The Victor Davis Hanson Show

Episode: Two Giants: The Legacies of Charlie Kirk and William Tecumseh Sherman
Date: September 13, 2025
Hosts: Victor Davis Hanson, Sammy Winkler

Overview

This episode of The Victor Davis Hanson Show delivers an in-depth reflection on two figures with "giant" legacies in American history and public life: the conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was recently assassinated, and Civil War General William Tecumseh Sherman. Victor and co-host Sammy Winkler discuss the investigation into Kirk's murder, Kirk's societal impact, and the broader cultural implications. The episode transitions seamlessly into an extensive historical analysis of Sherman’s controversial but crucial role in Union victory during the Civil War.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Assassination of Charlie Kirk

[04:50 – 30:53]

• Details of the Assassination & Investigation

  • Victor describes the surreal immediacy of Kirk's assassination, the details of the shooter’s weapon, and how the FBI may track the assailant.
  • The peculiar symbolism around the event, including rumors of transgender imagery engraved on bullets and links to the question Kirk was answering at the time.
    • "Supposedly, according to the Daily Mail, one of them had transgender imagery on it. I don't know what that is." (Victor, 05:44)

• Cultural and Political Significance

  • Victor positions Kirk as a transformative figure who challenged both higher education and norms around conservatism, especially for young men.
  • Critiques of American universities' current ideological environment, contrasting them with his own educational background.
    • "I don't believe that a college education is necessarily a beneficial thing to people. Because 95% of the faculty are left wing...they promote a message of racism." (Victor, 08:54)

• Kirk’s Core Messages

  • Emphasized traditional family values, encouraged self-reliance for young men, and opposed cultural trends around identity politics.
  • Kirk founded Turning Point USA as a high school student, casting doubt on the necessity of formal higher education.
  • "He posed the greatest threat to the left of anybody on the conservative side." (Victor, 10:57)

• Response from the Political Left

  • The online reaction to Kirk's death is discussed as callous and even celebratory among some progressive figures.
    • "People celebrated on the Internet, as they did with Charlie Kirk. This morning. I was looking, I could not believe what people were saying." (Victor, 12:20)
  • Victor draws a broader line connecting recent political violence—including attacks on Trump and other right-leaning figures—to radicalization on the political left.

• Kirk’s Legacy in Voter Mobilization

  • Kirk’s critical role in rallying youth voters for Trump, possibly swinging key states in tight races.
    • "I don't think Donald Trump would have won without his effort." (Victor, [17:45])

• Systemic Social Breakdown

  • Broader lament about civic unity eroding due to radical university trends, unchecked immigration, and normalization of violence.
  • The rise of revolutionary rhetoric and celebration of political violence is critiqued as posing existential threats to American civility and democracy.

2. The Legacy of William Tecumseh Sherman

[31:42 – 53:00]

• Re-examining Sherman’s Reputation

  • Sherman is often cast as a “terrorist” in popular Southern memory, but Victor counters that while Sherman was ruthless to Confederate elites, he generally avoided wanton violence against civilians.
    • "He burned down the plantation of how Cobb, the governor of Georgia...he said, if I'm such a terrorist, why would you leave your family here?" (Victor, 33:00)
  • Sherman’s march through Georgia and the Carolinas strategically broke the South’s will and capacity to wage war, arguably ending the Civil War sooner and with fewer casualties than Grant’s campaigns in Virginia.

• Sherman as a Military Innovator

  • Positioned as a forerunner of the “indirect approach” in warfare: targeting enemy infrastructure and morale rather than direct attrition.
    • "Sherman is what we would call, I guess you would argue he followed the later advice of Liddell Hart or Patton. The indirect approach..." (Victor, 50:40)

• Character & Myth

  • Sherman’s personal background: prone to depressive episodes, failed in business, but rose to lasting fame due to his military brilliance.
  • Warm relationship and loyalty with Grant, pivotal at the Battle of Shiloh, and personal bravery.
    • "I’m going to be eternally grateful. And they made, at that moment, a team." (Victor, 42:55)
  • The tension between Grant’s and Sherman’s strategies reflects long-term debates about American military doctrine.

• Comparative Notes on Grant, Lee, and McClellan

  • Discussion of Union and Confederate leadership, McClellan’s organizing abilities but lack of resolve, and how Lincoln’s political strategy intertwined with military events.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Charlie Kirk’s Impact:

  • "He was giving a message to young men: treat women with respect, but do not leech on women...it was a very radical message." (Victor, 10:01)
  • "If people are worried about his legacy and want to honor it...you could do nothing better than go out right now and register to vote en masse." (Victor, 17:27)

• Attacks on Civic Institutions:

  • "We have these centrifugal forces and the center’s not holding. We have the universities undermining traditional America. We have a left-wing socialist element that believes violence is legitimized." (Victor, 12:44)

• Sherman’s March and Judgment:

  • "He burned a swath about 50 miles wide...if you look at that particular march, he did not attack small towns. He did not attack people's homes. He was merciless to what he called the Cavalier or plantation." (Victor, 33:22)

• Grant & Sherman—Mutual Loyalty:

  • "He said, Grant stood by me when I was crazy, and I'm standing by him when he's drunk." (Victor on Sherman’s defense of Grant, 42:44)

Important Timestamps

• [04:50] Start of Charlie Kirk segment: context and investigation into the assassination.
• [08:54] Victor’s critique of the university system and higher education's role in current cultural divides.
• [12:20] Discussion of leftist celebration of right-wing assassinations and broader trend toward political violence.
• [17:27] Kirk’s practical legacy and the call for youth to vote.
• [31:42] Transition to General Sherman’s historical legacy; correction of myths and deeper insight.
• [42:44] Anecdotes about Sherman’s relationship with Grant and their respective leadership styles.
• [50:40] Military theory—Sherman’s "indirect approach" vs. Grant’s "Clausewitzian" direct strategy.

Noteworthy Additional Segments

• Criticism of judicial reforms in the name of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, especially concerning the lack of a requirement for law degrees among magistrates. (Victor, 54:15)
• Update on Russian drones violating Polish airspace and the global implications. (Victor, 60:07)
• Discussion of college freedom-of-speech rankings by FIRE and reflections on campus culture. (Sammy & Victor, 62:51–66:59)
• Social attitudes among the American youth, particularly the shift toward socialism and support for income caps, interpreted as outgrowths of elite frustration and disillusionment. (Victor, 67:35)

Final Reflections

• On Honoring Charlie Kirk’s Legacy:
  • "If you want to honor both [Kirk and Irina Tsaritska], the best thing you can do...is to register to vote and get out to vote." (Victor, 70:23)
• Calls for civil engagement, rejecting violence, and a return to respectful political opposition.

This episode melds personal, political, and historical reflection in characteristic Victor Davis Hanson style: blunt, scholarly, and deeply attuned to both current events and lessons from the past. Whether exploring the cultural earthquake surrounding Kirk’s assassination or reassessing Sherman’s controversial place in American memory, the conversation underscores the vulnerability and resilience of American institutions—both then and now.