[Abridged] Presidential Histories

Woodrow Wilson is one of the most legislatively accomplished progressive presidents in American history.  His list of achievements ranges from the first progressive income tax to the creation of the Federal Reserve, an inheritance tax, a child labor law, and more. But a list doesn't do justice to the effort it took to get these laws passed or the impact they had on the Americans' lives.Join me as I talk with John Milton Cooper, a professor emeritus at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and author of Pulitzer Prize-finalist Woodrow Wilson, a Biography, about the progressive legacy of Woodrow Wilson.Support the show

The Spanish flu of 1918 wasn't from Spain and it didn't start or end with 1918. It lasted for years, killed millions around the world, and it infected President Woodrow Wilson himself, right as he was negotiating the treaty that would end World War I. The costs of that infection may have been the values and world order he'd taken the United States into the war to achieve.Join me as I talk with John Barry, Distinguished Scholar at the Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine and author of The Great Influenza: the story of the Deadliest Pandemic in History, about Woodrow Wilson and the Great Influenza of 1918.Support the show

Woodrow Wilson was once regarded as one of the great progressive presidents of the 20th century. Then historians took another look at his record on race. Today, he's a bit of a mixed bag. But one thing you can't argue is the years he was president changed the world.Follow along as Wilson gives up on politics to become an academic, only to unexpectedly rise from Princeton president to New Jersey Governor to American President in two short years! Wilson's presidency will witness a raft of progressive change, a reactive retreat on racial progress, and a little thing called World War I. Buckle up. It's a wild ride. Bibliography1. The Moralist: Woodrow Wilson and the World He Made – Patricia O’Toole2. William Howard Taft – Jeffrey Rosen3. T.R. the last Romantic – H.R. Brands4. Warren G Harding – John W. Dean5. FDR - Jean Edward Smith6. Truman - David McCulloughSupport the show

William Howard Taft is the only American in history to serve as both president of the United States and chief justice of the Supreme Court. But how did his experience as president shape his leadership as chief justice? What role did it play in his nomination process, and how good of a chief justice was he, anyway?Join me as I talk with Kevin Burns, an assistant professor of political science and economics at Christendom College and author of William Howard Taft’s Constitutional Progressivism, about the judicial impact and legacy of William Howard Taft.PS: I'll be speaking at the 2022 Intelligent Speech conference on Saturday, June 25. Tickets can be purchased at the link below. Use the code "abridged" to save 10%.https://www.intelligentspeechconference.com/Support the show

To hear William Howard Taft tell it, all he ever wanted to do is be a federal judge. But people don't just accidentally become president. Join me as I talk with Peri Arnold, a professor Emeritus in the Department of Political Science at the University of Notre Dame, a consultant to New York Times in Education, and author of several books, including Remaking the Presidency: Roosevelt, Taft, and Wilson; about the role ambition, luck, and family played in Taft's rise to the nation's highest office.Support the show

In 1908, Theodore Roosevelt and William Howard Taft were such great friends, TR personally campaigned for Taft to succeed him to the presidency. Four years later, that relationship was so irrevocably damaged that TR split the GOP in half to deny Taft's reelection. There's no way around, Taft's presidency was made by Roosevelt, and then it was unmade by Roosevelt. But there's far more to Taft's legacy than just his four years in the White House.Follow along as Taft pursues a career in the judiciary, gets dragged into politics by President William McKinley, is tasked with rebuilding the Philippines in the midst of a bloody and horrific insurgency, gets put in the White House by his bff Theodore Roosevelt, gets kicked out of the White House by his former bff Theodore Roosevelt, and then becomes the only person in U.S. history to serve as both president of the United States and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. Bibliography1. William Howard Taft – Jeffrey Rosen2. T.R. the last Romantic – H.R. Brands3. The Moralist: Woodrow Wilson and the World He Made – Patricia O’Toole4. The President and the Assassin: McKinley, Terror, and Empire at the Dawn of the American Century – Scott Miller5. Warren G Harding – John W. DeanSupport the show

David Pietrusza, an award-winning historian and expert on the presidency, joins the conversation to delve into Theodore Roosevelt's thrilling post-presidential escapades. They discuss Roosevelt’s exhilarating African safari and the harrowing near-death experiences during his Amazon exploration. Pietrusza reveals TR's relentless quest for engagement, including multiple attempts to return to battle in World War I. Listeners will also uncover the complexities of Roosevelt's health struggles and the fervent political activism that marked his final years.

Join presidential historian Lindsay Chervinsky as she unpacks the intriguing dynamics of Theodore Roosevelt's presidency. Learn about Roosevelt's strategic approach to his cabinet and how he navigated complex relationships with figures like Elihu Root. Discover the rollercoaster of his friendship with William Howard Taft, from their early alliance to a bitter split that impacted the 1912 election. Chervinsky also shares leadership lessons from their contrasting styles, showcasing the delicate balance between charisma and methodical governance.

In this enlightening discussion, Harold Holzer, Director of the Roosevelt House Public Policy Institute and author of The President vs. the Press, delves into Theodore Roosevelt's groundbreaking relationship with the media. Roosevelt revolutionized presidential PR, skillfully using the press to mold his image and promote progressive policies. Holzer highlights how Roosevelt's tactics, from engaging with muckrakers to hosting unique press conferences, reshaped the dynamics of political communication, paving the way for future presidents and their media strategies.

Ted Kohn, Dean of the College of Liberal Arts at Norwich University and author, dives into the life of Theodore Roosevelt, revealing how his gritty upbringing in late 19th century New York City molded his progressive ideals. Kohn discusses the pivotal influences on Roosevelt’s transition from law to politics and his rise as a reformer confronting corruption. The podcast also explores the profound impact of personal tragedy on Roosevelt’s resilience and leadership style, offering lessons for modern politics.