Year(s) Discussed: 1802-1803The new British Minister to the US, Anthony Merry, arrived in Washington, DC in late 1803, and though his arrival was initially seen as a strengthening of British-American relations, it would soon prove to be quite

Rebellion

Oct 15th, 2017 36m 5s

Year(s) Discussed: 1791-1794As Washington sets wheels in motion for some rather radical changes to his personal way of life, others at home and abroad start working towards some changes of their own. In western Pennsylvania, small-scale distil

Pestilence

Oct 1st, 2017 36m 1s

Year(s) Discussed: 1786-1793Washington, his household, and his administration struggle to deal with an epidemic of yellow fever as it makes its way through the city of Philadelphia, indiscriminately infecting people from all walks of life incl

Genet Must Go

Sep 17th, 2017 25m 54s

Year(s) Discussed: 1793Washington returns to Philadelphia to deal with the continued agitations of French Minister Genêt. Meanwhile, Attorney General Randolph goes south on a fact-finding mission, Philip Freneau continues his attacks against W

Don't Mess With Washington

Sep 3rd, 2017 30m 11s

Year(s) Discussed: 1793The new French Minister to the US arrives in Philadelphia and begins causing a stir both within the Washington administration and out in the streets. Meanwhile, Washington has another bout of ill health but recovers just

It's Not Easy Being Neutral

Aug 20th, 2017 27m 55s

Year(s) Discussed: 1791-1793The British and French are at war, and the Washington administration is caught in the middle. Though the US government had established a Treaty of Alliance with the French back in the Revolutionary War, the administ

SATT 027.1 - Richard Rush Part One

9 days ago 1h 43m

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 membe

Interview with Talmage Boston, How the Best Did It

19 days ago 1h 4m

Year(s) Discussed: 1732-1989Leadership 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

We Have Met the Enemy

26 days ago 31m 28s

Year(s) Discussed: 1813As 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 a

Interview with Salina B Baker, The Line of Splendor

Mar 24th, 2024 34m 58s

Year(s) Discussed: 1742-1814Nathanael 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

S010 - The Jeffersonian Revolution: 1800

Mar 10th, 2024 56m 34s

Year(s) Discussed: 1800-1801The 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 joine

VPOTUS 003.2 - Aaron Burr Part Two

Mar 3rd, 2024 2h 18m

Tenure of Office: March 4, 1801 - March 4, 1805Burr 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.

VPOTUS 003.1 - Aaron Burr Part One

Feb 25th, 2024 2h 2m

Tenure of Office: March 4, 1801 - March 4, 1805For 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 distin

Interview with Fergus Bordewich, Klan War

Feb 18th, 2024 1h 11m

Year(s) Discussed: 1865-1877The 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, Fergu

The Twilight

Feb 12th, 2024 36m 56s

Year(s) Discussed: 1812-1813After 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 co

S009 - The Corrupt Bargain Elections: 1824 and 1876

Feb 4th, 2024 1h 8m

Year(s) Discussed: 1824 and 1876In 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" e

Burnt Corn and the Fort

Jan 28th, 2024 42m 37s

Year(s) Discussed: 1813Tensions 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 governm

SATT 026 - George W Campbell

Jan 21st, 2024 1h 56m

Tenure of Office: February 9, 1814 - October 5, 1814The 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 Ca

Bonus

Rename the War of 1812 Submissions and Voting

Jan 10th, 2024 8m 37s

Year(s) Discussed: 1812-1815Thanks 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

Interview with Laurence Jurdem, The Rough Rider and the Professor

Jan 7th, 2024 1h 24m

Year(s) Discussed: 1850-1924US 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

VPOTUS 002 - Thomas Jefferson

Dec 24th, 2023 2h 3m

Tenure of Office: March 4, 1797 - March 4, 1801Though 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, th

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

Dec 17th, 2023 1h 3m

Year(s) Discussed: 1933-1945The 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 o

Don't Give Up the Ship

Dec 13th, 2023 31m 48s

Year(s) Discussed: 1813The 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

SATT 025.2 - John Armstrong Jr Part Two

Dec 10th, 2023 1h 31m

Tenure of Office: February 5, 1813 - September 27, 1814When 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 a

SATT 025.1 - John Armstrong Jr Part One

Nov 30th, 2023 1h 41m

Tenure of Office: February 5, 1813 - September 27, 1814Revolutionary 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 Ca