One reaction to the inflation stagnation and interest rates of the 1970's was to loosen up on a particular 'harmless' form of banking. It didn't work out so well.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the past 100 years, over 80% of the first term midterms went badly for Presidents, and their party lost seats.  But in a few cases they did not. And a few times when they did, the result was very little real change or even a kind of win. A look at first term midterms during the Presidencies of Chester Arthur, Harding, FDR, GW Bush, Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton. A combo of new and previously recorded MHCBUYP episodes reveals that while many first term midterms have devastated the President's plans, Presidents don't always do badly, there are 'stave' elections where Presidents have lost so little it's almost a win.  And sometimes, a defeat has positive effects.  Music by Josh Woodward and Lee Rosevere in this episode. Find them on the Free Music Archive website Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A trip to DC inspires me. I try to talk about just about everything going on in this episode from midterms to J6 to Mara Lago to the Republic as it stands, to third parties in US politics, to former Presidents running to a town name in New York that I butchered. And in case we think things are crazy today, we look a bit at how a poet and a writer viewed Washington in 1963 and 1964. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Samuel Tilden is visited by throngs of supporters who want him to proclaim from his balcony that he is President. His answer takes place in a closed meeting, but we are privy to the moment thanks to a political reporter's account. 1876 is the key historical example of an election in American history so bitterly contested, with wrong committed on both sides: Democrats intimidated voters, Republicans responded by ignoring vote returns and merely claiming they won the states. It might have meant a return to rifles, at least in some areas of the country. It definitely was getting hot in D.C.William C. Hudson was able to witness the actions of that candidate when urged by partisans to start an extra-constitutional movement.Also a meeting between Grover Cleveland and Theodore Roosevelt witnessed by the same reporter.It finds T.R. not so happy with the result.From political reporter of the 19th century William C Hudson comes too stories with resonant power today.We are part of Airwave Media NetworkWant to advertise? sales@advertisecast.comOUR SPONSOR IS SHORTFORM - To get a 5 days of unlimited access and an additional 20% discount on the annual subscription, join Shortform through my special link, shortform.com/myhistory or click the link in the description. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A bit about small money donors in history, and about Jimmy Carter's (Code name Dasher) 1976 run. A rebroadcast of an episode that seems apt as another campaign begins.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We are a month beyond of the 50th anniversary of the Watergate break-in, but it does seem appropriate to note an obscure player in the story. Frank Wills discovered a door had been deliberately held unlocked in the basement of The Watergate Office Complex. The rest became history. But for Wills it was bittersweet. His intersection with history also became a story of race and the choppy waters of a "proto-reality TV" 1970's America.We also tell the story of an intern in the wrong place at the wrong time, though it was perhaps the right time who played a completely accidental role in thwarting a burglary.We are part of Airwave Media Networkwww.airwavemedia.comInteresting in advertising? sales@airwavemedia.comMusic by Lee Rosevere - he's on bandcamp - https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Not all midterms are bad for the President's party. It's just that, most of the midterms in history go against the party in The White House.. We'll discuss 1990's "Seinfeld Midterm," (the midterm about nothing, 1978 Carter first "not that bad" midterm, and others. We'll look at these and others where the party in the White House lost a lot less than the 31 seat average loss in the House, or gained seats and had a similar positive or not so bad result in the Senate. 1990, that gave Democratic Giants Cuomo (father) and Bradley a big scare, but also scared GOP's Newt Gingrich. 1978, Carter's first midterm which was not a gain nor a loss for Democrats and left Carter without a black eye he was expecting, and left control unchanged. A Democrat in Iowa loses his seat, while Al Gore enters Congress in Tennessee. Calvin Coolidge's 1926 loss of nine House seats which he interpreted as a victory (and why he wrote off the loss of six Senate seats). Nixon's 1970 midterm that was well less than the historic 31 seat loss in the house, with an extra plus that the GOP gained 2 seats in the Senate, and why he was still grumpy. The rare birds where the President Party gains seats in the House. It's happened 3 times from Wilson to Trump - 1934, 1998 and 2002. But hasn't happened in 20 years. We are part of Airwave Media Networkwww.airwavemedia.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

George B. McClellan Junior, son of the Union general and Mayor of New York City for two turn-of-the century terms is not history's usual voice, his takes are different. He saw Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson at their most base and political. He became mayor of the nation's largest city and talked about for its highest office, only to earn the displeasure of his sponsors for acting independently (and probably, prudently). He thinks at least one story about Lincoln was overplayed, he was against the United State's entry into World War I. Let's speak to McClellan Jr [ by reviewing his memoirs! ]. About turn of the century politics, political machines, being New York City major and son of famous Civil War General and Democratic candidate for President. . He also speaks to race relations in Congress in the 1890's, being a Northern Congressman in a Southern-dominated party, what it's like to fight the 'tiger' of Tammany Hall and other things. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death! When Henry said it, he might have been committing treason. Yet the words also made him famous and indicated his superior bravery and patriotism to his country. The trouble is, that's often all he's remembered for. But without Henry the Revolution may not have succeeded and the Constitution may not look like it does. We get into why. From a 2017 interview - a bit about Patrick Henry and his times. Why the forgotten American "founder," one who was often too busy in his home state of Virginia to get nationally famous can provide us with American Revolutionary war stories and government founding narratives more interesting than just the Franklin, Jefferson and Washington stories we are accustomed to. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Freedom of speech is boundless and yet has boundaries, according to our guest, Lynn Greenky of Syracuse University School of Law. She is the author of 'When Freedom Speaks' There are areas where the First Amendment of The U.S. Constitution protects, and areas where it does not. And this is no normal time. Social media, hate speech, violence in speech, lawsuits against media have all seemed to become more prominent in news. We discuss.Lynn Greenky's book WHEN FREEDOM SPEAKS can be found at:https://lynngreenky.com/books/when-freedom-speaks/We are part of Airwave Media NetworkTo advertise on the program, sales@advertisecast.comOur sponsor for this program is Athletic Greens. Got to www.athleticgreens.com/myhistfor a special offer on their "nutritional insurance" AG1, a powder you drink every day to cover 75 vitamins, minerals, adaptagens and probiotics. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices