A bitter rivalry between Cope and Marsh led to a vicious letter-writing campaign, similar to historical pamphlet wars. They used a range of tactics from espionage to theft to outshine each other, even resorting to ensuring their opponent was considered inferior. The upcoming episode will delve into specific examples of these tactics and explore how their conflict escalated to influencing matters in Washington, D.C. Additionally, insights into their personalities and personal lives will shed light on the origins of their animosity.
This 2012 episode from previous hosts Sarah and Deblina explores the rivalry between paleontologists Edward Drinker Cope and Othniel Charles Marsh. The two started out as friends, but their friendship soon soured.
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