Episodes - Page 3 | Presidencies of the United States

May 19, 2024

S011 - The Center Cannot Hold: 1860

Year(s) Discussed: 1860-1861 Though the United States had experienced an election with four primary candidates before, the presidential election of 1860 was unique in that the candidates were based more on geographic region, and the result of that election would change the course of American his…

Guest: Alycia

May 12, 2024

4.31 - Horseshoe Bend

Year(s) Discussed: 1813-1814 Within a few months' time, Andrew Jackson went from having a depleted force under his command to achieving one of the most decisive victories in his military career. In this episode, we explore how that transpired and the ramifications that this would have for the Na…

April 28, 2024

SATT 027.2 - Richard Rush Part Two

Tenure of Office: February 10, 1814 - November 12, 1817 (as Attorney General); March 07, 1825 - March 05, 1829 (as Secretary of the Treasury) In Part Two of this episode, Rush returned to the Cabinet as Secretary of the Treasury in the administration of John Quincy Adams, but he quickly found ou…

Guest: Alycia

April 17, 2024

SATT 027.1 - Richard Rush Part One

Tenure of Office: February 10, 1814 - November 12, 1817 (as Attorney General); March 07, 1825 - March 05, 1829 (as Secretary of the Treasury) As discussed in this two-part episode, while Richard Rush may not be the most well-known Cabinet member we've examined to date, his career spanning four d…

Guest: Alycia

April 7, 2024

Interview with Talmage Boston, How the Best Did It

Year(s) Discussed: 1732-1989 Leadership is naturally one of the main topics that comes up when talking about US presidents, but it’s not always talked about with practical implications in mind. In this conversation with Talmage Boston about his latest book, we discuss the insights that he found …

Guest: Talmage Boston

March 31, 2024

4.30 - We Have Met the Enemy

Year(s) Discussed: 1813 As the War of 1812 moved into its second year, two American commanders on the northwestern frontier - William Henry Harrison and Oliver Hazard Perry - struggled against logistical challenges and political infighting to assemble their respective forces in order to finally …

March 24, 2024

Interview with Salina B Baker, The Line of Splendor

Year(s) Discussed: 1742-1814 Nathanael Greene served as one of Washington's top generals during the Revolutionary War, but what lasting legacy did this man whose life was cut tragically short leave for the Early Republic? In this episode, I am joined by historical fiction author Salina B Baker t…

Guest: Salina B Baker

March 10, 2024

S010 - The Jeffersonian Revolution: 1800

Year(s) Discussed: 1800-1801 The election rematch between President John Adams and Vice President Thomas Jefferson in 1800 did not go quite according to plan thanks to the original method of electors casting ballots. In this episode, I am joined by friend and fellow podcaster, Howard Dorre from …

Guest: Howard Dorre

March 3, 2024

VPOTUS 003.2 - Aaron Burr Part Two

Tenure of Office: March 4, 1801 - March 4, 1805 Burr may only have served one term as Vice President, but as we discuss in this episode, it was a turbulent four years filled with political intrigue, power struggles, and a rather infamous duel. The drama would not end when Burr left office, howev…

Guest: Alex

Feb. 25, 2024

VPOTUS 003.1 - Aaron Burr Part One

Tenure of Office: March 4, 1801 - March 4, 1805 For the first Vice President whose life we are covering from start to end, Aaron Burr brings quite the tale to tell. From personal tragedy early in life to a meteoric rise in politics, from distinguished instances of military service to a romantic …

Guest: Alex

Feb. 18, 2024

Interview with Fergus Bordewich, Klan War

Year(s) Discussed: 1865-1877 The history of the Reconstruction era has in the past been deliberately misconstrued to downplay the achievements of Black Americans and the inhumanity of self-described white supremacists. In his latest work, Fergus Bordewich dispels the myths and explores the histo…

Guest: Fergus Bordewich

Feb. 12, 2024

4.29 - The Twilight

Year(s) Discussed: 1812-1813 After the failed campaign in Russia, French Emperor Napoleon had to regroup. And by regroup, I mean launch another war, of course. It soon became clear, though, that the tide was shifting, and instead of a war of conquest, Napoleon was now fighting for the survival o…

