[Abridged] Presidential Histories

The discussion highlights Theodore Roosevelt as an unexpected champion of progressivism despite his privileged upbringing. It dives into his groundbreaking reforms in women's rights and environmental protection. His innovative use of media to rally public support is also explored. Listeners learn about the roots of civil service reform under his leadership and the lasting impact of his economic policies on labor rights. The dynamic nature of Roosevelt’s presidency is emphasized, portraying him as a defender of the common man against corporate interests.

Discover the extraordinary transformation of Theodore Roosevelt from a desk job to a war hero in just six months. Explore his adventurous spirit in the Dakotas and his controversial belief that war strengthens a nation. Hear about his determination to build the Panama Canal amid significant challenges. Learn about his surprising political retreat after a successful presidency and the impactful legacy he left behind. Roosevelt’s relentless energy continues to inspire us to pursue our own ambitions with vigor.

In this engaging discussion, Robert Merry, a veteran Washington journalist and author of five books, dives into the transformative presidency of William McKinley. He explores how McKinley's administration pivoted America toward imperialism, highlighted by the Spanish-American War and the annexation of Hawaii. Merry also delves into McKinley's subtle leadership style and the complexities of his foreign policies, igniting debates that resonate in today's geopolitical landscape. Discover how McKinley shaped America's global ambitions and left a lasting legacy.

In this conversation with Christopher McKnight Nichols, an expert on the Gilded Age and author of 'Promise and Peril', the spotlight is on William McKinley, who revolutionized political campaigning in 1896. They discuss McKinley’s groundbreaking fundraising strategies, his innovative partnership with Mark Hanna, and how McKinley's transformative tariff policies shaped American politics. The dialogue also touches on the tumultuous 1896 election, labor rights challenges, and McKinley’s adept use of the press, highlighting his lasting influence on modern political strategies.

Discover how William McKinley transformed the U.S. from a reluctant nation into an imperial power, affecting global politics significantly. Explore his courageous Civil War service, including a heroic coffee run during the Battle of Antietam. Delve into his innovative campaign strategies and the pivotal role of big business in politics. McKinley's foreign policies, including the annexation of Hawaii, helped shape modern international relations. Tragically, his life was cut short by an assassin amid rising economic inequality during the Gilded Age.

What was Grover Cleveland hiding in 1893? When the famously honest president was diagnosed with mouth cancer, he decided to keep it from the public at all costs - even if that meant hatching a hair-brained scheme to surgically remove the tumor on a yacht at sea.Join me as I talk with award-winning journalist and author Matthew Algeo, author of All This Marvelous Potential: Robert Kennedy’s 1968 Tour of Appalachia; Harry Truman’s Excellent Adventure: The True Story of a Great American Road Trip; and The President Is a Sick Man: Wherein the Supposedly Virtuous Grover Cleveland Survives a Secret Surgery at Sea and Vilifies the Courageous Newspaperman Who Dared Expose the Truth, to discuss how far Cleveland was willing to go to take his secret to the grave.Support the show

In 1892, the rich were getting richer, the poor were getting poorer, and a former president decided to run again against the rival who had defeated him. How similar is the Gilded Age to our modern political and economic moment?Join me as I talk with University Kentucky professor Mark Summers, a historian of the Gilded Age and author of numerous books, including The Era of Good Stealings; The Gilded Age; and Rum, Romanism, and Rebellion: The Making of a President, 1884, to discuss how Grover Cleveland won his revenge campaign against Benjamin Harrison and whether we currently live in another Gilded Age.Support the show

On the final day of Grover Cleveland's first term in office, his wife turned to a member of the white house staff and said.  "I want you to take good care of all the furniture and ornaments in the house, for I want everything just as it is now when we come back again. We are coming back. Just four years from today."Four years later, she was right. Follow along as Cleveland graciously accepts defeat in 1888 only to become convinced he must run again, wins the white house, and them stumbles into one of the greatest economic depressions of the 19th century.  By the time he leaves office, the party will be done with him and his brand of small-government politics forever.Bibliography1. Grover Cleveland – Henry F. Graff2. Benjamin Harrison – Charles W. Calhoun3. The President and the Assassin: McKinley, Terror, and Empire at the Dawn of the American Century – Scott Miller4. T.R. the last Romantic – H.R. Brands5. The Moralist: Woodrow Wilson and the World He Made – Patricia O’TooleSupport the show

Benjamin Harrison presidential accomplishments range from obtaining America's first overseas possession to signing an anti-trust bill that is still the law of the land, but he's hardly known today. Why?Join me as I talk with Charles Hyde, the President and CEO of the Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site in Indianapolis, Indiana, on why Benjamin Harrison should be better known and what we should remember him for.Support the show

Is it possible to win your way to defeat? Benjamin Harrison and the 51st Congress might say so. After passing almost all the legislation they had campaigned on in 1889, American voters dealt them crippling defeats in 1891 and 1893. What went wrong?Join me as I interview Charles Calhoun, a retired distinguished professor of History at East Carolina University, a past president of the Society for Historians of the Gilded Age and Progressive Era, and the author of Benjamin Harrison, on how Benjamin Harrison and the Republican Party won their way to defeat.Support the show