A new Seat at the Table episode is now available!

Presidencies of the United States

This podcast is devoted to exploring presidential history from the founding of the office in 1789 on through the present day. I plan to take a systematic approach to both the people and the events that have shaped and reshaped each administration and the office in general.

Recent Episodes

View all
Diligent and Durable: Samuel Southard and the Politics of the Early Republic Part One
May 11, 2026

Diligent and Durable: Samuel Southard and the Politics of the Early Republic Part One

Tenure of Office: September 16, 1823 - March 4, 1829Rising from his beginnings as a young New Jersey jurist to become Secretary of the Navy under James Monroe, Samuel L. Southard emerged as a "diligent and durable" figure in American political history. With my special guests, Rob and Jamie of T…
Listen to the Episode
How Civil War Memory Became a Hidden Weapon in American Politics with Tim Galsworthy
April 26, 2026

How Civil War Memory Became a Hidden Weapon in American Politics with Tim Galsworthy

Year(s) Discussed: 1960-1975In a landscape where Confederate flags, Lincoln quotes, and Civil War symbols are woven into modern politics, how did history become a tool for political identity and culture wars? Historian Tim Galsworthy uncovers for us the surprising ways Civil War memory has shap…
Listen to the Episode
The Maverick of Knoxville: Hugh Lawson White’s Defiance of Old Hickory
April 19, 2026

The Maverick of Knoxville: Hugh Lawson White’s Defiance of Old Hickory

Tenure of Office: December 28, 1832 - March 4, 1833How did a man praised for his "patience, industry and excellent judgment" find himself at the center of a national power struggle? Known for being at his desk by dawn, Hugh Lawson White built a reputation in his career of public service and bus…
Listen to the Episode
The Monster of Party Spirit: James Monroe and the Fragile Era of Good Feelings
April 12, 2026

The Monster of Party Spirit: James Monroe and the Fragile Era of Good Feelings

Year(s) Discussed: 1816-1817Explore the dawn of the Monroe administration, a pivotal moment in American political history often branded as the "Era of Good Feelings" though the reality on the ground was far more fractious. This episode examines the leadership of the incoming president, James Mo…
Listen to the Episode
The Poet Behind the President: John Hay's Inspirational Legacy with Jan Cigliano Hartman
March 29, 2026

The Poet Behind the President: John Hay's Inspirational Legacy with Jan Cigliano Hartman

Year(s) Discussed: 1838-1905Uncover the hidden depths of Abraham Lincoln's speechwriter, John Hay, and how his poetic touch shaped American history in this captivating episode featuring Jan Cigliano Hartman, author of Lincoln's Speechwriter: John Hay and the Friendship That Inspired American El…
Listen to the Episode
The Century-Long Battle Over Healthcare: Myths, Interests, and Political Cycles with David Blumenthal and James A Morone
March 22, 2026

The Century-Long Battle Over Healthcare: Myths, Interests, and Political Cycles with David Blumenthal and James A Morone

Year(s) Discussed: 1789-currentMost of us are unaware that the fight over healthcare in America is a century-long battle filled with surprising twists, political cycles, and personal stories that have shaped policy — and presidents — throughout history. In my discussion with David Blumenthal an…
Listen to the Episode
View all Episodes