Why were gay federal employees seen as a national security threat during the 20th century? How might they in fact have been more of an asset? And how did some of them fight against their dismissals?In this episode, Don is joined by James Kirchick, author of 'Secret City: The Hidden History of Gay Washington'.Produced and edited by Sophie Gee. Senior Producer was Charlotte Long.Discover the past on History Hit with ad-free original podcasts and documentaries released weekly presented by world renowned historians like Dan Snow, James Holland, Mary Beard and more.Get 50% off your first 3 months with code AMERICANHISTORY. Download the app on your smart TV or in the app store or sign up at historyhit.com/subscribeYou can take part in our listener survey here.

Approximately 100 thousand flights take off and land each and every day. A months long journey on a boat is condensed to just a few hours with the help of aircraft, and the birth of planes introduced an entirely new form of warfare.Orville and Wilbur Wright, the Wright brothers, are household names. But how did they create the first successful heavier than air flying machine?In this episode, Don speaks to Tom Crouch, Curator Emeritus at the National Air and Space Museum. They delve into the lives and personalities of these two men, and the long process that took them into the air above Kitty Hawk.Produced by Sophie Gee. Edited by Siobhan Dale. Senior Producer was Charlotte Long.You can take part in our listener survey here.

Of all of the people enslaved in the southern United States over time, 40% of them were owned by women. For example, when she married George Washington in 1759, Martha Washington was herself the enslaver of 84 people.So why has the trading and enslaving of people been commonly perceived as a male domain? Why, in fact, were many white women so entrenched in this trade in human lives?In this episode, Don is joined by Dan David Prize Winner, Stephanie Jones Rogers. Stephanie has been exploring the testimonies of these people formerly enslaved by women to find out more about their experiences.Produced by Sophie Gee. Edited by Siobhan Dale. Senior Producer was Charlotte Long.

From the rings on our fingers, to coins in our pockets and, for a select few, the medals hanging around our necks. Gold is one of the most coveted metals in the world.Gold still has the power to change lives, but in the mid 19th century, it also sparked the largest migration in the history of the United States.Don is joined by Professor Mark Eifler, author of 'The California Gold Rush: The Stampede that Changed the Nation', to find out how gold was discovered in California and who benefitted from it.Produced by Sophie Gee. Edited by Siobhan Dale. Senior Producer was Charlotte Long.

Joshua Zeitz, author of 'Lincoln's God: How Faith Transformed a President and a Nation', delves into Abraham Lincoln's intriguing spiritual journey. He explores how Lincoln evolved from skepticism to spiritualism, particularly during the tumultuous Civil War. The conversation uncovers the impact of Lincoln's unique relationship with religion on his political decisions and personal life, including the influence of his wife Mary Todd Lincoln's beliefs. Zeitz also highlights the Northern churches' pivotal role in supporting the Union and shaping Lincoln’s rhetoric.

13 equal horizontal stripes in red and white, with a navy blue square in the top left bearing 50 small white five pointed stars. It's recognisable the world over as the flag of the United States of America.But how did this become the American flag? When did it develop its own 'cult'? And does Betsy Ross have anything at all to do with this story?Don is joined by Marc Leepson, author of Flag: An American Biography.For more History Hit content, follow our newsletters here.If you’d like to learn even more, we have hundreds of history documentaries, ad-free podcasts, and audiobooks at History Hit - subscribe today!

Was the USA already a superpower when it joined the Second World War? How did it turn from an isolationist nation to a force ready for action? Today Don is joined by Craig Nelson to find out how President Franklin D. Roosevelt manoeuvred the country from the isolationism of the interwar years to supplying an arsenal and, eventually, manpower to its European allies.Craig's new book is 'V Is For Victory: Franklin Roosevelt's American Revolution and the Triumph of World War 2'.For more History Hit content, follow our newsletters here.If you’d like to learn even more, we have hundreds of history documentaries, ad-free podcasts, and audiobooks at History Hit - subscribe today!

Between 1871 and 1872, Labette County, Kansas became a source of mystery. Several people have gone missing on their journey west and a few bodies have been found. Is this the work of highway robbers? Or could it be the peculiar family who live beside the Great Osage Trail?Don is joined for this episode for Susan Jonasus, author of 'Hell's Half-Acre : The Untold Story of the Benders, America's First Serial Killer Family'.Email us at ahh@historyhit.com if you have any areas of history that you would love Don to explore.For more History Hit content, follow our newsletters here.

The Vietnam War or the Great Society? Which event looms larger in the history of the United States? The 36th President of the United States, Lyndon Baines Johnson, is often weighed up in these terms - the balance between domestic and foreign policy. But what is his legacy? Could he be called the first President of our modern era?In this episode, Don is joined by Mark Lawrence, Director of the LBJ Presidential Library and Museum in Austin, Texas.Produced and mixed by Sophie Gee. Senior Producer: Charlotte Long.Email us at ahh@historyhit.com if you have any areas of history that you would love Don to explore.For more History Hit content, follow our newsletters here.If you’d like to learn even more, we have hundreds of history documentaries, ad-free podcasts, and audiobooks at History Hit - subscribe today!Complete the survey and you'll be entered into a prize draw to win 5 Historical Non-Fiction Books- including a signed copy of Dan Snow's 'On This Day in History'.

He was the most famous man in the world at the turn of the 20th century, bringing the American frontier to the rest of the United States, the United Kingdom and Continental Europe. But who was Buffalo Bill?In this episode, recorded at the Buffalo Bill Museum and Grave in Golden, Colorado, Don is joined by Steve Friesen to find out about the rise of America’s first celebrity.From boy scout to breadwinning buffalo hunter, how did William Cody become a showman and an iconic household name?Produced by Sophie Gee. Mixed by Siobhan Dale. Senior Producer: Charlotte Long.Email us at ahh@historyhit.com if you have any areas of history that you would love Don to explore.For more History Hit content, follow our newsletters here.If you’d like to learn even more, we have hundreds of history documentaries, ad-free podcasts, and audiobooks at History Hit - subscribe today!Complete the survey and you'll be entered into a prize draw to win 5 Historical Non-Fiction Books- including a signed copy of Dan Snow's 'On This Day in History'.