Arguably, the War Between the States might have ended much sooner than it did had men like Robert E. Lee not fought for the Confederacy.
For at least a century Lee’s position in the Pantheon of great American leaders went unchallenged, but that position has been increasingly questioned in more contemporary times. Historians, most notably Douglas Southall Freeman, did much to document Lee’s character and managerial style. But some have begun arguing that Freeman went too far to memorialize the Army of Northern Virginia general.
H.W. Crocker III is not one of those who worships the great leader as an untouchable figure, but he does argue that Lee’s leadership and personal discipline are worthy of study and emulation. As such, Mr. Crocker penned a fascinating work using Lee’s history in an effort to highlight leadership principles that may be used by anyone in any business. At it’s heart, the book is not so much a history book, though it uses historical events to illustrate key points. It’s more of a business/management work in that it uses history to offer insight to organization and team-building. For that reason, this book stands out among other business/management works, because the history is so captivating the reader wants to know and learn from each successive example.
After listening to this episode, get the book for the history, and enjoy the leadership education Mr. Crocker articulates from the life of one of America’s most interesting figures. You won’t be disappointed.
LINKS TO THE PODCAST:
H.W. Crocker III Books:
- Robert E. Lee on Leadership: Lessons in Character, Courage, and Vision. Washington D.C.: Regnery, 2023.
- The Politically Incorrect Guide to the Civil War. Washington D.C.: Regnery, 2008.
- Triumph: The Power and Glory of the Catholic Church. New York: Three Rivers Press, 2001.
- The Politically Incorrect Guide to the British Empire. Washington D.C.:Regnery, 2011.
- Don’t Tread on Me: A 400-Year History of America at War, from Indian Fighting to Terrorist Hunting. New York: Three Rivers Press, 2006.
- The Yanks Are Coming!: A Military History of the United States in World War I. Washington D.C.: Regnery, 2014.
- The Old Limey. Washington D.C.: Regnery, 2001.
- Armstrong: The Custer of the West Series, Vol. 1. Washington D.C.: Regnery Fiction, 2018.
- Armstrong Rides Again: The Custer of the West Series, Vol. 2. Washington D.C.: Regnery Fiction, 2021.
- Armstrong and the Mexican Mystery: The Custer of the West Series, Vol. 3. Washington D.C.: Regnery Fiction, 2022.
All photography used on this site is owned and copyrighted by the author unless otherwise noted. The Featured Image is of Robert E. Lee on Leadership: Lessons in Character, Courage, and Vision.
Music used for this episode – Louis Armstrong and the Mills Brothers,”Carry Me Back to Old Virginia” available on Apple Music, and Selections from the “The Planets: Op. 32 – Mars: The Bringer of War” by Gustav Holst, performed by the London Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Sir Colin Davis.
Virginia History Podcast 
Mr. Van Ness:
Mr. Crocker’s discussion of Gen. Lee’s biography, character and leadership was enlightening. There is a great deal to be learned from Gen. Lee as a gentleman and a scholar. Had Mr. Crocker kept to the subject of Gen. Lee, this would be an excellent and educational episode.
Unfortunately, Mr. Crocker chose to digress into disparaging the character and motivations of people who disagree with him and do not feel Gen. Lee should be honored, for good reasons.
The fact remains that Gen. Lee fought for a government that was established for the purpose of perpetuating the Southern power structure and the institution of slavery. It is not unreasonable for thoughtful people to object to memorializing the Confederate leadership.
I am sorry to say that Mr. Crocker’s digressions are as ugly as any graffiti on any monument
It would have been much better had your guest limited his comments to Gen. Lee.
Sincerely,
Daniel Bauer
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Hi Daniel,
Thank you for your feedback. Generally, I like to let authors have free reign in these interviews. I certainly do not always agree with them (I think that should go without saying, but it seems to me that it needs to be said more than I realize). But whether or not I agree with a particular guest isn’t necessarily my purpose. History is a study in viewpoints, and those viewpoints often coexist in friction. So, with that in mind, I understand that there will be disagreement, and that disagreement will often be sharp. Talking about major Civil War figures from Virginia brings about the sharpest disagreement in this current era for sure. I still don’t want to shy away from such discussions, even if I might not agree with them. They are still a part of history.
I do appreciate your comment, and am happy you left it. I expect my listeners to be thoughtful, and at times disagree with an author, or even myself at times. The podcast, in that respect, is not meant to be an echo chamber, though my bias, or a particular author’s bias, will shine through.
Thanks for listening and commenting!
Robert
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I thoroughly enjoyed your talk with Mr. Crocker. I’m now very much looking forward to reading his book. I’m also thrilled to have found your podcast as I am currently diving into the history of Virginia and my family ties to both the state and its history.
Mr. Crocker was insightful, intelligent and right on about the current climate. Those who want to dismantle history so it’s forgotten will certainly be doomed in one way or another. It’s a shame he’s not on social media. His voice is needed.
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