Love Him or Hate Him? General Benjamin “Beast” Butler
Most CWRT fans know that Benjamin Butler was the most controversial political general. But he lived a rich and complex life – before, during, and after the Civil War - and this talk aims to provide some nuance to the interpretation of his contributions to the Union, while not ignoring some of the questionable tactics he used. Love him or hate him, you’ll walk away with a richer understanding of his life, his goals, his downfalls, his supporters and his many, many detractors.

Dr. Dave Schrader
Dr. Dave Schrader has been giving CWRT talks to Los Angeles audiences since 2013. He is particularly fascinated by “the rest of the story” – for example, the activities of support organizations such as the Signal Corps, the Commissary Corps and the Quartermaster Corps, who often played major but behind-the scene roles in the abilities of generals and presidents to achieve their goals. Or people like Lincoln’s Secretaries or his Ambassadors that played a pivotal role in supporting the President and his policies. Or the Fire-Eaters who drummed up support for secession in the south while the Abolitionists were busy motivating people in the North. Most of his talks are interactive so be prepared for audience participation!