Part Two of the Monroe First Ladies 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

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The Queen, the Firebrand, and the Bride: The Triple Legacy of the Monroe Women (Monroe First Ladies Part 2)
June 7, 2026

The Queen, the Firebrand, and the Bride: The Triple Legacy of the Monroe Women (Monroe First Ladies Part 2)

Year(s) Discussed: 1817 - 2025This episode examines the complex leadership dynamics of the Monroe family as Elizabeth Monroe and her daughter Eliza Monroe Hay navigated the high expectations of U.S. First Ladies in the wake of Dolley Madison's time as hostess of the President's Mansion. Joined …
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La Belle Americaine: Elizabeth Monroe and the Architecture of Soft Power (Monroe First Ladies Part 1)
May 24, 2026

La Belle Americaine: Elizabeth Monroe and the Architecture of Soft Power (Monroe First Ladies Part 1)

Year(s) Discussed: 1768-1817Join me and my special guest, Ann Foster of the Vulgar History podcast, as we dive into the life of Elizabeth Kortright Monroe, a woman whose leadership was defined by elegance, resilience, and strategic diplomacy during a formative era of American political history.…
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A Figure of Weight: Samuel Southard and the Politics of the Early Republic Part Two
May 17, 2026

A Figure of Weight: Samuel Southard and the Politics of the Early Republic Part Two

Dive into the second act of Samuel L. Southard’s career as he navigated the fractious politics of the Adams administration and a high-stakes personal vendetta with Andrew Jackson. This episode highlights his leadership in pushing for ambitious naval innovations and his pivotal role in American poli…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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