New book examines legacy of former Mass. Gov. George Boutwell

Jeffrey Boutwell knew very little about his distant cousin, George, for most of his life.

George Boutwell was governor of Massachusetts in the 1850s. His illustrious political career also brought him to D.C. where he was a trusted aide of President Abraham Lincoln, and architect of the 14th and 15th amendments to the U.S. Constitution.

During the pandemic, Jeffrey started to dig into this history. What resulted is a new book called "Boutwell: Radical Republican and Champion of Democracy."

Jeffrey Boutwell joins WBUR's Morning Edition to discuss how his cousin's legacy is relevant for today's world.