DeWitt Clinton was put forward for president in 1812 in unusual circumstances: during the middle of a war, and by a party to which he didn't belong. He came within striking distance of taking out James Madison, the father of the Constitution. But as we upstate New Yorkers know, his real significance is through his vital support for the Erie Canal. To make this project a reality, Clinton often worked closely with scientists and natural philosophers, such as Amos Eaton. Looking at Clinton this way opens us up to a world where politics, the sciences, and the arts were closely linked in early American society. Our guest is David Spanagel, from the Worcester Polytechnic Institute.