Since 2006, this podcast has been using history to elevate today's political debates. "The perfect antidote to bloviating talking heads, My History is thoughtful, nuanced, and highly engaging." -Columbia Journalism Review
THEY COULDN"T STOP DYING - THE ODD STORY OF THE...
The 72nd Congress of 1931 was, as elected, a very narrow Republican House 218 R - 217 D. Close, but for President Hoover, good enough. That is until, 14 Congressmen-elect died. Not all at once - that would be weird - over 13 months, for all kinds of reasons but heart attacks and pneumonias leading the list. When special elections were held, it went 218 D and 216 R. 1 Farm Laborer supported the Democrats so 219-216. We talk about this curious case. We also talk about the 14 Congressmen-elect who had some interesting biographies. And we talk Herbert Hoover and the spin he (tried to) put on The Great Depression. We are part of Airwave Media Podcast Network. www.airwavemedia.com Advertise? sales@advertisecast.com
40 min
127
Leap to Freedom: Hans Konrad Schumann's Story
One three-second period changed the life of an East German soldier. Stories of freedom and oppression feature heavily on this hodge-podcast episode, the Berlin Wall, the Uruguay dictatorship of the 70's and 80's, a bit about Grover Cleveland and a bit about Charles III.
52 min
128
Soccer and Repression: The 1978 World Cup in Ar...
As the world attention focuses on a soccer game, behind the surface is a disturbingly hidden suppression of a previously strong democracy.
45 min
129
Close Encounters of the CONGRESS KIND: The (Re...
46 min
130
The Youth Vote: John Lennon's Dream, Nixon's Ni...
A discussion of the 26th Amendment, the story behind it. John Lennon and his attempt to mobilize youth voting, and how Nixon countered it. And a look at the 18-29 year-old vote in recent elections including the recent midterm. Parts from 2013 and parts recorded this year.
38 min
131
You Can't Always Get What You Want? The 2022 Mi...
Call 2022 the Mick Jagger midterm - neither party got fully what they wanted. Both parties experienced win and losses. It is, so far, largely a "stave midterm" where the President's party lost less seats than expected - we've discussed a few of these on this podcast, and thus for the party expected to have lost seats a kind of win. Yet in this case as opposed to other 'stave' midterms, the President's Party looks like they will lose the house. So when is a win a win and a loss a loss? Is this like the 1970, 1990 or 1994 or 1974 elections? We discuss all this and talk about a midterm in the past.
The race for the Democratic Nomination in 1968 a complicated one, as one candidate would drop out and another die tragically. But for a while, with other candidates choosing not to enter primaries, the '68 Democratic primary became a fight between two concepts of being left in politics and two individuals that couldn't be more different. Robert Kennedy and Eugene McCarthy.
37 min
133
1970's EPHEMERA: Dylan Gets a Troll, Ford Gets ...
SIDE A: Ford's Bad Day - Dylan's Troll - High School Riot - Howard Cosell's Politics SIDE B: One Hit Wonder - Skylab Falls - Austin Gets Weird - Global Cooling and Warming
75 min
134
Savings and Loan Crisis
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.
45 min
135
Midterms: They Don't Always Work Out Badly for ...
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
79 min
136
And to the Republic: Thoughts about Everything ...
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.
71 min
137
Now That's The Right Way to Lose an Election
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. But the reaction of one candidate, Samuel Tilden made it different. And a reporter, William C. Hudson was able to witness the actions of that candidate when urged by partisans to start an extra-constitutional movement. We go to that moment. 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 Network Want to advertise? sales@advertisecast.com
26 min
138
Small Money and Big Hope / Dasher's Run
Descripti
33 min
139
Wills On Duty: The Story of Watergate Security ...
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 Network www.airwavemedia.com Interesting in advertising? sales@airwavemedia.com Music by Lee Rosevere - he's on bandcamp - https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com/
28 min
140
A Midterm Election About Nothing, and Other Sto...
31 min
141
George B. McClellan Junior Would Like a Word
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.
45 min
142
The Underrated Patrick Henry
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.
