We're sharing the first episode of a new podcast we think you'll enjoy. It's called "Country Over Self: Defining Moments in American History." In each episode of this miniseries, host Matt Blumberg interviews a different presidential historian about a pivotal moment when a president chose to put their country ahead of their party and themselves. In this episode, Matt talks with Julian Zelizer about the 36th President, Lyndon B. Johnson, and how Johnson used his detailed knowledge of the...

We’re joined by Savannah Eccles Johnston (savypolitics on Instagram and cohost of the new podcast This Constitution) to talk about the formation of the American presidency, checks and balances, and the death of institutions at the hands of partisanship. First we take a look at what the American presidency might have looked like, if Alexander Hamilton got his way. This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://betterhelp.com/PLODDING and get on your way to being...

We're excited to share an episode of the Southern Gothic podcast coproduced by Howard, who also pops up as a guest commentator. This is the story of "The Thing," a supernatural entity who reportedly terrorized the White House staff in 1911, and the key players involved: chief of staff Archibald Butt, President William Howard Taft, and lady's maid Florence Marsh—the only person to have actually seen the ghost. Southern Gothic host Brandon Schexnayder takes us on a journey through this haunting...

We dig into the history of the Freemasons, focusing on the disappearance and alleged murder of William Morgan, the mysterious man who wrote a book exposing their secrets in 1826. The conspiracy to protect those involved and the intense public backlash led to the first third party in America, the Anti-Masonic Party. Though short-lived, they managed to rack up a few electoral votes in the Election of 1832 with William Wirt as their reluctant presidential nominee. It's a tale of two Williams,...

We welcome author and human guinea pig A.J. Jacobs to chat about his new book The Year of Living Constitutionally: One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Constitution's Original Meaning. For a year he tried to put himself in the shoes—and tricorn hat—of the founders, and he shares what he learned from an absurd and enlightening immersion into the document that defines our nation. NEW: Please send us your Local Lore — hometown histories, interesting historical markers, and weird local claims to...

First, we talk about how a day of fasting and prayer in 1798 turned into a night of fear and flying "cockades." Then we’re joined by presidential historian Dr. Lindsay Chervinsky, author of the new book Making The Presidency: John Adams and the Precedents That Forged The Republic, for an insightful conversation about how President John Adams was a much savvier politician than he gets credit for—especially considering he was surrounded by saboteurs and jerkfaces.   NEW: Please send us your...

We explore Thomas Jefferson's love of mockingbirds, especially his favorite pet mockingbird, Dick. We also look at what this tells us about Jefferson's personality and why mockingbirds are anything but innocent. NEW: Please send us your Local Lore — hometown histories, interesting historical markers, and weird local claims to fame! Send them to [email protected] and we might feature them in an upcoming series! Find out more at plodpod.com Consider joining our Patreon family at...

Andrew Jackson’s legacy is forever tied to the Trail of Tears, but what role did he actually play in the controversial Indian Removal Act of 1830 and the atrocities that followed? We look at how much blame Jackson deserves by evaluating 7 of the most common points used to defend him—including the ideas that Indian removal was popular and inevitable, and that Jackson had the best interests of Native Americans at heart. Find out more at plodpod.com Consider joining our Patreon family at...

We’re joined by Paul M. Sparrow, former director of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Library and Museum, to discuss the subject of his exciting new book “Awakening the Spirit of America: FDR’s War on Words with Charles Lindbergh—and the Battle to Save Democracy” and the ways those struggles are mirrored today. We look at how Charles Lindbergh and his wife Anne Morrow Lindbergh were leading voices against American involvement in World War II, believing that democracy’s stint might be over and that...

We explore the final years and legacy of Lyncoya, the Native American child raised at Andrew Jackson's Hermitage, focusing on Jackson's attempt to get Lyncoya into West Point Military Academy and the way Lyncoya has been memorialized in Calhoun County, Alabama. Find out more at plodpod.com Consider joining our Patreon family at https://www.patreon.com/ploddingthroughthepresidents Check out our merch store at https://www.teepublic.com/stores/plodding-through-the-presidents?ref_id=24294 Key...

The story of Lyncoya, an orphaned Native American child adopted by Andrew Jackson, is often used to soften the image of the man most associated with the Trail of Tears. In this episode, we explore the events that made Lyncoya an orphan, what we know about his childhood at The Hermitage and his role in Jackson's family, and his usefulness as a political tool. This is the first in a two-part series about Lyncoya. Find out more at plodpod.com Consider joining our Patreon family at...

The Burr Conspiracy and the most notorious early American scoundrels are the focus of our chat with historians David Head and Timothy Hemmis, co-editors of the new book “A Republic of Scoundrels: The Schemers, Intriguers and Adventurers Who Created a New American Nation.” But first, we look at an anonymous letter sent to John Adams in 1798 warning him that the most dangerous scoundrel in the nation was right under his nose. Find out more at plodpod.com Consider joining our Patreon family at...

