:26 - 13:28 CH. 2 : Congress and Political Education You learn a lot as a young political staffer in Washington. Abrams and Kristol discuss the value of working on Capitol Hill. 13:29 - 23:12 CH. 3 : Ronald Reagan and Human Rights What’s it like to work in the State Department? Abrams describes his work as an Assistant Secretary of State in the Reagan administration. 23:12 - 31:30 CH. 4 : George Shultz and Ronald Reagan Human rights had been a concern typically associated with Democrats before Reagan and Shultz made it a Republican issue. Why did this happen? 31:30 - 46:33 CH. 5 : Politics at the State Department Abrams details the inner workings at Foggy Bottom and discusses Latin American affairs. 46:33 - 1:06:33 CH. 6 : President George W. Bush Abrams discusses his work for the 43rd president and the attacks of September 11, 2001. 1:06:33 - 1:21:48 CH. 7 : Tested by Zion Abrams and Kristol discuss an eventful period in American-Israel relations. 1:21:48 - 1:36:57 CH. 8 : The Syrian Nuclear Reactor In 2007, Israel attacked a secret nuclear reactor in Syria. Abrams recalls how this was seen from Washington. 1:36:56 - 1:48:56 CH. 9 : Policy-Making 101 What are the political challenges when working on a presidential staff? 1:48:56 - 1:52:56 CH. 10 : George W. Bush, the Man Having witnessed George W. Bush at key times in his presidency, Abrams assesses his character. 1:52:56 - 2:05:08 CH. 11 : Politics as a Vocation Do the benefits of a political career outweigh the costs? Abrams explains why they do. 2:05:08 - 2:10:34 View Transcript Download an Audio Podcast