Guy Gugliotta discusses his new book about the raising of the U.S. Capitol, a process steeped in irony.

Even as the majestic structure rose, the Union it represented was drifting toward Civil War. Among the historic characters in this drama was Jefferson Davis, a big supporter of the project – until he left Washington to become president of the Confederacy. (And the engineer in charge of construction, Montgomery Meigs, feuded bitterly with the architect, Thomas U. Walter).

Gugliotta has written for the Washington Post and New York Times and is the author of Kings of Cocaine.