We dig into the story of Attorney General and one-time presidential candidate William Wirt's missing skull, followed by a conversation with historian and author Kurt Deion whose unique journey is chronicled in the book "Presidential Grave Hunter: One Kid's Quest to Visit the Tombs of Every President and Vice President." Find out more at plodpod.com. Learn more about Kurt Deion at presidentialgravehunter.com and kurtshistoricsites.com Consider joining our Patreon family at...

We dig into the powerful, hypnotic charisma—the rizz—of Vice President Aaron Burr, specifically two events in March 1805 that showed his mesmerizing effect on those around him. Find out more at plodpod.com. Consider joining our Patreon family at https://www.patreon.com/ploddingthroughthepresidents Check out our merch store! https://www.teepublic.com/stores/plodding-through-the-presidents?ref_id=24294 Special thanks to Gwen Fries, author of The Beehive blog post Sympathy for the Devil: John...

We welcome Emmy and Peabody award winning screenwriter and producer Kirk Ellis to the show to talk about his work adapting Apple's new series Franklin as well as HBO's John Adams series. We dig into the rich characters and settings of Franklin, what Michael Douglas brings to the role of Benjamin Franklin, and what it was like adapting David McCullough’s book John Adams and Stacy Schiff’s book A Great Improvisation—including the scenes Ellis and the authors disagreed about. Find out more at...

We dig into the centuries-old mystery of a cornerstone in Mount Vernon’s cellar that inspired a pivotal prop in the film National Treasure: Book of Secrets. Then we hunt for the truth behind that prop’s role in a battle between Hollywood and historical accuracy. Along the way we explore The War of Jenkins’ Ear, what the War of 1812 smelled like, and what happened when air conditioning came to Mount Vernon. Find out more at plodpod.com. Consider joining our Patreon family at...

This is the story of one man with big dreams who wanted to turn George Washington's Mount Vernon into a stop on his massive proposed theme park—a Disneyland on the Potomac named "The Spirit of America." In the 1960s and 70s, Joseph I. Goldstein was called the greatest threat to Mount Vernon since the British navy, and we dig into his wild plot and how the Mount Vernon Ladies Association, his neighbors, the government, and all the elements of nature joined forces to stop him. Find out more at...

We explore two women responsible for preserving George Washington’s Mount Vernon: the "Southern Matron" Ann Pamela Cunningham, who dedicated her life to saving the mansion from ruin in the 1850s, and the eccentric Congressperson Frances Payne Bolton who used her wealth and power to save Mount Vernon's pristine view from becoming an industrial wasteland in the 1950s. It's a story of perseverance, partnership, and different kinds of power—economic, political, and even psychic. Visit plodpod.com...

We welcome historian and author H. W. Brands to the show to talk about the subjects of his new book, Founding Partisans: Hamilton, Madison, Jefferson, Adams and the Brawling Birth of American Politics. Topics include why everybody hated Hamilton, James Madison's political metamorphosis, and the founders' fear of election-stealing demagogues.  Show notes and sources at plodpod.com Enter to win a copy of "Founding Partisans" at https://basicfront.easypromosapp.com/p/971239 You can subscribe to...

We bring you The John Adams Diet, a revolutionary new lifestyle based on the documented personal habits and diet of America's second president. From chocolate for breakfast to hard cider and long walks, the John Adams Diet can unlock the big sassy founder within you. (Results not typical or likely.) Visit JohnAdamsDiet.com for more details. Consider joining our Patreon family at https://www.patreon.com/ploddingthroughthepresidents Check out our merch store!...

Plodding Through The Presidents returns Tuesday, February 13th as an ongoing biweekly podcast! Visit our website at www.plodpod.com Check out our merch store at https://www.teepublic.com/stores/plodding-through-the-presidents?ref_id=24294 Join our Patreon community at https://www.patreon.com/ploddingthroughthepresidents Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a special bonus episode, Howard joins Kenny Ryan from [Abridged] Presidential Histories, Jerry Landry from The Presidencies of the United States, and Alycia from Civics & Coffee for a fascinating Friendsgiving conversation about their podcasts and shared passion for history. We'll be back soon! Find more info and sign up for our mailing list at plodpod.com Consider joining our Patreon family at https://www.patreon.com/ploddingthroughthepresidents for bonus content and fun perks! Check...

This episode's deep dive takes us to the bottom of the Pacific where a relic belonging to the family of John C. Calhoun was discovered 61 years after it was lost. We explore how it was lost during the tragic Honda Point Disaster and the story of the man who discovered it—and the target it put on his back. And it all starts with a little street in the Sherman Oaks neighborhood of Los Angeles named Calhoun Avenue.Find show notes, sources, and more at plodpod.comConsider joining our Patreon...

We explore the Lost Cause narrative—the myth that the South didn't actually secede from the Union and fight the Civil War over slavery. First, we focus on Confederate Vice President Alexander H. Stephens' chilling "Cornerstone Speech" defining the cause of the Confederacy, and then Howard talks with Dr. Karen L. Cox about her fascinating book "No Common Ground: Confederate Monuments and the Ongoing Fight for Racial Justice."Please note: the interview with Dr. Cox was recorded in October 2022...