In this engaging discussion, historian Eric Rauchway dives into the transformative impact of Franklin D. Roosevelt and the New Deal during the Great Depression. He highlights FDR's strategic use of radio for personal connection, creating fireside chats that reshaped political communication. Rauchway also explores the myriad initiatives of the New Deal, their legislative challenges, and enduring legacy. The conversation underscores how FDR's charismatic leadership and innovative policies forged new paths in American socio-political dynamics.

Tony Sibler, author of 'Twelve Days: How the Union Nearly Lost Washington DC in the First Days of the Civil War', shares gripping insights into April 1861. He reveals how Washington D.C. was unprepared and vulnerable as Union forces retreated. The discussion uncovers the Confederacy's ambitions, the chaos in the capital, and the violent encounters faced by Union troops in Baltimore. Sibler highlights pivotal moments that shaped the early conflict, illustrating the precariousness of the Union's control over its capital in those critical early days.

In this engaging discussion, historian Eric Rauchway delves into Herbert Hoover's complex legacy, shedding light on his remarkable rise from an orphan to a global leader. He highlights Hoover's humanitarian efforts during WWI and his misguided optimism preceding the Great Depression. The conversation unpacks the events of Black Monday and how financial panic undermined consumer confidence. Rauchway also discusses Hoover's resistance to intervention and his enduring impact on American politics, revealing a nuanced understanding of a president often unfairly maligned.

Join Jonathan Alter, an esteemed journalist and author of "Jimmy Carter: A Life," alongside Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Jefferson Cowie as they pay tribute to the late president Jimmy Carter. They delve into his Georgia upbringing and significant character influences, discuss the challenges of his one-term presidency including the Iranian hostage crisis, and highlight his remarkable post-presidency humanitarian legacy. They paint a portrait of Carter as a complex leader deeply committed to environmentalism and human rights, shaping his enduring impact on American society.

When the US turned to Japan for workers in the late 19th Century, they probably never foresaw that one day soon they would imprison those who arrived, their successors, and their families, en masse in camps around America.To hear about the Japanese American experience through history, Don is speaking to Kristen Hayashi. Kristen is Director of Collections Management & Access and Curator at the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles.Together, Kristen and Don explore the initial migration from Japan, the work offered, and the treatment of these first generations of Japanese Americans in life and under the law. They also discuss the contradictions of the Second World War - when some 120,000 people were forcibly moved to internment camps whilst, in Europe, an all Japanese American unit became the most decorated unit of its size in US history.Produced by Sophie Gee. Edited by Aidan Lonergan. Senior Producer was Charlotte Long.Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.  You can take part in our listener survey here.All music from Epidemic Sounds/All3 MediaAmerican History Hit is a History Hit podcast.

The shot heard ‘round the world'; the start of the American Revolution. An event that would have profound consequences for world history, especially western democracy. Who’d have thought that something of such magnitude would begin in a small settlement with as many cows as people living in it?Don Wildman hops across the Atlantic from American History Hit to Echoes of History to help Matt Lewis understand how two tiny towns became the spark that lit the fire of the American War of Independence.Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.  You can take part in our listener survey here.All music from Epidemic Sounds/All3 MediaAmerican History Hit is a History Hit podcast.Hosted by: Matt LewisEdited by: Tim ArstallProduced by: Matt Lewis, Sophie Gee, Robin McConnellSenior Producer: Anne-Marie LuffProduction Coordinator: Beth DonaldsonExecutive Producers: Etienne Bouvier, Julien Fabre, Steve Lanham, Jen BennettMusic:Main Menu Theme by Lorne BalfeBurial Mound by Lorne BalfeThe Convoy by Lorne BalfeFort Attack by Lorne BalfeDeadly Performance by Lorne Balfe

When fossils were discovered in the US during the 19th Century, it altered American understandings of science, religion, race and more. So what was the Hadrosaurus Foulkii, and why did it have such an enormous effect?Caroline Winterer, William Robertson Coe Professor of History and American Studies at Stanford University, joins Don for this episode. Caroline's book on this topic is 'How the New World Became Old: The Deep Time Revolution in America'.Produced by Sophie Gee. Edited by Nick Thomson. Senior Producer was Charlotte Long.Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.  You can take part in our listener survey here.All music from Epidemic Sounds/All3 MediaAmerican History Hit is a History Hit podcast.

John Oller, a journalist and author known for 'Gangster Hunters,' dives into the thrilling world of 1930s crime. He unpacks John Dillinger's infamous escapes and the rise of the FBI under J. Edgar Hoover's leadership. Oller explains how notorious criminals shifted public perception, leading the FBI from a clerical agency to a formidable law enforcement force. He discusses the personal sacrifices of FBI agents and highlights key moments that transformed the agency’s legacy, revealing the dynamic between outlaws and law enforcement.

Brian Klaas, a political scientist and author of 'Fluke', dives into the butterfly effect and how chance events have shaped American history. He discusses overlooked stories like the Timber Riot's role in the Revolutionary War and the unpredictable impacts of minor decisions during pivotal moments, including the Civil War. Klaas highlights the complexities of historical narratives often ignored by traditional accounts and explores the surprising connections between comedy and political outcomes, showcasing how randomness can significantly influence our lives.

Amity Shlaes, an author and chair of the Calvin Coolidge Presidential Foundation, discusses the intriguing life of the 30th President, Calvin Coolidge. She highlights his rise to power after Harding's death and his pragmatic approach to leadership. The conversation touches on Coolidge's introverted nature, the economic boom of the Roaring Twenties, and the complexities of his legacy, including his views on race and job creation. Listeners will discover how Coolidge's policies still resonate in today's political climate.