Feb. 4, 2024

S009 - The Corrupt Bargain Elections: 1824 and 1876

Year(s) Discussed: 1824 and 1876 In the first of a special series of conversations about past US presidential elections, I am joined in this episode by Zachary DeBacco of Drinks with Great Minds in History to discuss the two "corrupt bargain" elections of 1824 and 1876. In addition to the ins an…

Guest: Zachary DeBacco

Jan. 28, 2024

4.28 - Burnt Corn and the Fort

Year(s) Discussed: 1813 Tensions had been building between the Native inhabitants and the incoming American settlers in the Gulf South, and the year 1813 saw open hostilities which resulted in a joint operation planned by the US federal government and state and territorial governments in the are…

Jan. 21, 2024

SATT 026 - George W Campbell

Tenure of Office: February 9, 1814 - October 5, 1814 The successor of Albert Gallatin as Secretary of the Treasury was always going to have big shoes to fill, but coming in while the nation was at war and with a nearly empty treasury, George Campbell of Tennessee had quite a challenge ahead of h…

Guest: Kenny Ryan

Jan. 10, 2024

Rename the War of 1812 Submissions and Voting

Year(s) Discussed: 1812-1815 Thanks to all of the listeners and social media followers who sent in their suggestions for a new name for the War of 1812! Listen to hear all of the suggestions and learn more about how we'll choose what should be the new name for this conflict that has been a major…

Guest: Alex

Jan. 7, 2024

Interview with Laurence Jurdem, The Rough Rider and the Professor

Year(s) Discussed: 1850-1924 US presidential history is filled with notable friendships and partnerships, and arguably one of the most impactful was that between President Theodore Roosevelt and Senator Henry Cabot Lodge. In this episode, I am joined by Laurence Jurdem, author of The Rough Rider…

Guest: Laurence Jurdem

Dec. 24, 2023

VPOTUS 002 - Thomas Jefferson

Tenure of Office: March 4, 1797 - March 4, 1801 Though Thomas Jefferson's four years in the nation's second highest office doesn't always get as much attention as other points in his career, as my co-host Alex and I explored in this episode, the man from Monticello was doing more than twiddling …

Guest: Alex

Dec. 17, 2023

Interview with David T Beito, The New Deal's War on the Bill of Rights

Year(s) Discussed: 1933-1945 The presidency of Franklin D Roosevelt was faced with major challenges in terms of the Great Depression and World War II, and over the years, many decisions had to be made in order to navigate the political waters of the time with some involving questionable methods …

Guest: David T Beito

Dec. 13, 2023

4.27 - Don't Give Up the Ship

Year(s) Discussed: 1813 The 1812 ground campaign in the north may have been a bust, but with a new year and a new Secretary of War in place, surely the invasion of Canada would go better in 1813, right? Meanwhile, President Madison had to deal with trying to work with a contentious Congress as w…

Dec. 10, 2023

SATT 025.2 - John Armstrong Jr Part Two

Tenure of Office: February 5, 1813 - September 27, 1814 When Armstrong assumed office in 1813, he found a War Department facing serious challenges. Would Madison's fifth choice for the post be the person who could turn the American war effort around? Join me and my special guests, Eric and Matt …

Guest: Eric and Matt

Nov. 30, 2023

SATT 025.1 - John Armstrong Jr Part One

Tenure of Office: February 5, 1813 - September 27, 1814 Revolutionary War veteran, member of the Confederation Congress, US Senator, US Minister to France - certainly sounds like an illustrious career leading up to service in the President's Cabinet, but as I explore with my special guests, Eric…

Guest: Eric and Matt

Nov. 20, 2023

Friendsgiving 2.0: Electric Hullabaloo

As a listener reminded me, if you do something twice, it becomes a tradition. This however is a tradition I think we can all enjoy. To mark the upcoming holiday season, for the second year in a row, I gathered for a lively conversation and some laughs in our Friendsgiving spectacular with Alycia fr…

Guests: Kenny Ryan , Alycia , Howard Dorre

Nov. 7, 2023

FEED DROP: Introducing Countdown to Dallas: The Kennedy Assassination

Our partners at Evergreen Podcasts have a great new series that I have no doubt Presidencies listeners will appreciate - Countdown to Dallas. On the sixtieth anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, former White House correspondent Paul Brandus takes an in-depth look at the se…