Many of the attacks on the Constitution lacked specific detail, so Federalists had to fight straw men and conspiracy theories. In this episode we look at how James Wilson and Madison did, and how they explained the Constitution’s benefits. We … Continued
We get the perspective of George B. McClellan Jr, son of the Union general, about Congress in the 1890’s as a Democrat from the North. Dealing with his Southern colleagues and avoiding duels was on his list of activities. Also … Continued
A look at the vice president under Theodore Roosevelt (1905-1909), who was overshadowed by his boss but kept the ‘stand pat’ conservatives happy while his boss ran the White House.
The 1890’s was dubbed The Mauve Decade because of the popularity of that color in fashion. It was also a time of depression and boom, populist politics, attempts to fly, dead poets schoolyard games, automobiles that looked like bikes, and … Continued
Additional notes about Lincoln’s Inaugural train ride. Including Whitman’s description of him. More Train stop speeches. A curse of Congress by Benjamin Wade, Lincoln’s true opinion on Seward’s New Mexico idea (more complex I must admit than my comments in … Continued
We look at the Bonus Army of 1932 and 1933 and how two different Presidents reached to marches on Washington. In the wake of tragic events at the Capitol this week, we discuss Coxey’s Populist ‘army’ and the first real … Continued
About Vice President Adlai Stevenson, the grandfather of the Democratic candidate for President in 1952 and 1956. We include some stories from his memoir and the political events of his time. This was run on the Vice Presidents of the … Continued
We touched on FDR and Hoover’s touchy transition in the episode about LBJ and Nixon. In this premium episode, I go into the telegrams Hoover sent FDR and what he wanted from FDR – and what FDR refused to do.
The relationship between Roscoe Conkling, Senator and New York State political boss of the post-Civil War era, and Chester Arthur, future President is explored in this episode. We look at the key moment of Arthur’s defiance at the 1880 Convention, … Continued
We discuss a variety of topics based on questions I’ve been asked. who might be President a third time if there was no prohibition on it? And what’s up with Harry Truman’s middle name?
Bruce reads Cleveland’s first Inaugural address, with some analysis.
More things to consider about the results of the 2020 Election, besides the big result, that didn’t make it into the main cast.
On the evening of June 18th, 1954, Albert Love Patterson walked out of his law office in Phoenix City, Alabama. Former state senator soldier in France in World War One was aware of how bad the situation the town he … Continued
Disputed Election, from 2007. Some interesting nuggets.
Two GOP Candidates reckon with potential military rivals. One susses, the other waits their potential rival out. And other stories of the 1884 and 1896 election that couldn’t fit in the episode of DONT RUN FOR PRESIDENT
A little bit about Lincoln, and his advocacy and defense of Zachary Taylor, a president who preceded him by three Presidents, all of them ineffective. Zachary Taylor would get barely over a year in office, but his stance on brewing … Continued
When it was discovered that Nixon through aide/supporter Chenault had interfered with Vietnam peace talks, LBJ left it to the Democratic candidate Humphrey to use or not use the revalations in politics. Humphrey declined. When asked why Humphrey didn’t use … Continued
As normal, I never fit everything I plan to in one episode. This was especially true with the ‘Don’t Run for President’ episode. In this cast, the extras left in various notebooks and computer text files. Susan B Anthony struggles … Continued
A secret ‘campaign within the campaign’ to act as odbudsman for campaign rhetoric may have helped Clinton win in 1992. Other successful campaigns should follow.
A bit about Sargent Shriver’s legacy, his running for Vice President in 1972 and good and bad moments, including a surprising connection to Joe Biden’s future.
They called it Solar Totem. But to many, they wouldn’t know what it was. Students that pass by it in Kent State University in April of 1970, say, might never have known that it was there at all. South of … Continued
A cast about the Third Amendment, not talked about much but not without its powers.
For most people, John W. Davis is at best a footnote, a speck of information and a textbook about presidential election history, the Also-Ran of Calvin Coolidge. Nineteen twenty four. You open up the historical electoral maps and you see … Continued
Since we talked about people not running for President in this cast we talk about Mario Cuomo and address that topic. I tell a Leftover story about Henry Clay we didn’t get into on the main cast. About his two … Continued
Was there a room where Warren G. Harding was selected for the GOP nomination in 1920. It might be more story than substance. But what about George Harvey’s room in the Blackstone Hotel in Chicago. Well… We look into this, … Continued