From a town in California named for Zachary Taylor, to a famous letter sent by Frederick Douglass, we tell a few stories that didn't make it in to the series. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 26, 2026•48 min
It comes down to milk and cherries? Plans change when a nation's hero falls, and historians go to work, reinterpreting the events of 1850. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 19, 2026•1 hr 24 min
Mostly a pitch for the Patreon. Thanks for listening. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 15, 2026•28 min
They thought he was an illiterate frontier colonel. They thought he'd never use the veto. Never comment on issues. Let Congress do the heavy lifting. But he has a plan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 12, 2026•48 min
A new President comes to Washington. No one knows what to expect. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 06, 2026•56 min
Presidents and Congress and use of military. A look at history. Presidents and Congresses, and a specific legislation that applies that is used, ignored, lightly used, skirted, enforced, unenforced and criticized throughout its 53 year history. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 04, 2026•58 min
CNN confirms that a missile strike hit for the White House, Japanese politics implodes, a grunge music tragedy and strange local traditions make mainstream in our extra episode of leftovers from the previous 1990's ephemera. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 31, 2025•1 hr 11 min
A great accomplishment and a historic scandal. And not the scandal you are thinking of, probably. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 24, 2025•47 min
Nixon - a mix of what you know and what you may not. First part of a 2014 episode. I don't know whether time has changed this cast, or if this cast has more meaning now, or less, that is for the listener to judge. Sponsored by: The University of Aberdeen: https://on.abdn.ac.uk/online-history-courses/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Dec 22, 2025•46 min
Deeper dive on Ken Burns documentary and Franklin and Iroquois Confederacy debate. Plus: Iran Iraq war and midterms. Sponsored by: The University of Aberdeen: https://on.abdn.ac.uk/online-history-courses/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 07, 2025•50 min
No I don't think the Iroquois Confederacy influenced th Revolution much. (Nor do I think Burns says this). And I take a little issue with American Revolution as a Civil War theory. (If it was merely that, it would have been quickly settled). Sponsored by: The University of Aberdeen: https://on.abdn.ac.uk/online-history-courses/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Dec 06, 2025•21 min
Stalemate breaks in a surprise operation. An apathetic America gets involved on both sides. The fighting stops, but nothing is the same after 1988. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 06, 2025•44 min
This terrible war, fought in the 1980's, changed everything. Both in the Middle East, and America. We tell the story in two parts. We are part of Airwave Media network Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 05, 2025•45 min
Andrew Jackson and Martin Van Buren's policy of Indian population removal, which lead to the Trail of Tears and thousands of deaths, was not uncontested or passively allowed at the time. Nearly half of Congress opposed it, as did petition writers all over the nation. So did one of the President's former friends and of course, most of the elected representatives of the Cherokee people. These debates happened not in modern times but then. One of Jackson's friends voted against so he would not be A...
Dec 03, 2025•47 min
An invention ties together the stories of many people. A frustrated painter, a faded novelist, and a future President. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 02, 2025•45 min
From the man who answered T.R.'s phone and maybe saved his life, to the secret "Sphinx" around Woodrow Wilson, to Coolidge's surprise enforcer. We look at all sorts of Presidential assistants and aides, both official ones and non-official ones. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 01, 2025•1 hr 45 min
The untold story of the 21st President. Music by Lee Rosevere, and others. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 23, 2025•1 hr 37 min
Political violence changes politics. Vice President Chester Arthur is getting the hang of Parliamentary procedure, and building a reputation for being a more partisan vice president than we've seen in a while, Not on the team with his President. Then events will conspire to elevate him in an unexpected way. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 22, 2025•1 hr 1 min
Arthur makes an unlikely comeback in the 1880 Republican Convention in this episode. The story is a little more complex than it's often told, and involves a bit more of Arthur's skill than is often mentioned. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 21, 2025•1 hr 7 min
(2nd posting ) We look at Chester Arthur and also at Roscoe Conkling, New York Senator and political "boss" of the post-Civil War period. The two are tied together in history. Arthur was, to a point, a Stalwart, which means he supported Ulysses S. Grant and the concept of a party system. Which is also known by the name - spoils. Are Stalwarts all bad? What about Half-Breeds? We get into Arthur the Stalwart in this episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Nov 21, 2025•1 hr 23 min
He fought for civil rights and nearly saved New York City. But all we remember is his hair. We start our series on President Chester Arthur with a look at his boyhood / young lawyer years. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 19, 2025•51 min
Well, the 1880's finally has some visual media coverage. That's the good news. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 17, 2025•33 min
Ed Koch is a pretty popular guy in the 1980's. He's come to personify New York. But after 3 terms and two easy victories, he's in the fight of his political life. We talk about it, and why people are comparing it to today's events. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 03, 2025•30 min
Push in the drawer of your CD-ROM and enjoy random stories of politics and culture from the 1990's. that did not get much notice since. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 03, 2025•1 hr 27 min
When it comes to citizenship decided by birth, the story of Wong Kim Ark, a young man born in the US of Chinese descent who was denied entry to his country, should be on a few minds. We tell that story in this episode, along with the Sand Lot protests that led to his change in status, and the 1804 about a ship that helped reinforce their thinking. This and thoughts about early Trump Presidency. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Oct 29, 2025•44 min
In this very special episode we replay Bruce's appearance on Music Rewind Podcast (https://www.musicrewindpodcast.com/) to talk about Bruce Springsteen's Nebraska album. It is now the subject of a movie. If you like to hear about albums both new and classic, and hear stories about music, listen to Steve's excellent podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 29, 2025•58 min
The very Republican and business-like history of American ranked choice voting and single transferable votes, first used in a major city in the 1920's may surprise some who (may) think it's a new idea. Initially created to make a Good Government Charter system work, it was used in Cincinnati for 20 years, and was part of a set of changes that lives on today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 27, 2025•49 min
As a blackout, serial killer and budget crisis hits New York City, an election is held. 2 major figures run, but it's the newcomers who steal the show. A governor tries to extract revenge on a mayor. A newspaper baron goes full-in. And a lingering mystery of dubious importance is created. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 16, 2025•1 hr 6 min
A few good yarns about the Garden State and politics. Does the state always vote against the party in the White House? No. Not when a candidate hustles to buck the Trenton Trend. But it does have a contrarian streak. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 13, 2025•42 min
It is a rarely used tactic, but when it works, it can do big things, like moving a bill through Congress even if the Speaker doesn't support it. From civil rights to gun show loopholes, from budget balancing to debt ceilings, we look at the Discharge Petition. And why it's become important for GOP conservatives in the 90's and for Democrats today. We are part of Airwave Media Network (www.airwavemedia.com) Music by Lee Rosevere and his MUSIC FOR PODCASTS Learn more about your ad choices. Visit m...
Oct 09, 2025•37 min