Year(s) Discussed: 1812-1813
Though the French Army captured Moscow in the fall of 1812, Emperor Napoleon quickly learned that holding it and forcing the Russians to capitulate would prove to be a tougher prospect. Meanwh…
Year(s) Discussed: Prehistory-1954
Being in the midst of a war with Great Britain did not stop some Americans in the early 19th century from thinking about territorial expansion into Spanish-held colonies in the Americas …
Tenure of Office: January 19, 1813 - December 1, 1814
Starting a new position is never easy, but being put in charge of the Navy in the middle of the war with a shoestring budget meant for a particularly challenging into …
Year(s) Discussed: 1801-1825
In this episode, I am joined by Kevin R C Gutzman, author of The Jeffersonians: The Visionary Presidencies of Jefferson, Madison, and Monroe, to discuss this near quarter century where the thr…
Year(s) Discussed: 1773-1815
For this episode, I am joined by Peter Stark, author of Gallop Toward the Sun: Tecumseh and William Henry Harrison's Struggle for the Destiny of a Nation. In the course of our conversation, in…
Year(s) Discussed: 1811-1813
As if the United States didn't have enough military conflicts to be involved in, agents of the Madison administration worked to support the efforts of would-be revolutionaries leading the Repu…
Year(s) Discussed: 1789-2023
While the US vice presidency is a constitutionally-created office, arguably the role that the vice president plays in American politics and the federal government has experienced the greatest …
Tenure of Office: December 11, 1811 - February 9, 1814
A lawyer, diplomat, and politician, William Pinkney of Maryland may not be the most famous member of James Madison's Cabinet. However, joined by my special guests, Me…
Greetings, everyone! Our partners at Evergreen Podcasts and I want to get to know our listeners a bit better, so please take a moment to complete the Listener Survey by going to the following link: https://evergreenpodcasts.…
Year(s) Discussed: 1812-1813
As the USS Constitution brought home the nation's first major victory in the War of 1812, the Madison administration had to carefully consider how to readjust its strategy in ground operations…
Year(s) Discussed: 1831-1881
On this episode, I am joined by C W Goodyear, author of the new biography President Garfield, to talk about the man who he described as "a pathologically reasonable person" and his navigation …
Tenure of Office: April 6, 1811 - March 4, 1817 (as Secretary of State); September 27, 1814 - March 2, 1815 (as Secretary of War)
James Monroe is one of the rare Cabinet members who served in two Cabinet positions simulta…
Content Note: There is a mention of death by suicide in this episode around the 32 minute mark.
Year(s) Discussed: 1811-1812
Even after the declaration of war in 1812, US and British officials on both sides of the Atla…
Year(s) Discussed: 1939-1994
As we've seen in the podcast, certain circumstances coming together at just the right time can change the course of history for good or ill. In this episode, I am joined by author, historian, …
Year(s) Discussed: 1812
In the aftermath of the surrender of Detroit, the Madison administration had to consider whether its strategy against Britain had already gone awry in the early days of the War of 1812. Meanwhile, …
Tenure of Office: May 15, 1809 - January 1, 1813
Rising through the political ranks in South Carolina, Paul Hamilton was called to national service for the first time by President Madison to serve as his Secretary of the …
Year(s) Discussed: 1812
With the path to war set, the Madison administration had to develop a strategy to prosecute warfare against Great Britain. On top of logistical difficulties, having a Secretary of War and a Secreta…
Tenure of Office: March 7, 1809 - January 13, 1813
After his service as a surgeon on the battlefields of the Revolutionary War, William Eustis of Massachusetts began a political career which would bring him to serve as th…
Year(s) Discussed: 1810-1812
Tensions had been building for years between Britain and the United States. By June 1812, the American government was ready to take action. The circumstances by which they would declare war, h…
Tenure of Office: January 20, 1807 - December 5, 1811
A member of the politically prominent Rodney family of Delaware, Caesar A Rodney was recruited to service in the US House of Representatives by none other than Thomas …
Year(s) Discussed: 1811-1812
In 1811, President Madison brought in a new US Minister who he felt might actually be able to navigate the complicated diplomatic intrigues of the Napoleonic French government to bring about a…
Year(s) Discussed: 1807-1812
With changes happening in the nation's capital and abroad, the Madison administration worked as 1811 gave way to 1812 to navigate through new circumstances. In the House of Representatives, ne…
Tenure of Office: August 7, 1805 - December 14, 1806
After a few initial fits and starts, John Breckinridge propelled himself to become a prominent leader in the state of Kentucky before moving on to the national scene an…
Year(s) Discussed: 1810-1811
As a new British Minister made his way to the US, a naval engagement off the Eastern Seaboard further complicated relations between the United States and United Kingdom. In Washington, Preside…
