The fist fights between clay and benten. joining me now is the co-author of a very fabulous new book called the american senate, an insider s history. the first official historian of the u.s. senate. he joins me now. i know your co-author passed away in 2000. he did a bunch of this week. a longtime great congressional reporter. he was indeed. with my friends other at pbs. let s start with history of the senate and go through the version we see today and sort of get to the seeds that created the diversion we see today. a long time, senate candidates almost had to run as almost as if they were head of parties, prime minister candidates. you talk about lincoln, douglas, explain. lincoln and douglas the most important thing to remember, those two guys liked each other. they went through 17 major debates. it really brought no voter was voting for them.