45 min
143
Free Speech is Easy, and Hard w/ Lynn Greenky o...
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 Network To advertise on the program, sales@advertisecast.com Our sponsor for this program is Athletic Greens. Got to www.athleticgreens.com/myhist for a special offer on their "nutritional insurance" AG1, a powder you drink every day to cover 75 vitamins, minerals, adaptagens and probiotics.
47 min
144
Nine Kings, One Room: Introducing the Everythin...
Something happened in May 29th 1910. It had never happened before. And it has never (so far) happened again. To explain, we turn things over to Airwave Media network podcast Everything Everywhere Daily. Highly recommend subscribing to this podcast if you want to learn interesting facts about a new topic every day. Check out Everything Everywhere Daily's casts on solar power, the history of Friday the 13th (it will surprise you) and other topics.
12 min
145
Stare Decisis and Spider Man, and Other Stories
We discuss the recent leaked SCOTUS interim decision, we discuss Casey, Roe cases, as well as abortion and anti-abortion politics of the 70s through the 90s. We also answer listener questions on - U.S. Grant and his image, favorite podcasts, which President to go on a bus ride with, why John Kerry lost and George W. Bush won in '04, Clinton impeachment, historical novels, First Past the Post voting systems, and conspiracy theories, oh and the signs of the end of the republic, all from MHCBUYP listeners. We are part of Airwave Media Network. Want to advertise - sales@advertisecast.com.
110 min
146
Like the Visions of a Fever: America in Pre-War...
A look at pre-war America, 1941, the passage of Lend-Lease, and the sinking of four ships in the Atlantic. Robin Moor, Greer, Kearny and Ruben James, each inflicting a body blow but not yet producing war. As Americans waited for war in one ocean, it came in another.
75 min
147
Politics and Margarine
When America's politicians were scared of a edible spread. When James Blaine and Roscoe Conkling first squared off, setting in motion a political rivalry for the ages. And ranking the Secretaries of State.
37 min
148
In The Arena - Adlai Stevenson and Other Losing...
We talk about Adlai Stevenson, a candidate with a critical flaw and operating in a tough political environment, and the other people who have sought the Presidency but lost. Our guest is Peter Shea, author of In The Arena, His book looks not only at candidates, but at the memorials that have been made to honor them. Presidents get most of the statues, but there are some for the Presidential also-rans, such as the Stevenson statue in an Illinois airport. Trope Publishing [at www.trope.com] is the publisher of Shea's book they publish large print books with beautiful photographs. We are part of Airwave Media Network www.airwavemedia.com Interesting in advertising? sales@advertisecast.com
39 min
149
Didn't Mean to Make a Country: First Congress, ...
We think about the American Revolution beginning in 1776. Our textbooks tell us that was the signing of the Declaration, thus the beginning, right? Not really. The events of 1774 are very important to understanding. Before we discuss the Congress that assigned Jefferson to write a Declaration and officially broke off relations with Britain, we should study the first congress that Jefferson was unable to get into. We do that in this episode, and look at a few decisions the Congress made and didn't make which determined the history afterwards. We also look at a seemingly minor decision of the 1774 Congress, in rejection a suggestion by Patrick Henry, which would turn out to have huge implications on our politics today. While we are a discussing a meeting that Jefferson was not at, and not yet enough of a name to be asked, perhaps, We do discuss him. Thomas Jefferson does participate, virtually. We also take a look at Jefferson's Summary View of the Rights of British North America, written in this year. This podcast is part of the Airwave Media Network. - www.airwavemedia.com Interested in advertising on this podcast? Contact sales@advertisecast.com
51 min
150
Ukraine and History w/ Ben Sawyer of Middle Ten...
Where did Ukraine begin? With the Rus, the Cossacks, the Soviets? What is Putin's motive and what his seriously questionable historical justification? Why should we not say 'The Ukraine?' in discussions. To help answer these questions, Bruce is joined by Ben Sawyer of Middle Tennessee State University and of "The Road to Now" Podcast and an expert in Russian studies.to talk about the history behind the War in Ukraine.